On Thursday, January 31, 2019 at 12:22:20 PM UTC-5, Tom Kelley #711 wrote:
On Tuesday, January 29, 2019 at 4:47:46 PM UTC-7, wrote:
A new file has been placed in the Contest Rules and Process section of the SSA web site describing the study of the effect of flying weight on handicaps.
It shows the basis for the recently proposed rules change that will be effective in 2019.
It may be found at the top of the listing under important reading.
Thanks to Andy Blackburn for many hours on this project.
For the Handicap Subcommittee
UH

Question for Hank. Why is the new handicap system even needed when the below pilots poll results wish differently?

9.1 Do you favor adopting the European Handicapping system?
(This system is currently use for OLC flights.)
Yes 114
60%
No 56
30%

Best #711.

A new handicapping "system" isn't needed. What is needed and addressed is the need no more accurately reflect the effect of weight change on XC speed, and thus, scores.
We did do a comparison of the German handicap list and found ours and theirs to be very similar with very few exceptions. The US list is more detailed in terms of variants of individual types and includes a number of ships not on the other list.
The US list also is integrated into the registration and scoring system. Wholesale replacement would involve considerable work for little if any benefit.
Our "system" also adjusts for weight changes. This is done at the FAI level only in Club and 20M (not in 20M at WGC).
UH