[NSRCA-discussion] [Fwd: Proposal]

[John Gayer]

I'd like to present three proposals that might appeal to a few if not 
the many....
Modified from the original proposal . Apparently not many saw it. The 
first one has been added
Comments?
John
NSRCA 632

*Revive the practice of assigning mentors to Sportsman and Intermediate 
flyers

*At contests, assign an experienced competitor to mentor, call and 
advise the Sportsman/ Intermediate flyers. This is nothing new, but 
should be a part of every contest. We should try to provide a connection 
that will last past the contest.
As I see it, there are four issues that drasticaly affect the ability of 
these flyers to compete effectively: aircraft trimming, execessive 
throws, wings level and centering(also known as flying the airplane, not 
letting the airplane fly you).
These flyers have shown the initiative to come out and compete. We owe 
them (and ourselves) all the help we can throw at them.


*Create a National Database for Pattern
*
The database must contain the raw scores of all flights for _all_ 
competitors by class. The only thing normalized scores are good for is 
finding the right  finish order for each class at a contest. Raw scores 
are much better for comparing results even at a contest. For example I 
finish round one with a 930 and round two with a 985, both to competitor 
A. Now did I fly a lot better in round two(I thought I did)  or did 
competitor A flop a stall turn in the figure M in round 2.
Anyway once you have the raw scores by competitor and class, you can do 
the following:

   1. Create a National Ranking for each class based on average points
      per maneuver. Once this is in place and on line, we will have a
      reason for pattern competitors to join NSRCA. you can't tell me
      that there wouldn't be a lot of interest in seeing who is hot
      around the country and how you stack up against the competition. I
      know, the judging isn't always equal but that's always been true
      and we have to live with it.
   2. The data available on each competitor would include contests
      entered, placing, advance points earned. The districts could
      extract whatever data is required to ascertain the district
      champions. We could archive previous years as well.
   3. Other ways to specify advancement in class become available,
      percentage of average FAI score, even eventually moving the 10
      top-rated pilots up a class. Possibilities are endless when you
      have the data.

Since the database would only be open to NSRCA members, if you want to 
track your National standing, joining NSRCA would be a must. If you want 
to see what the guy nobody heard of that just rolled in from out of 
district has accomplished, look him up. We've been looking for reasons  
to join NSRCA, I feel this is one that could be big and would be worth 
some investment in time and money. I would be willing to help with such 
a project although I don't feel like I could take it on by myself.

*Redirect the focus to our international team competition through 
modification of the advancement system

*

   1. Modify the advancement process to be consistent through all
      classes from Sportsman through to F3A. See section two for
      possible advancement criteria
   2. Advancement can be forced by the advancement criteria(see section
      2) or voluntary.
   3. The first year in a new and higher class is an option year. At the
      end of the option year you can downselect one class for any reason.

This has the advantage of being able to try out the higher class for a 
year without committing your entire pattern career. If you discover that 
the next class is beyond your means( time, money or talent) then you 
option down the following year. If you absolutely refuse to fly your new 
class, then perhaps you could use the time and money to reintroduce your 
self to your wife, girlfriend, etc. If you need a goal for the year, 
focus on making your rudder commands instinctive, learn to fly a 
helicopter, learn to fly rolling circles. You would probably come back a 
better pattern flyer than when you left.



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