WGC Final Report, John Good

I don't think low enforceability is a big issue. For example, some doping products have a very low chance of detection. That doesn't mean they should be reallowed.

As another example, in the Sailplane Grand Prix, any communication outside of the main radio frequency is not allowed. This can also be "essentially impossible to enforce", since you can't monitor 2280 radio channels. Nevertheless, in last years SGP World Final, 2 pilots who were suspected of collaborating were caught on the last flying day of the competition, and thus penalized.



The problem in my opinion, is that it isn't 100% clearly communicated right now what is allowed and what isn't.

If it was very clear that "hacked" FLARM receivers were illegal, and the penalties are very harsh when caught (team disqualification), almost no team would still risk it, even if the chance of getting caught was small.


By the way, there is a good argument to be made, that "hacked" flarm receivers are already not legal within the current rules.

In SC3a, Para 5.4.2 says: "5.4.2 Penalties may be imposed by the Organisers for unauthorized interference with the GNSS equipment, data or internal program, or Tracking equipment."

(*Penalties are not specified, and up to the organisation.)

Then SC3a, Para 7.5.2 says: "COLLISION AVOIDANCE AND TRACKING: Pilots are allowed to configure low power modes, limited information modes, and requests for “no tracking.� "


Combining those two paragraphs, "hacked" (groundbased or cockpit) Flarm receivers that circumvent FLARM-stealth and no-track mode (which have only been legal since last year), can be seen as "unauthorized interference with the GNSS equipment, data or internal program, or Tracking equipment", and thus could be penalized already under current rules.

Additionally, for a groundteam who is monitoring an undelayed OGN-clone and transmitting that to their pilots, you could call upon the spirit of the rule "Attempt to obtain external help for finding lift from non competing glider or airplane", for which the penalty is day disqualification.

In the Sailplane Grand Prix, it is better worded, and much more clear:

From SGPRules V9.0, Para 5.3.1: "External aid to competitors: Radio Transmitters and Transceiver: Radios are for voice transmissions between team members and between them and the Organisers only. Any other data transmission between competitors, or between them and the ground, is prohibited except as required: (i) by the organisers; or (ii) for safety purpose or; (iii) for anticollision warning, The Organisers shall designate a common radio frequency on which all transmissions will be made during the contest. All pilots shall remain on this frequency. Non-compliance may be
penalized."

So, in SGP even data transmission (including weather-data in the cockpit) is currently banned. I don't see why the same clear rules could not apply to all other competitions.