2018 Green Swamp Sport Klassic

 1.0 GENERAL COMPETITION RULES

The following are required:

USHPA card. Pilots must meet the requirements of minimum hang 3 rating; as well as aerotow (AT), turbulence (TURB) and cross country (XC) sign offs. Aerotow rating or evidence of extensive aerotowing experience is a strict requirement.

USHPA membership.

A GPS of each competitor for registration with make, model, and serial number available including backup GPS, if any.

Radio frequency used. The frequency list will be maintained by the meet director, be publicly displayed and pilots will be allowed to change their frequencies on the list.

Pilot and driver cell phone number. The phone list will be maintained by the meet director and be publicly displayed.

FAR 103 and Cloud flying

FAR 103 (U.S. Airspace Law/ Federal Aviation Administration Air Traffic Rule violations). All competitors are required to comply with FAR 103 at all times. A copy of FAR 103 can be provided to all competitors. Any verified infraction will result in a penalty (see below) for the associated day or possible ejection from the contest. Pilots are expected to familiarize themselves with all controlled airspaces in the vicinity of course lines (maps will be provided).

It is illegal and un-sportsmanlike for competitors to fly into clouds. Competitors who fly into clouds will incur a penalty for the day. A competitor is deemed to have flown into a cloud if he/she is observed by a meet official or videotaped going into and disappearing into a cloud, or videotaped appearing out of a cloud, or: If two witnesses near the accused witness the accused going up into the cloud and completely disappearing from their view, and attest to this fact in writing and if barograph or 3D GPS traces from the accused and a witness show the accused above the witness at the time of the incident.

If the accused cannot produce a barograph trace for that day or a 3D GPS track log from their 3D GPS, only two witness statements are required. It is highly recommended for all competitors to fly with a recording barograph and they must fly with a 3D GPS at all times.

A pilot sucked into cloud who did not have the intention of gaining an advantage should perform a figure 8 maneuver once out of the cloud so that other pilots could see it had not been intended. It is recommended that a pilot sucked into cloud who did not have the intention of gaining an advantage should perform a figure 8 maneuver once out of the cloud so that other pilots could see it had not been intended.

Witnesses should press Mark/Enter when they witness a pilot going into a cloud. Any pilot found to be deliberately supplying false information about another pilot with respect to cloud flying will be removed from the competition.

The penalty - the offending pilot shall receive a 10% reduction in their score for the first infraction, 30% reduction for a second, and then a zero daily score for any further infractions.

Meet officials may fly with the pilots to check for cloud flying and to be in contact with the safety director (who will not be flying at any time) to report safety conditions on course. If the meet director is flying and checking on pilots and the weather the deputy meet director shall take over his duties.

Following instructions from meet officials

Pilots are required to follow instructions given to them by meet officials expeditiously or risk penalty. Pilots will be instructed where to set up their gliders in the staging lines, where to enter the launch lines, and how to be prepared to launch safely. Pilots need to follow these instructions carefully.

2.0 EQUIPMENT

Radios and Phones

Radio transceivers are permitted and a radio receiver compatible with the organizer's frequency is mandatory during competition flights. Radios are for communication between competitors, team leaders, drivers and the organizers. All pilots and crews are requested to submit their team frequencies and mobile telephone numbers to the competition director. This information will be used by the safety director for safety purposes.

Appropriate aerotow bridles


Competitors must use appropriate aerotow bridles as determined by the Meet Director and Safety Director and their designated officials. Bridles must include secondary releases (as determined by the Safety Director). Bridles must be able to be connected to the tow line within two seconds. Some Appropriate pro-tow bridles can be found here: http://OzReport.com/9.039#0 and http://ozreport.com/9.041#2.

Pilots with inappropriate bridles may purchase appropriate bridles from the meet organizer.

Weaklinks

Pilots must use weaklinks provided by the meet organizers and in a manner approved by the meet organizers. All weaklinks will be checked and use of inappropriate weaklinks will require the pilot to go to the end of the launch line to change the weaklink.

Weaklinks should be placed at one end of a shoulder bridle. The tow forces on the weaklink will be roughly divided in half by this placement. Pilots will be shown how to tie the weaklink so that it more likely breaks at its rating breaking strength.

3.0 TAKE OFF METHODS

Staging

The take off area is Sheets Field, Groveland, Florida.

- Number of tugs: approximately one tug per ten pilots.

- Tow rope length: approximately 150 feet (45.72 meters)

- Aero tow release height: release at 2000' (609.6 m) or below

In the event of dangerous overcrowding in the air around launch the Meet Director may close the launch temporarily until congestion has eased.

The daily launch/staging area will be determined by the Meet Director or her assistant and will be set-up by launch crew as soon as the optimum direction can be determined.

For the purpose of expediency, pilots must stay away from the launch crew and are not allowed talk to this launch crew while they are setting up the launch/staging lines. Any pilot who in any way interferes with the launch crew setting up the launch/staging area will be subject to the penalty of having his/her launch delayed or moved to the end of the line.

Only after the launch/staging lines have been fully set-up is it permissible for pilots to stage their gliders. For safety all gliders must be in the staging area before towing commences otherwise penalties may be applied.

