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Just to clarify,
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<div class="">The scoring program used was provided by the organizers, i.e. Italians, (not the US). There is a process for certification prior to use, and this was completed. I believe the issue at hand was NOT a software glitch, but a simple user error.
As someone here pointed out earlier, there are many configuration options in these programs and in this case, it provided results that were not intuitively incorrect. Short version is that the normalization “base” should have been 15 pilots, and instead
it used 5. Which, by the way, is the difference between a semi final setup, and a finals set up. </div>
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<div class="">Regardless, the FAI subcommittee is already in discussion about procedures to prevent this from occurring in the future. One issue that complicated matters was the use of a single flight line for the Semi-Finals. This resulted in a flying day
that lasted from 8am - 8:40pm with NO lunch break. Too long. As a result, it was a scramble to finalize scores, certify, have a TM meeting to verify and go through unknowns, and then finally distribute unknowns at 11PM. WHICH also breaks the rules of not
providing unknowns 12hrs in advance of flying. Thankfully there were no protests for that.</div>
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<div class="">These are complicated events, with a lot of moving parts. Something that we’re about to learn first hand as we host the 2021 worlds. It’s a hobby. Everyone is a volunteer. Everyone is passionate about model aviation. Everyone is doing their
utmost best to provide the best possible event and outcomes, just like we will do for 2021 (GO MONTE!!!!). </div>
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</div>
<div class="">There were many pilots whose standings were negatively (and a few positively) affected by the error in normalization. There is little to be done to effectively “fix” that for everyone that was impacted. </div>
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</div>
<div class="">I’ve formally asked for, and have received 3 things from the FAI Jury. Admission and acknowledgement that the error occurred. A formal apology to those affected, including Joseph. And immediate discussions to establish new procedures that
will help eliminate this from happening in the future.</div>
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<div class="">I do not expect an invitation to be offered. It’s simply more complicated. Other countries have pilots that were impacted, though maybe not as critically as Joe. Regardless, adding additional entrants will likely invite other protests. As
it is, the US will likely have as many as 5 on our team given that we still have the reigning Jr. World Champion. Adding to the confusion will be the addition of female pilots on any team that has or wishes to bring one (Similar to the addition of Jr. Pilots
a few years ago). </div>
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</div>
<div class="">I’m not trying to defend the mistake that was made, but simply trying to explain it, and emphasize that it was indeed, a mistake. They happen in all facets of life. I’m an advocate that acknowledging them, apologizing for them, and making every
effort to prevent them from happening again is what separates good organizations from bad. I believe that is happening here. </div>
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</div>
<div class="">-Mark</div>
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<div><br class="">
<div class="">On Aug 21, 2019, at 10:13 AM, Phil Spelt via NSRCA-discussion <<a href="mailto:nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org" class="">nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org</a>> wrote:</div>
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John, and anyone else who might have thought I was looking to affix blame by asking what software was used, I most certainly was
<strong class="">not</strong>. I was just curious about what was used. I gather from the (lack of direct) responses that we (USA) provided the software to the FAI. If that was the case, I would think
<strong class="">the FAI would provide financial support</strong> for the thorough de-bugging process that is needed to avoid the kind of SNAFU that happened at this year's worlds. Like John, my only credentials for speaking out are three: a "regular" CD,
a Leader Member, and a guy who, like all the rest of you reading this list, really cares about our competitors, especially Joseph, because I know Don and have followed Joseph's remarkable career. I have given Kudos to Derek in years past for the scoring program
he developed, and also to Gene for his work.</p>
<p style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; color: #333333;" class="">
That said, it seems we have a ground-swell of sentiment in NSRCA for trying to get FAI to issue a standing invitation to Joseph for 2021. That would not take anything away from the Frenchman who made it into this year's finals, and would go a little way toward
admitting publicly that a mistake was made and an attempt to rectify it is offered. I, again, urge our NSRCA leadership to "bug" the FAI for Joseph's invitation. I seriously doubt he will need it, but the gesture...</p>
<div class="io-ox-signature">
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<span class="signature-truncate"><span class="signature-truncate"><span class="signature-truncate"><span class="signature-truncate"><span class="signature-truncate"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Black'; font-size: 12px;" class=""><strong class=""><em class="">SPA
L-18, Board Member, NSRCA 2032, KCRC Emeritus<br class="">
Knoxville, TN 37931 (865) 604-0541c</em></strong></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite" class="">On August 20, 2019 at 11:32 PM John Ferrell via NSRCA-discussion <<a href="mailto:nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org" class="">nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org</a>> wrote:
<br class="">
<br class="">
<p class="">It looks so easy to find a single soul to hold responsible for whatever went wrong. I don't want to up set anyone because we need all the talents we can muster to support our cause.</p>
<p class="">There are precious little paid to help our volunteers with expenses. The budget to support the entire Nats has been under fire since the beginning of time. I hope that it is still as much fun for you folks as it was for me. My credentials for even
speaking are limited to a Leader Member and an ordinary CD. <br class="">
</p>
<p class="">It was an especially wicked "FUBAR". I knew Joseph since he was a bump on his mothers belly and he will not let this incident dampen his resolve!</p>
<p class="">We all share the burden of the glitch . Thanks for letting an old fart vent.
