ORIGINAL: Mastertech
Arch and I have had this conversation a few times.
He and I talk a lot and sometimes he brings out points I didn't think of and those points have seen me change my mind.
We disagree on this one.
There is NO rule in the rule book stating what the penalty for breaking weight is.
Having read the book a few times I'm sure it's not there.
Over voltage - yes (Loss of round)
Over noise - Yes (Loss of a % of score depending on violation.)
Over weight - Nope (Except for the Masters Finals)
This Nats had the CD decide the penalty for this Nats was to DQ the pilot. I think that's a bit harsh and a bit over reaching by a CD.
I for one think the penalty should be stated in the rule book in black and white.
No argument then.
I think loss of the just flown round would be fine. I also think weighing should be random chance rather than weighing everybody, that would eliminate the need for a lot of help to process airplanes. Masters has a ''In the rule book'' rule on breaking weight in Masters finals.
I'm just asking for the same for the other classes.
Tim
Tim,
I think the issue is that the penalty isn't what you want it to be, but I don't see how you can say it isn't defined. Here is the quote from the rule book under section 4. Weight falls under 4.3, so it is VERY clear, and I verified this with the AMA before the NATS when we had this discussion. It applies to ALL classes. The finals are specified, simply to indicate how it is handled if a plane in the finals fails weight. But the CD has the discretion to disqualify a pilot for ANY of the rules in seciton 4. Including length. So, the penalty is very well defined. It even defines how to handle it if the plane was underweight, then had to be repaired. I'm not real sure how this isn't clear. If you fail weight at ANY time, you are DQ'd. Period, just like length.
I QUOTE: "Failure to comply with the following could result in disqualification of the contestant’s plane by the Contest Director (CD)."
Actually the more I read it, the more clear it is. If it doesn't specify a % penalty, then it means disqualification, just like using illegal devices such as gyro's and such. It lists them as prohibited, just as it says "No model may weigh more than 5000 grams gross, excluding fuel, ready for takeoff. Electric models are weighed with batteries. In Sportsman, Intermediate and Advanced an allowance of 115 grams is permitted. No model may have a wingspan or total length longer than two (2) meters (78.74 inches).
All of these are grounds for disqualification. I think what you want is a % penalty, as opposed to disqualification, but your argument that it isn't specified is incorrect. Under your argument, there is no defined penalty for anything, including gyro's, mis identifcation or anything else, when it clearly states they are grounds for disqualification. Here is the link I've been getting this from for anyone interested.
http://www.modelaircraft.org/files/2...erobatics1.pdf
Arch