Academy of Model Aeronautics

5161 East Memorial Drive
Muncie, Indiana 47302
(765) 287-1256 – Business
(765) 289-4248 – Fax
(800) 435-9262 – Membership Services
http://www.modelaircraft.org

Jan 9, 2007


2008 USA FAI JUNIOR FREE FLIGHT TEAM SELECTION PROGRAM (JRTSP)


MISSION STATEMENT
The junior team selection program exists to provide a substantial opportunity to young Free Flight modelers who have demonstrated a high degree of interest in the sport and the willingness to continually improve their flying skills and the performance of their models. They must demonstrate a degree of proficiency of competing with their models without direct adult involvement. The purpose of this program is to provide a fair process of selecting the Junior Free Flight flyers to compete in the Junior FAI Free Flight World Championship currently scheduled for the summer of 2008 in Poland.


1.0 Program Entry
-A participant must have a current AMA membership.
-Any person who will be under the age of 19 throughout the entire calendar year of 2008 is eligible.
- Participants are to send a program entry application (Form A) postmarked on or before July 1, 2007 to the AMA. This requirement is needed to facilitate the planning for timers at the pre-Nats selection contest. On-field entry will be accepted with a 50$ late fee. Other than the late application fee, there is no monetary charge for Junior Team selection program entry.
-The AMA license fee and any contest entry fees are the responsibility of the entrant. The events to be flown are F1A Nordic, F1B Wakefield, and F1P Power.


2.0 Junior Team Selection Committee
The Free Flight Team Selection Committee (TSC) will govern the Junior Program. The TSC shall appoint a Junior Team Selection Committee (JrTSC), which is to be composed of three or four open flyers. The JrTSC members will hold the following positions at a minimum: Administrator, Manager, Scorekeeper and Fund Raiser. It is also desired to have one JrTSC member in the East, Central and West part of the country. Interested individuals should contact the JrTSC Chairman after the proceeding Junior World Championships.

3.0. Team Selection
The USA Junior FAI Free Flight Team Selection Program (JrTSP) for the 2008 World Championships will run concurrently with the start and finish of the 2007 America's Cup season. The program is based on a 400-point program. Contestant's will earn up to 100- points for each of his or her two best 2007 America's Cup or Junior Plus (Jr+) contests, up to 100-points at the Jr Team Selection 2007 Pre-Nats contest and up to 100-points at the 2007 Nats. Up to 10 additional Jr+ contest may be added to the thirty 2007 AmCup contests. The Jr+ designated contests will be announced via Jr Team Bulletins. Jr Team Bulletins will be posted on SCAT Electronic News (SEN) and the NFFS website under Competition / Junior as needed. The Nats contest cannot be used as an AC contest.

400 Total Maximum Points = 100 points Nats +100 points Pre-Nats + 100 points
1st best AmCup/Jr Plus + 100 points 2nd best AmCup/Jr Plus

If F1P is not an official event at the Nats, Jr F1P flyers will fly their F1P(s) in the regularly scheduled F1C event using 10-second engine run, 3-minute max and 7 rounds. Possible changes will be clarified and communicated using JrTSC Bulletins and the NFFS website.


3.1 Ties
In the event of a tie at the completion of the last 2007 AmCup contest, the participant's finishing position in the 2007 pre-Nats contest will determine the final top three team positions and alternate position.


3.2 Calculation of points.
Points are proportional to the winning contest time. The winning time of the seven regularly scheduled rounds of a contest (that is, fly-off time is not included) will establish the time for 100 points. All AmCup/Jr+ contest entrants' scores (i.e. including the open contestants) will be used to calculate the points. Points will be calculated by rounding to the nearest tenth of a point. In the event of extenuating circumstance at the Pre-Nats or Nats that prevent five rounds from being completed at either or both of the contests, the scores will be given to the JrTSC who will determine how the scores will be used to determine individual points.


Example, Point Calculations:

  Contestants

 Time

Points

A Winning Time

1252

(100 max)

D

1249

99.8

B

1230

98.2

C

1203

96.1

A

1143

91.3

F

1140

91.1

E

996

79.6

3.3 Contest requirements for points.
For points to be awarded, the contest must complete a minimum of 5 rounds as demonstrated by at least one official flight time recorded in each of the 5 rounds. For contests with more than seven rounds scheduled, the first seven round scores will be used to calculate points. A max-out minimum average of 2 minutes per round is required.