Pilots will stage together with their team mates and mentor according to the list provided each day. Teams will be rotated each day.

Launch

The launch is an ordered launch with a open launch window before the ordered launch with pilots in the open window chosen and ordered at the pilot briefing.

The launch marshal shall announce when window opens or if there has been a change in task so that all pilots are aware. A whiteboard near the front of the staging line will indicate changes in times or task so that all pilots are aware. It is each pilot's responsibility to be alert for any changes.

As the launch is ordered (even in the open window) there is no need to move into the launch line earlier than ten minutes before the launch opens.

The pilots in the launch box at the head of the launch line must be ready to launch five minutes before the launch window opens. Ready is defined as: Pilot is completely suited up with helmet on, hooked in with vario, GPS and other instruments turned “on.” Once in the launch line the pilot must advance forward to the end of the launch line (towards the ready-to-launch box).

To give adequate space for the tow planes to land, as pilots advance forward to the ready-to-launch box, they must stay as close to the staging line as possible.

Hang glider pilots must release from their tow at or below 2,000' AGL. They must also release when waved off by the tug pilot. Pilots will be released upwind unless they make it known to the tug pilot to take another course.

Pilots who experience a weak link break at less than approximately 100' AGL  will be slotted in for a reflight when they have returned to the line. Pilots who need a reflight must land away from the area where the tugs are approaching and landing. Pilots who come off tow at less than 1000' AGL (whether by weaklink or other reason) but above 100' AGL will be slotted to the back of the launch line (not the end of the staging line).

Push Rule

There is always an implied push as soon as the launch window opens. Pilots unwilling to launch must go to the back of the launch line.

Wind Speed

The average wind speed cannot exceed 15 mph (24 kmh) nor the gust factor 5 mph  (8.05 kmh) (total of 20 mph) (32 kmh) as measured at 7 feet (2.1336 meters) at the front of the launch line by a Flytec ALTI Windwatch for a five minute period or the launch will be suspended until the average maximum wind speed decreases.

4.0 WAYPOINTS AND GOALS

Cylinder starts will be used and these may be either entry or exit. The type of start and the dimensions may vary from task to task and will be specified at each task briefing.

 Turn Points will be cylinders of 400 meters radius unless otherwise specified at the task briefing.

 Virtual goals will be virtual cylinders of 400 meters radius size and at the specified co-ordinates unless different radius value is specified at the task briefing.

5.0 RETAKE-OFF

A competitor will be allowed unlimited Take-off(s) to attempt the task within the stated take-off period. Relaunches may only occur if you land on the "airport property." Pilots have to walk their glider back from their landing area to the launch line.

6.0 TASK PERIOD

Times of window open for take-off and time for the closing of the window, turn points and last landing will be displayed in writing. Any window extension policy will also be displayed in writing. The minimum period of time that the launch window will remain open for the launch to be considered valid is 60 seconds of launchable air per pilot or if 90% of the pilots registered and present in the staging line have launched at least once.

7.0 SCORING AND FLIGHT VERIFICATION

Scoring will be done according to the GAP 2016 (GAP 2002) scoring system. GAP Parameters: Percentage at goal: 25%, Minimum distance: 5 kilometers, Nominal distance: 30 kilometers, Nominal time: 1.5 hour. Elapsed time scoring.

Live tracking log and GPS track log evidence are the only ways to verify and provide data for flights. The track logs of two or more GPS units together may be used to provide a required track log.

Scoring a stopped task. A task which has been stopped but not cancelled shall be scored if one hour have elapsed since the opening of the first start gate.

A pilot who lands (or limits his flight) to assist another pilot in distress shall be scored for the day. This score shall be the average day-weighted of what he scored in the previous rounds, or the average pilot score if this happens on the first task. However, as the meet progresses that score will change to take into account his average day-weighted scores of the whole meet so the score will be adjusted after each task. The competition director may also award extra points.

8.0 YOUR TRACKLOG

Your Live Tracking track log is your primary track log. If for some reason the track log is not adequate you can submit a tracklog from your GPS. There is a 1% bonus on your score if the scorekeeper was able to use your Live Tracking track log for scoring purposes.

You can follow the instructions here: http://ozreport.com/pilotdownload.php to download your tracklog. It is best to use your own computer and cable or SD card reader (or phone). If you can't download your tracklog with your own equipment and email it to the scorekeeper, then you can use the computers and cables provided by the meet organizer.

Tracklogs must be emailed and received by the scorekeeper by midnight (unless a different time is given at the pilot briefing). 

If you did not fly you must email the scorekeeper directly by the times stated.

9.0 CHECKING IN

You must send a text (SMS) message to your mentor within half an hour of the designated time.

10.0 COMPLAINTS AND PROTESTS

The organizer shall publish provisional task results in the evening of the day the task was flown. When this is not possible (late retrievals), they will be published officially at 10 AM the next day.

Competitors are recommended to request correction of mistakes as soon as possible.

11.0 HANDICAPS

Wills Wing U2 and equivalents - no handicap
Topless - -30%
Wills Wing Sport 2 and equivalents - +6%
Wills Wing Falcon and equivalents - +45%