Wrong Maneuver issues

[David Lockhart]

Pardon the delayed response to this topic (just a wee bit of email to 
catch up on while being gone at the US Team Selection).

The pilot is supposed to fly the maneuvers - and uses a caller/helper 
if needed.  And, as noted in prior posts to this string, different 
pilots use callers/helpers in different ways.  It would seem to be 
agreed that while pilots generally have their sequence memorized, in 
the heat of a contest flight, a pilot will often rely on their caller 
for the next maneuver, or clarifications (ie, 1/2 roll vs 2/4).

The judge is supposed to judge the maneuvers flown by the pilot and 
document a score for the maneuvers.  If needed, the judge can have an 
assistant(scribe) help with this task.  And, as noted in prior posts to 
this string, different judges have different preferences on what type 
of help they would like from an assistant (scribe).  It would seem to 
be agreed that while many of us have multiple schedules memorized, in 
the heat of judging a contest flight, a judge may rely on a scribe to 
clarify the details of a maneuver. 

As a pilot, I attempt to ignore any background noise, discussion, or 
commentary that is not coming from my caller - whether it is from the 
judges tent or the peanut gallery.  However, as most of us know, this 
is a difficult task - especially when others are discussing the flight 
in progress.  I find it very distracting to have my caller loudly 
calling for the judges.  As a matter of fact, if my caller is required 
to call the maneuvers for the judges, I would just assume fly without a 
caller and donate my caller to the judges for the flight.  
Alternatively, if forced to call maneuvers for the judges, I'll try to 
find a second caller and dedicate their services to the judges.

As a judge, I think it is MY responsibility to accurately judge and 
score each and every maneuver (and this includes giving zeroes for 
wrong maneuvers or maneuvers out of sequence).  If I need an assistant 
to call the maneuvers for me, then I have an assistant available to do 
that - and quietly, so as to not disturb the pilot.

Obviously, our sport will not work without both pilots and judges, each 
with the needed assistants.

As a related sidebar, at the recent US Team Selection, a caller was 
used for the judges at the start of the Finals Rounds - this practice 
was halted based on the feedback from the pilots that the judges caller 
was a distraction (not a reflection on the judges caller personally of 
course, he is one of the nicest guys I've met in pattern).

Regards,

Dave Lockhart
DaveL322 at comcast.net



----- Original Message -----
From: WHIP23 at aol.com
Date: Thursday, June 12, 2003 9:57 pm
Subject: Re: Wrong Maneuver issues

> Me thinks ya got it, it's about that simple, most guys will see 
> the logic and 
> comply and those who don't agree will probably comply anyway and 
> there will 
> be someone who will flat refuse and the CD will have to deal with 
> that issue.  
> I find that most pilots comply with most reasonable requests, that 
> help make 
> the event run smoother.  I plan to make it a point in my contest 
> flyiers/notice, in the future, so no one will be surprised.  I 
> guess I'm really surprised it 
> is such an issue, well maybe I'm not surprised :-)
> 
> Bob
> 
> In a message dated 6/12/03 9:59:38 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
> gene.maurice at attbi.com writes:
> 
> > Let me see if I got this straight:
> >   
> > 1. There isn't a rule which supports the caller being required 
> to call out 
> > the maneuvers for the judges.
> >  2. Unless I missed it in all of this rhetoric, no one is 
> suggesting a rule.
> >  3. As a pilot, if you don't want your caller to call out the 
> maneuvers for 
> > the judges, don't.
> >  4. As a caller, if you don't want to call out the maneuvers for 
> the judges, 
> > don't.
> >  4. As a judge, you CANNOT require the caller to call out the 
> maneuvers.>  5. As a CD, if a pilot/caller will not call out the 
> maneuvers, and the 
> > judge is not comfortable with the sequence, then the CD is 
> responsible for 
> > supplying a scribe.
> >  6. If the judge requests the maneuvers be called out and the 
> pilot / caller 
> > are OK with it, no problem. 
> >   
> > Please explain to me, like I'm a four year old, what the issue is.
> >   
> > Gene Maurice
> > gene.maurice at attbi.com
> > Plano, TX
> > AMA 3408
> > NSRCA 877 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> 
> 

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