<br class="">
</p>
<div class="ox-ae82af0e4c-moz-cite-prefix">On 8/20/2019 9:15 PM, Phil Spelt via NSRCA-discussion wrote:
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</div>
<blockquote type="cite" class="">
<p style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: helvetica, arial,; color: #333333;" class="">
+ a whole bunch!! Someone from the USA management should not just suggest that, but argue very strongly for it.</p>
<p style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: helvetica, arial,; color: #333333;" class="">
whose software was it? The FAIs? I was a software developer at several points in my career, and one just does not run an event or demo or anything with a package that has not been
<strong class="">thoroughly verified and tested</strong>. In my opinion, time crunch is not an excise, it is a demonstration of faulty planning.</p>
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<p style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: helvetica,arial,sans-serif; color: #333333;" class="ox-ae82af0e4c-default-style">
<span class="ox-ae82af0e4c-signature-truncate"><span class="ox-ae82af0e4c-signature-truncate"><span class="ox-ae82af0e4c-signature-truncate"><span class="ox-ae82af0e4c-signature-truncate"><span class="ox-ae82af0e4c-signature-truncate"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Black'; font-size: 12px;" class=""><strong class=""><em class="">Phil
Spelt, AMA 1294, Scientific Leader Member<br class="">
SPA L-18, Board Member, NSRCA 2032, KCRC Emeritus<br class="">
Knoxville, TN 37931 (865) 604-0541c</em></strong></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
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<blockquote type="cite" class="">On August 20, 2019 at 8:29 PM Matthew Finley via NSRCA-discussion
<a class="ox-ae82af0e4c-moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org">
<nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org></a> wrote: <br class="">
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Yes ! An automatic invite I think is the least they could do for their mistake......
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Get <a href="https://aka.ms/ghei36" class="">Outlook for Android</a></div>
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<hr style="display: inline-block; width: 98%;" class="">
<div id="ox-ae82af0e4c-ox-7dc9b66c7b-divRplyFwdMsg" dir="ltr" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><strong class="">From:</strong> NSRCA-discussion
<a class="ox-ae82af0e4c-moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces@lists.nsrca.org">
<nsrca-discussion-bounces@lists.nsrca.org></a> on behalf of Monte Richard via NSRCA-discussion
<a class="ox-ae82af0e4c-moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org">
<nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org></a><br class="">
<strong class="">Sent:</strong> Tuesday, August 20, 2019 8:21:50 PM<br class="">
<strong class="">To:</strong> Atwood, Mark <a class="ox-ae82af0e4c-moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:atwoodm@paragon-inc.com">
<atwoodm@paragon-inc.com></a>; General pattern discussion <a class="ox-ae82af0e4c-moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org">
<nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org></a><br class="">
<strong class="">Subject:</strong> Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Apology</span>
<div class=""> </div>
</div>
<div class="">That really sucks. They should at least give him an invitation to compete in 2021 whether he makes the team or not.
