[NSRCA-discussion] 2007 Rules interpretation

[JonLowe at aol.com]

Somehow my response to Steve didn't get posted to the list. It is below.  
Remember, we were flying 2007 rules, not 2006.  The zone is 30 meters.

Here is my attempted post:

"Steve,
I wasn't pointing fingers, and if you or others took it that way, I sincerely 
apologize. My point was that since we have new rules, and since this was the 
first contest that used them, we can take this as an opportunity to make sure 
everyone understands the situation. The situation on landings is a little 
confusing.  Unfortunately, the only "official" place to find the 2007 rules, since 
they haven't been formally published, is under the proposed rules section on 
the AMA site.  That is where it says the landing zone is 30 meters.  The new 
rules are at:

http://www.modelaircraft.org/Comp/proposals.htm

I think the confusion stems from the landing zone of 30 meters for 2007, vs. 
the former landing area of 100 meters, if the later even still even exists.  
Your landing zone for 2007 IS standard and correct at 30 meters, so don't buy 
any black paint!  The only confusion was whether or not landing outside the 
zone was a zero.  

The entire approved proposal is:

"Landing.  The landing maneuver will be scored in half point increments from 
10 to 0.  The maneuver will start two (2) meters from the ground.  The model 
flares smoothly to a nose high altitude, dissipating flying speed, then 
smoothly touches the ground, within the landing zone.  The maneuver should be 
considered complete once the plane has slowed below flying speed and rolled 10 meters 
or comes to a stop and no further downgrades shall be applied after that 
point.

The landing zone shall be marked by lines placed perpendicular across the 
runway and spaced 30 meters apart.  The width of the landing zone is normally the 
width of the runway but in no case shall exceed 30 meters.  Landing is not a 
centered maneuver and there is no downgrade for displacement of the touchdown 
point left or right from center as long as the landing is in the landing zone. 
 It the touchdown is within the runway but not in the landing zone it should 
be downgraded proportionate to the distance outside the landing zone.  The 
Contest Director may designate any landing zone appropriate to the field if 
safety considerations dictate.  If the landing zone is anything other than standard 
it should be thoroughly discussed with the pilots and judging before flying 
is started and no downgrade shall be applied due to the touchdown in the 
non-standard landing zone.  The landing will not be downgraded if:
Wing dips which are caused by air turbulence unless they are not immediately 
corrected. 
The pilot “slips to a landing” to handle a crosswind condition in which case 
a wig will be low. 
The model rolls to a controlled stop with 10 meters. 
Downgrades:
Model passes behind the judges line, zero (0) points. 
Model impacts the runway due to lack of flare. 
Model bounces. 
Changes in track. 
Model ends on its back, zero (0) points. 
Model lands outside landing zone. 
If any undercarriage retracts before the landing is complete, zero (0) 
points. 
Aircraft “porpoises” and/or wanders during approach or flare. 
Aircraft land outside the landing area or runway, zero (0) points. 
Aircraft touches down while not straight to runway and ground track. 

Submitted by:  Don Ramsey, AMA #6096"
Again, I had a ball at your contest, and sincerely apologize again if what I 
said sounded like criticism.  That was not my intent.
See you over Christmas.  I should be at RCACF several times.
Jon"

Jon Lowe



In a message dated 12/11/2006 7:23:39 PM Central Standard Time, 
Rcmaster199 at aol.com writes:
Steve, 

if you go back and review the thread started by Jason Shulman, to which I had 
responded initially, you will find that the AMA zone was indeed stated as 
being 100 meters. I later reviewed te AMA reg and I confirmed it. I suggested to 
Jason that he go to the site and review it himself. In that rule, the 
mandatory zeroes are explicit.

FAI reg is different regarding the Landing Zone's dimensions. The F3A event 
requires a 30 meter zone

As CD, I believe that you were within your rights to unify the rule and 
explain it as you saw it to the pilots attending the event. If all agreed, and it 
appears they did from your comments, there is no foul play.

Again, what isn't clear is whether there is a single landing zone regardless 
of the number of flight lines. I will raise the issue within the Judging 
Committee.

MattK


Jon Lowe
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.nsrca.org/pipermail/nsrca-discussion/attachments/20061212/936b9b02/attachment.html