[NSRCA-discussion] NATS Judging workload, on my soapbox

[Bob Kane]

First off, let me say thank you to Al Glenn and Peter Vogel for their heroic efforts at the 2018 NATS. Unless you wear the shirt you have no idea how tough the job is.

I heard more than once last week "I judged once, I should not have to judge".  Lets look at the numbers:

2018 NATS pilots (and potential judges):

FAI   32
Masters 23
Advanced 11
Intermediate 6

72 total pilots

Judging requirements

FAI Prelims

3 Judges, 2 lines, 2 sites = 12/day, 24 judges for 2 days. 

FAI Semis

5 Judges, 1 line, 2 sites = 10 judges

FAI Finals

24 judges

FAI, total of 58 judges needed

Masters Prelims

3 judges, 2 lines, 2 sites = 12/day, 36 for 3 days.

Masters Finals

5 judges, 3 lines      15

Masters, total of 51 judges neeed.

Intermediate 2 judges, 2 lines 3 days  12 judges
Advanced 2 judges, 2 lines 3 days  12 judges

133 Total judging assignments during the week.

Assuming you do not use Intermediate pilots as judges, simple math would show 133 assignments / 66 judges = 2.01 judging assignments/pilot.

However, number is reduced by the pilots actually flying in the Semi and Final rounds, so the number is more than 2.

People leave during he week, further reducing the pool.

I know people who judged 4+ times during the week. The only thing I can say is thank you for your service.

This should not be the NATS Event Director's problem.  It is ours to solve.  

I would be happy to volunteer on a committee commissioned by the NSRCA to look at this and come up with a plan for the 2019 NATS.

Off my soapbox.

Bob Kane getterflash at yahoo.com