Landing Direction

[Ron Van Putte]

On Jun 10, 2005, at 1:35 PM, 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.

If the wind doesn't shift, the rule wouldn't apply. I think having the 
judges give permission is important; it precludes someone trying to 
finesse the situation.  We trust judges to score flights, so I think 
it's reasonable to expect they will know which way a pilot took off and 
which way the wind was blowing when he did.


Ron Van Putte


>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Ron Van Putte
>> To: 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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