PPSS Discussion Forums

So, why do I feel like I'm the only one that cares about this?

How many of you guys want to stand 25 feet from the nail at contests doing a spot landing?

Do any of you think it's a safey issue?

Please speak up.

Bob

AMA safety code and competition regulations are available on line at www.modelaircraft.org , the official AMA website.

From the AMA 2009-2010 Competition regulations for radio controled soaring:

The issue in question is the following paragraph:

12.4: When using a landing option with a restricted landing area, neither the pilot nor his helper shall stand in the landing area during approach and landing, for reasons of safety and fairness to other models in the pattern. Repeated violations will be cause for disqualification.

The very first statement of this document is:

1. Objective: The objective of these rules is to provide competition standards for radio controlled model sailplanes, both thermal and slope soaring.
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My personal opinon on this issue is:

No pilot or timer has in our club has ever been significantly injured during PPSS competition landings. I don't see a safety issue about where the pilot and timer stands during competition landings.

That being said, I strongly believe that our rules for our NON-SANCTIONED competition events are entirely up to the PPSS CONTEST DIRECTOR. They should be clearly stated at the pre pilots meeting and should be observed by all competitors.

If the CD wishes, he can simply state that AMA Radio Control Soaring Competition Regulations will apply to this contest. It is then the CD's responsibility to be totally familar with the AMA competition regulations and enforce them equitably. If the CD wishes to apply further restrictions he should state them at the pre pilots meeting before the contest. (Example - for a circular landing option the AMA Competiton Regulations does NOT specify the landing tape position during landing. If the CD wishes to have it in a certain position he should state that up front before the contest.)

It is my belief and is supported by an email that Bob Vixie acquired from the AMA that standing within the landing circle does NOT nullify any possible AMA insurance benefits.

The AMA National Model Safety Code does NOT address the issue of landing circles.


Sincerely, Barry Welsh 719-495-3572 bxmwelsh@msn.com

Yes, I agree Barry. It really does come down the the CDs call.

Problem is, we have already restricted the CDs call. A couple of years ago, it was decided that Open class would use the spot landing/on time rules, and RES/2M would use the in/out landing with 2 minutes to get down.

I believe this was done to make these classes' contests throughout the year have some consistancy. If the CD can change the spot landing, such that it's more luck than skill, we lose some of that consistancy.

BTW, I think we are the only ones reading the forums anymore....

Bob

I'm still here, just not as frequently since the updates tend to be weeks apart.

I don't have a strong opinion, so long as its consistant and clear throughout a day's event. We can't have people trespassing on landing circles that are in use by other pilots.

I'm actually more concerned about the fact that we normally have only one circle up, and I've seen planes come down near enough to each other in time to foul one another's landing more than once. Something like that hasn't affected me yet, but I land early often enough that it's bound to sooner or later.

One circle? I haven't flown a contest in a while, but we always had two in the past.

Well, if you find yourself in that situation, just land beside or close without iterferring with anyone. Do the landing for time. You will then relaunch to do a 2 min flight to get your landing for the last flight. If your previous landing was a timed landing, your 2 min landing will also determine how far off your target time is for the previous flight.

I hope that's clear enough...

Bob