2013 USA Competition Rules Published

What with all the excitement about club classs, igc rules, and artificial horizons, I never got around to writing the usual annual pilot’s guide to rule changes.

So, here is a very short “what’s new in the rules that a pilot needs to know about� for 2013.

10.8.2 Valid start
10.8.2.1 A valid start is a start obtained after the task has opened and after the pilot's last launch. A pilot must have a valid start to be given a scored start time and position. The best-scoring valid start of the claimed task is used.
10.8.2.1.1 Deleted 2013
10.8.2.1.2 Deleted 2013

It used to be that you had to take the last start with no penalty. We simplified it. Now any start is valid. And you always have the explicit right to choose any start point that gives you a better score.

Example: If you start out the top, fall back in the cylinder, and exit 2:30 minutes later, your first start out the top is still valid.

Note that winscore does not automatically pick the right start. If you want something other than the last start, you are well advised to make sure the scorer found it.

Scorers: until winscore finds them automatically, you should look for starts out the top even if the later start out the side does not trigger a penalty. You should choose the start that gives the best score including penalties, not necessarily the longest flight, shortest time, lowest penalty, etc.

You still are only credited with distance in the “front half� of the cylinder, though starts out the top or side of the “back half� of the cylinder are still valid and trigger no penalties.

Finish

10.9.2. There are no changes to the rules, but reviewing how it works is useful so you’re not hauling out the rule book on final glide.

The typical finish height will now be 700 feet AGL or more.

If you finish between 500 and 700 feet, you get speed points but a penalty. The penalty is

12.1.4.5 Finish penalty (Rule 10.9.3.4): penalty = 5 + (Finish Height Difference) / 5.

So, 100 feet low means 25 points and 200 feet low means 45 points. These are pretty mild.

However, if you are more than 200 feet low, you are scored as if you landed out at the home airport.

10.9.2.5.3 When the Finish Height Difference is greater than 200 feet, the task is incomplete.

Again, no change, but this rule surprised a few pilots who finished very low last year and were scored as if landing out.

The strategic implication of this rule: The penalty for finishing up to 200 feet low is very mild. Don't do anything dumb if you're a few miles out and may end up slightly low. Well, don't do anything dumb, period.

If you judge that you will not make it with finish height – 200 feet to spare, it makes absolutely no difference to your score whether you land in the last good field below you, or stretch to make the airport. It is also worth stopping for any lift rather than cross the finish line 201 feet or more below the finish eight.

Team flying

Regionals

10.7.2.10 ‡ â€* Air-to-air radio communication between competing pilots is permitted, subject to the following rules:
10.7.2.10.1 ‡ â€* Such communications shall exclusively use aviation radios, and shall be done in a way that does not interfere with normal contest procedures conducted on the contest frequency.
10.7.2.10.2 ‡ â€* For any reason other than safety, radio communication with pilots not entered in the competition and ground-to air communication are prohibited.
10.7.2.10.3 ‡ â€* Contest organizers may elect to disallow the radio communication provided for in this Rule; this should be announced well prior to the Preferential Entry Deadline. Such communication may be disallowed for some classes and not for others.
10.7.2.10.4 ‡ â€* The CD may temporarily or permanently disallow radio communication that proves detrimental to the operation or safety of the contest

So, we’re allowed to team-fly, mentor, or help each other informally on the radio. Look for each CD to work out some procedures for the contest you fly in, especially when not to use 123.3. Pay attention!

The seniors has received a waiver from 10.7.2.10.1 allowing pilots to use walkie talkies. Other contests may do the same, especially if aviation frequencies are crowded.

Nationals

10.7.2.9 Air-to-air and ground-to-air radio communication for any reason other than safety is prohibited; an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty may apply (Rule 12.2.5.3).

The added “this rule specifically forbids team flying� has been dropped. You may not talk to each other in the air, or exchange data (text, etc.) but formal or informal cooperation is not against the rules. This was a clarification, not a change, but many pilots felt that all “team flying� was against the rules.

Relights

1.6 ‡ National competitions held at the same place and times as other competitions are to be given preference for entry positions, and in gridding and launching. When in the judgment of the Competition Director it is practical, re-launches of National entrants should also be given preference over those of other classes.
A1.6 This rule makes it clear that when contests are co-located, national competitions are given priority. "Preference" does not necessarily mean the national must be launched first every day, it just means that the CD must consider the needs of the national contest first.

So, if you’re at a nationals, and you have to relight during the regional launch, you may not have to wait until the end of the regional launch, and you may be allowed to cut in line ahead of regional relights. CDs need to know this too, and where possible let the national relight.

Showing up late.

If it’s pouring rain, you don’t have to be there 9 am first contest day. And, if you want to miss the first day and show up later that’s ok too – so long as you have completed ALL of the registration by mail.

A5.5.3.2 ‡ The physical presence of an entrant is not required at the time of entry deadline (registration). An entrant who wishes to arrive late may do so provided all contest registration requirements of Rule 5.5.3.1 have been completed prior to the specified deadline time and arrangements have been made to receive the required safety briefing directly from the CD. All pilots have a right to know about any entrant who plans to arrive late.

That's all I can think of that really matters to the average pilot. RC, have I forgotten something?

John Cochrane

On Tuesday, March 5, 2013 9:03:25 AM UTC-7, wrote:
Finish

10.9.2. There are no changes to the rules, but reviewing how it works is useful so you’re not hauling out the rule book on final glide.

The typical finish height will now be 700 feet AGL or more.

If you finish between 500 and 700 feet, you get speed points but a penalty. The penalty is

John, a quick question: How is the finish height defined and measured? For accuracy, it's really a QFE height (height above the runway, not above the ground where you finish). Not a big deal (since most of us don't have radar altimeters) but if you use your moving map "AGL" feature you might get a surprise! And if there are ridges around, you could be lot lower AGL but still be at or above your finish height. So is your finish height taken from your logger altitude, adjusted for difference in pressure altitude after landing?

Oh well, back to clock-watching at the finish...still a bad idea IMHO. And please don't tell us to "just get high enough so that you are comfortably above the finish height". That's like telling a NASCAR driver to stay nice and low, and not to draft too close... We will still be trying to burn off every foot of excess altitude to finish at 701 ft - staring at the altimeter.