Landing Direction

[Bill Glaze]

Keith:
We are subject to the Law of Unintended Consequences.  And, probably, 
there are a few folks that will take advantage of this to try to get an 
edge on the competition.  I would like to believe that it isn't true, 
but, it seems, there sometimes is "that" one person.  As a former drag 
boat driver, we were well acquainted with who "that" person was on the 
race course.  Usually, they got with the program, or found themselves 
pretty lonely at the races.
I would prefer that takeoff and landing direction be purely at the pilot 
option, with (possibly) the judges/CD setting the maneuvering 
direction.  I realize that too would bring abuses, (probably) and some 
dissension.  Therefore, I look at Ron's proposal as less than I 
personally would have liked to have, but far superior to what is 
happening now.  And, if the judges don't remember what direction the 
wind was in, and the pilot now has the choice, I don't think the damage 
to be irreparable.  Just let him go ahead and land, his choice.  It 
should be his decision, right or wrong, anyway.  IMHO.

Bill Glaze

Keith Black wrote:

> I'm in favor of the proposal for safety in the case the wind direction 
> changes, but I'd like to bring something up that I've seen occur. Some 
> pilots are much more comfortable flying one direction than the other 
> and therefore will sometimes choose to take-off in the same direction 
> as the wind, especially in a light wind.
>  
> Is the spirit of this rule change to allow someone who took off with 
> the wind to reverse landing direction? If not I think we could get 
> into a lot of "hair splitting" when the pilot asks the judges if he 
> can land in the reverse direction. Will the judges remember what way 
> the wind was blowing (especially if the winds were light when the 
> pilot took off)? Will other competitors observer the situation and be 
> upset? If the judges refuse for any reason how upset will the pilot be 
> if he dorks his $2500 plane? Will this rule lead to pilots not 
> practicing the pattern both directions as much, especially in the 
> lower classes where wind direction doesn't matter as much?
>  
> Currently if a pilot has a weak flight direction and chooses to fly 
> with the wind their "penalty" and incentive for not doing so is having 
> to make a hot down wind landing (which I've seen plenty).
>  
> Over all I like the idea but want to avoid any unexpected side-effects 
> of the rules change.
>  
> Keith Black
>  
>
>     ----- Original Message -----
>     From: Ron Van Putte <mailto:vanputte at cox.net>
>     To: discussion at nsrca.org <mailto:discussion at nsrca.org>
>     Sent: Friday, June 10, 2005 10:08 AM
>     Subject: Landing Direction
>
>     Based on the positive response on the proposed change to landing
>     direction, I sent my draft landing direction rule change proposal
>     to John Fuqua, the Contest Board chairman, and he replied:
>
>     "How about this.  Suggest you put this as para 6.7 which is the
>     'Safety Requirements" section. 
>
>     "Normally landing would be as per paragraph 14.1 regarding
>     Direction of Flight.  However, when a wind shift results in a
>     downwind landing that creates a hazard to people or the aircraft,
>     subject to the approval of the judges, the landing direction may
>     be reversed.
>
>     (or maybe)
>
>     "Normally landing would be as per paragraph 14.1 regarding
>     Direction of Flight.  However, subject to the approval of the
>     judges, the landing direction may be reversed when a wind
>     shift results in a downwind landing that creates a hazard to
>     people or the aircraft."
>
>     I prefer the second one and will make an Emergency Proposal as
>     soon as I can put it together.
>
>     Ron Van Putte
>
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