ORIGINAL: TonyF
Hardly an equal comparison, Derek. Doesn't the rules for an F3A World Championship require the weighing and sound checking of every competitor? Our rules do not. The World Champs bring only the top three fliers from each country flying the top class from each of those countries. Our Nats flies F3A then 4 AMA classes of a lower skill level then F3A. Again, not an equal comparison. Also, our rules do not specify that each and every model will be weighed at the conclusion of every flight. That is going above and beyond our rules. Here are our rules,
Wherever practical, all aircraft should be weighed prior to the start of the contest. If weight is being enforced then all planes competing in that class must be weighed before the same round (round 1 or otherwise) for a baseline. Only two attempts at making weight will be allowed on the day specified for weigh-in. If no calibration system is available for the scales, a tolerance of 50 grams will be allowed for possible inaccuracies in the measurement instrument. Random checks may be conducted at any time during the contest. An aircraft that has been damaged and repaired during the contest, after the initial weigh-in has been made, is subject to being reweighed. Repaired models failing the weight and/or size limits shall be disqualified for competition but recorded scores with the legal aircraft will stand. Aircraft qualifying for a Final shall be weighed and size-checked prior to the commencement of the Finals and may be checked again at any time during the Finals at the discretion of the CD / ED. Only one attempt at making weight will be allowed for a Finals weigh-in prior to the commencement of the Finals. In the event that the disqualification occurs amongst the Finalists at the Nationals, the next highest competitor shall be allowed to replace the disqualified competitor in the Finals. In the event that more than one or more Finals rounds have been flown at the time of a disqualification, no additional pilot will be invited to replace the disqualified contestant. Models shall be weighed in a manner that does not cause damage to the aircraft.
Our rules are specific that if weight is going to be enforced then there must be processing prior to the start of a round. Then random checks can be performed. Not every model weighed at the end of every flight.
I've made my point here. The simple fact is that the ED is making his own decisions without the input of the NSRCA BOD. I think that is wrong.
BTW, Rene, I was asked to ED the Nats this year. I declined as I still want to compete and I also wanted to learn more about the process before I would commit to being the ED. I specifically said I would be interested in ED'ing a future Nats. Arch also initially declined but he changed his mind when he went to the Nats Planning Meeting.
Tony,
To clarify, as stated above in this post. Realistically I would like to weigh every airplane once a day. Every flight will probably prove to be too much of a headache. I don't understand what the problem is. It is not affecting overall manpower as I'm using people who aren't juding anyway. It also wont slow the day down as it will be done after a flight and will be at least 8 minutes or so before the next plane could possibly be ready to hit the scales as the next plane would be in the air. Trying to process every airplane when they show up requires a lot more time and effort. This should not affect the timings of flights whatsoever. Trying to do the weighing prior to the contests also makes it possible to skirt around the rules, whereas doing it after a pilot lands prevents this from being a possibility. So, please let me know why it is a problem that I am enforcing a rule? I am also not picking and choosing rules. I am enforcing everything that has been done in the past, only I am doing it to all planes, rather than a select few.
Also, and I have confirmed this with MULTIPLE sources both AMA and NSRCA. The ED is not at the disposal of the BOD. The NATS are an AMA event, not an NSRCA event. The NSRCA as the SIG supports the event, but the AMA is ultimately who runs the event. Just as in a local contest, the rules followed for them including santioning of the event go through AMA, NOT the NSRCA. In this case, I am simply choosing to enforce a rule that has not been enforced in the past. Also, I have not been invited to a BOD meeting, but will be talking to them at the next one, and offline I have spoken to some officers and VPs, as well as other prominent members of the pattern community about their thoughts on this, and those conversations have been overwhelmingly positive. To clarify, I am doing NOTHING that would require the NSRCA BOD to say anything as I am simply enforcing rules that have not been previously enforced. The only change to the rulebook is that I will am SPECIFYING they will be weighed after a flight. As ED, I am well within my rights to do this and am giving ample notice to the participants.
I have already arranged for courtesy weigh in's and made provisions for courtesy sound testing prior to the start of the pilots meeting on Sunday. The weigh in's will take place at the museum, and any pilot wishing to be weighed will be able to come there between 1-5 on Sunday. I am finalizing the location of the sound check, whether it will be in the parking lot with an area blocked off, or at one of the sites, those plans are still in the works, but will be available. I have also obtained the required volunteers to perform these jobs, so this is now set.
I have made the effort to announce these things months in advance so people can plan for them. Whether you choose to agree or disagee with me, that is your choice, but none of these decisions were made by me just sitting around thinking things up. Much communication and consultation has gone into EVERY decision that has been made and in the end, as the ED, I am the one 100% responsible for how things run. If the NATS go poorly, no one blames the NSRCA BOD, the issues fall squarely on the ED.
I do not plan to comment again on these specific issues as I think every question or concern has been adressed. Whether you get the answer you want is another question. I will post again regarding the NATS when more information the conestants attending need to know is available.
Arch