COTS in SC3!?

Yup, there's a pending proposal to provide for "Commercial Off the
Shelf" GPS data recording in Sporting Code Section 3 ("SC3"), effective
1 October 2009. (On the same date, cameras would officially become a thing
of the past for Silver, Gold, Diamond and Diplome badges.)

In many regards, pilot and Observer procedures proposed for COTS would be
identical to those in place for Flight Recorders. Notably, however, COTS
would be available only for Silver and Gold badge flights, as are certain
FRs now approved by IGC only at the "Up to Diamonds" level. (eg: FLARM
and EWs prior to the Microrecorder).

COTS units and file conversion/security checking software would also be
subject to approval by individual countries' National Airsport Control
organizations, responsible to keep IGC apprised of their actions and
procedures.

Love it or hate it (or love it, but hate all the rules & regulations) COTS
in some form will be coming up for a vote at IGC next March and it's not
too early to make your position known to your IGC representative.
(Whoozzat? Check it out at
http://www.fai.org/directory/delegates.asp?id=6

The following excerpt from the pending proposal includes only those items
unique to COTS - or as IGC prefers to call these, "GPS position
recorders."

Judy

CHAPTER 4 APPENDIX
The use of GPS position recorders for Silver and Gold badge flights.

A-1 General Many Global Positioning System devices can record the
coordinates of their position at intervals. If this data can be downloaded
as an .igc file, NACs may allow suitable GPS position recorders to be used
to validate the horizontal position of the glider for Silver or Gold
badges ONLY. Altitude data must be verified from a separate barograph
record of pressure altitude throughout the flight to normal IGC
standards....
Each NAC is to determine the specific GPS position recorders approved for
use within their area of responsibility and to maintain a current list of
them. A copy of the technical specification for each model must be sent to
the FAI, for the attention of IGC, with an indication of any special
instructions the NAC requires for its use. The IGC may advise the NAC of
any specific problems that could occur with that GPS position recorder or
where it does not comply with IGC rules and procedures. Both IGC and the
NAC must be satisfied that the rules below can be complied with before
accepting any particular model for use.

A-3 Averaging and predicted positions Any GPS position recorder that can
produce fixes both derived from real time satellite lines of position and
estimated fixes produced through averaging or predicting based on past
fixes is acceptable only if the estimation functions are disabled. The OO
must supervise the disabling process or verify that it was completed
before flight and certify that this was done.

A-5 Declaration A written declaration including all appropriate items
listed in 4.2.1 is the only acceptable form.

A-6 Downloading and verification As a minimum, downloaded data from the
GPS position recorder must be converted as accurately as possible to the
igc format. Any conversion program must be approved by the NAC and
include a validation system that will identify any changes made after the
download.

A-7 Altitude Evidence must be provided by a barograph. The profile of
GPS-derived altitudes from a GPS position recorder must correspond to the
profile of the barographic record but the former may be used only to prove
continuity of flight. Where the GPS altitude profile closely matches the
barogram, altitude may be determined at a specific fix. Where altitude
within, or exit from, a start OZ cannot be correlated to the barogram,
release alti¬tude must be used as start altitude; where finish OZ entry or
altitude within the finish OZ cannot be correlated to the barogram, the
surface elevation at the finish point must be used as the finish
altitude.

A-8 Timing Times pertinent to the flight must be confirmed by an OO,
based on direct observation from the ground by the OO or a reliable
witness using an accurate timepiece. These times must compare favourably
to both GPS data and the relative time data provided by a stand-alone
barograph.