<div class=""><br class="">
</div>
<div class=""><br class="">
<div id="ox-ae82af0e4c-ox-7dc9b66c7b-AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr" class="">Sent from my iPhone</div>
<div dir="ltr" class=""><br class="">
On Aug 20, 2019, at 7:12 PM, Atwood, Mark via NSRCA-discussion < <a href="mailto:nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org" class="">
nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org</a>> wrote: <br class="">
<br class="">
</div>
<blockquote type="cite" class="">
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<div dir="ltr" class="">Yes, I apologize if that was not clear. The incorrect normalization put him in 11th and Brett and 12th, where they should have finished 10th and 11th respectively.</div>
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</div>
<div dir="ltr" class="">Koji Suzuki would have moved to 12th</div>
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<div dir="ltr" class=""><br class="">
On Aug 20, 2019, at 7:38 PM, Stuart Chale < <a href="mailto:schale1@outlook.com" class="">
schale1@outlook.com</a>> wrote: <br class="">
<br class="">
</div>
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<br class="">
<div class="">I guess that means he should have been in the finals? <br class="">
<br class="">
<div id="ox-ae82af0e4c-ox-7dc9b66c7b-AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr" class="">Sent from my iPhone</div>
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On Aug 20, 2019, at 7:26 PM, Atwood, Mark via NSRCA-discussion < <a href="mailto:nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org" class="">
nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org</a>> wrote: <br class="">
<br class="">
</div>
<blockquote type="cite" class="">
<div dir="ltr" class="">
<div dir="ltr" class=""> <br class="">
</div>
<div dir="ltr" class="">I think it’s important that everyone sees this. I will also post it on our team page. </div>
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</div>
<div dir="ltr" class="">I’m still working on getting a revised final ranking from the organizers. </div>
<div dir="ltr" class=""><br class="">
</div>
<div dir="ltr" class="">-Mark <br class="">
<br class="">
<br class="">
Begin forwarded message: <br class="">
<br class="">
</div>
<blockquote type="cite" class="">
<div dir="ltr" class=""><strong class="">From:</strong> Peter Uhlig < <a href="mailto:peteruhligf3a@aol.com" class="">
peteruhligf3a@aol.com</a>> <br class="">
<strong class="">Date:</strong> August 20, 2019 at 6:19:03 PM EDT <br class="">
<strong class="">To:</strong> <a href="mailto:jszczur2000@gmail.com" class="">jszczur2000@gmail.com</a>,
<a href="mailto:dszczur@verizon.net" class="">dszczur@verizon.net</a>, "Skinner, Bob" <
<a href="mailto:samaa-gm@mweb.co.za" class="">samaa-gm@mweb.co.za</a>> <br class="">
<br class="">
<strong class="">Subject:</strong> <strong class="">Apology</strong> <br class="">
<br class="">
</div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" class="">
<div dir="ltr" class="">
<div class="">
<p class=""> <br class="">
</p>
<p class=""><strong class=""><em class=""><u class=""><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; font-family: Calibri; color: #1f497d;" class="">Formal apology to Mr Joseph Szczur</span></u></em></strong></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: #3333ff;" class="">Dear Joseph Szczur,</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: #3333ff;" class="">On behalf of the FAI Jury, and the organizer of the 2019 F3A World Championship, I must profusely apologize for the mistake in the semi-final ranking list.</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: #3333ff;" class="">The score keeper and the Jury worked under trying conditions during the long days. All results were spot-checked on all the days by the Jury and the contest director as best we could, also
making spot checks of the semi-final results, on Friday evening. We allowed at least an hour before proceeding with the team manager’s meeting. At this time we had no reason to suspect anything untoward in the results of the semi-finals, especially since all
the calculations were performed electronically, and we applied some measure of trust in the system. The results were published according to the rules, and neither the contest management, nor the Jury received any enquiries.</span></p>
<p class="ox-ae82af0e4c-ox-7dc9b66c7b-listparagraph" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: #3333ff;" class="">At the beginning of the last final round (Unknown 2), the developer of the scoring software application, mentioned to the jury that there may be a possible problem with the semi-final results. By that
time the developer was not quite sure about the extent of the problem, and if this potential error could have had an effect on the ranking. The jury unanimously decided not to stop the event, as long as the problem was not absolutely correctly identified and
verified. At that point, time was of course very limited, and the priority of the organiser was to finish the event.
</span></p>
<p class="ox-ae82af0e4c-ox-7dc9b66c7b-listparagraph" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: #3333ff;" class="">At the conclusion of the flights, and after verifying the results of the finals to be able to officially publish them, the jury and the developer took a closer look at the potential problem. By the time
the problem was correctly and fully identified, the flight line was no longer in operation, there were no judges left on the field, and all the required infrastructure, wi-fi, electricity, etc had been dismantled.
<br class="">
<br class="">
I have known you for the last six years as a fair, keen, and great sportsman, and can fully understand your frustration, disappointment, and possible anger that this error had to occur to you. The scorekeeper, contest director, and jury members did not realise
the extent of the error until much later. We did not spot the mistake during checking of the semi-final results.</span></p>
<p class="ox-ae82af0e4c-ox-7dc9b66c7b-listparagraph" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: #3333ff;" class="">This unfortunate turn of events has left you the victim in the process, and we can only apologise for this injustice, and we all hope that you will accept our sincere apology.<br class="">
<br class="">
Sincerely<br class="">
Peter Uhlig<br class="">
</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; color: #3333ff;" class="">FAI Jury President at 2019 FAI F3A World Championship for Aerobatic Model Aircraft</span></p>
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</blockquote>
<pre class="ox-ae82af0e4c-moz-signature">--
John Ferrell W8CCW
Julian NC 27283
It is better to walk alone,
than with a crowd going the wrong direction.
--Diane Grant</pre>
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