Open letter to SW Classic CASL all CD's and pilots. Guy Russo CD AMA Leader Member
Several posts have been made about the SW event. Hopefully you can read between the lines and CASL will discuss the event and consider the input. I plan to attend again as there is much to be gained by renewing old friendships and making new ones. Coming from Nth Idaho 27 degrees and flying in 80 degree weather in February has it's own reward. THANK YOU ALL FOR PUTTING ON THE EVENT! At the pilots meeting the CD announced that there would be no pop offs and no reflights for broken lines. Challenged on this he indicated that they always did this and then said something about they would judge the launch and decide. I am still learning to not be bothered by things beyond my control like poor field lay out, poor winch positions, short lines ( less than 660 feet by my paces) and odd landing tasks. I understand that contests are for fun and I had a good time! I also go to these events to measure my soaring progress against some of the top pilots in the world on a given weekend. There were three World Champions, several regional champions and many excellent flyers. I welcome those who fly for fun and those who want to compete. This is a competition and as an AMA sanctioned event AMA rules and regulations apply. This post is for all CD's at any event. AMA 2002-2004 Competition Regulations - Rules Governing Model Aviation Competition in the United States; 7.2 relaunches. A relaunch is permitted at the DISCRETION OF THE CONTESTANT when in the judgment of the CD; 7.2b. The CD supplied launching system malfunctions. Please see General Information Contest Directors; "entrants naturally assume that AMA regulations apply-and deviations must therefore be clearly spelled out in advance, particularly in advertising, to attract out-of-towners." "Any deviation from the standard rules as printed in the AMA Rule Book must be detailed in writing as part of the sanction request." No, I did not pop or break a line. I did however feel very sad for the other pilots who did! If you popped and looped you were in big trouble due the proximity to trees directly behind the winches. In the trying wind conditions I feel that pops and breaks should have been considered. It appeared that later in the day there were some reflights given for line breaks. Was this left to subjective judgment? Let me say in advance that we have all seen Larry Leadfoot break stuff. Larry can de dealt with by an observant CD. If there was ever an event where a good tow was needed this was it. Short lines, 10 minute task, obstacle course walk to the landings and down wind launches or landings and sometime both! Please read the book and please at any event designate a SAFETY LINE for the fun fly! Also, please advertise the landing task and other things in advance of the event as called for in "guidelines" I met pilots from all over the country and many travel at great expense to attend, please consider these folks next time. Thank you, "out-of towner" Guy RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please note that subscribe and unsubscribe messages must be sent in text only format with MIME turned off.