3.4 Minimum performance level
.
Each participant selected for the team is expected to achieve at least 300 points out of the possible 400 points in the final scoring. Participation in the Pre-Nats and Nats is required.

3.5 America's Cup and Junior Plus contests
All 2007 America's Cup and Junior Plus (Jr+) contests may be used to earn points in the JrTS program regardless of Jr TS program entrance date. That is retro active scoring will be done. Junior Plus (Jr+) contest must be approved by the JrTSC and announced approximately 30 days before the Jr+ contest. That is, no contests will be declared retro-actively.

3.6 Pre-Nats Contest
On Sunday, before the start of the 2007 Nats, a special junior selection program contest (pre-Nats) will be held. The intention is to run a seven-round, one-hour long rounds contest with three-minute maxes starting at 8:00 am. Changes will be communicated using JrTSC Bulletins and the NFFS website. An flyoff will be flown to conclusion with the results to be used to break ties if needed.


3.6.1 Special restrictions and conditions at the pre-Nats Contest
The intent of the pre-Nats contest is for the junior participants to demonstrate their flying skills and proficiency. Adult involvement will be limited and individual pole positions and timers will be assigned.
- Access to the flight line will be limited to juniors entered in the program and officials and official designated timers and helpers only.
An area near the junior flight line will be designated for adult viewing. Junior participants shall not receive outside communication while on the flight line or when towing in the case of F1A.
- An adult that is not affiliated with the Jr flyer may do the initial launch to start the towing of an F1A. This adult must not intervene
with any Jr while on the flight line. Specifically, they are not to check the model for flight worthiness and should not have any part in the decision when to launch..
- If outside communication is deemed by the Contest Director (CD) to have potentially influenced a flight, the CD will void the flight in
question and a re-flight will be given. However, additional time will not be added to the round.
- The junior participant may leave the flight line and receive help from non-program participants.
- No special restrictions or conditions will apply during the AmCup or Nats events.


3.7 Official team designation.

The top three junior flyers will be required to complete the AMA team membership agreement form, which will be sent from AMA. The final announcement of the junior team will then be made for the 2008 Junior World Championships. It is the prerogative of the JrTSC not to select a full 9-member team as deemed appropriate due to the qualifications of the applicants per paragraph 3.4 and/or funding constraints. The JrTSC will also maintain the authority to place late entrants in un-contested Junior Team positions.

4.0 Team and Travel Requirements

Team members must have a current NAA membership (FAI Stamp), along with a passport for both travel and to verify age as required by the FAI. The Academy of Model Aeronautics requires that all minors have a parent or legal guardian with them during the Jr. World Championship trip. A legal guardian must have a documented power of attorney, commit to traveling with the minor, and be responsible for the minor for the entire trip. The Junior Team Manager must submit to a background check in compliance with AMA
regulations. The Junior Team Manager has the discretion to accept or not to accept the legal guardianship of a minor if so
requested.

5.0 Financial Requirements
AMA will provide up to $400 for travel to and from World Championship per team member and up to 900 Swiss Franc for World
Championship entry fees, room and board per team member. Donations will be sought to offset any additional costs of travel and competitions. However, it will be the responsibility of the team member to pay for any costs if donation funds are not available.

7.0 Certification of Models
Team member's models must have an identifying voucher on the model and a Class F Aeromodels Specification Certificate filled out per the FAI Sporting Code for each model. Vouchers and Specification Certificates are available through AMA Headquarters. The team member's models must also have "USA" and the flyer's AMA number on the upper surface of the wing(s) as specified in
the FAI Sporting Code. Other regulations, as specified for that model type in the FAI Sporting Code must be certified on the voucher.

FORM A -- APPLICATION

2008 USA FAI FREE FLIGHT JUNIOR TEAM SELECTION PROGRAM





Date Completed:



Entrant's Name:

AMA#



Address:



City, State & Zip:



Telephone Number:



Email Address:



Date of Birth:



Junior Team Event(s):


Parent/Guardian Name(s):

 


Optional: Please provide a 200-word summary of your modeling experience and
your interest in the Junior Team Program. A 5 x 7-inch photo of you with a
model should be included. This information and photo will be used on the
Junior Team Web site and other model aircraft publications to promote the
Junior Team Program.




























Mail Completed Form to:
Academy of Model Aeronautics
Attn: Lisa Johnson
5161 East Memorial Drive
Muncie, Indiana 47302