SEN 3286
- About rules:
- It is in the words – and the Sporting Code
About rules:
From: Pierre Chaussebourg
I still don’t understand how it is possible to time free flight models with altimeters!
As it has been said: altimeters are instruments to measure height or altitude, depending how they are set, and times are measured with stopwatches which are used by timekeepers with very special rules!
The use of airspace by free flight models says that the model must stay in sight and under control of its pilot, which is covered by the RC Dt …
But what about timing a model with altimeters ?
The end of the flight is measured when the model touches the ground ! But there is no guarantee that the model is still in sight of timekeepers from the starting point!
Times measured by altimeters are outlaw! The altimeters rule is in conflict with the timekeeping rules and this is not acceptable and would not be accepted by a tribunal of Sports in case of conflict!
This must be clarified asap!!!
It is in the words and Sporting Code –
Editorial
The Sporting Code
Section 4 Aeromodelling Volume EDIC Electronic Devices in Competition 2024 Edition Effective 1 January 2024 SECTION 5 – FREE FLIGHT provides a specific definition of the kind of altimeter that can be used in Free Flight competition and that includes the timing of models. It acknowledges that the altimeter can be a multifunction device suitable for timing flight duration as well measuring altitude. The object of the technical requirements for the certification of the altimeter provides assurance that the devices is fit for purpose. It would seem that this defines timing a device appropriately.
For many years it has been common practice for our contestants to deploy on-board flight-recording devices on the aircraft to help us with the improvement of the flight performance of our models. These devices measure and record many aspects of the flight including altitude, flight time and position. The officials and people who administer free flight are aware of this. They are also aware of serious anomalies in the manual recording of flight times in major contests. There are a number of reasons for this, ranging from genuine human error through limitations of the equipment to deliberate cheating. Whereas virtually all modern competitive sporting endeavors use some form of automated timing or measuring device, we have retained manual stopwatches possibly with binoculars. We have one exception in a special tie breaker ? the D/T fly off where inclement weather does not permit the usual long flights. For this we are using on-board flight recorders but obfuscated the real potential of the device by calling it an altimeter.
It is clear that our current practice of manual timing is way out of date and would not pass muster if scrutinized by an independent outside sporting body because we are aware of so many anomalies and have failed to address them. In recent years the increased development of drone has increased the regulation of unmanned aircraft and those covering model aircraft are included. We are all concerned with public safety, and it is a complex area setting rules that achieve the desired goals but are easily understood and implemented by all parties. One of these is restricting to flying within visual line of sight. This is complex because we know already from the visual timing of our models that determining of visual line of sight varies significantly by person, model , weather etc. Looking at how our contests are run traditionally we are not strictly adhering to being in visual line of sight and could face penalties if a very strict interpretation of the visual line of sight were taken ? and this is even excluding the use of on board flight recorders. A saving grace is the low profile of free flight and the basic spirit of competitions that we do not intend for our models to fly away out of sight. We have seen reference to a discussion going on in the UK at the present time. It is clear that we don t want the model to fly too far and into the wrong place and need to consider what is the best way to specify, measure and control this. There may well be ways of using the work already done with on-board flight recorders in practical solutions in this space. Our governing bodies need to work on this to preserve Free Flight.
We are proud of our technology-related sporting endeavor; we need to deploy some of that tech to both make it a serious and fair competition and keep the general public and civil authorities happy about public safety and civic responsibility. If we apply the argument that a certified altimeter or on-board flight recorder should not permitted because this tells people that we credit a flyer for extra time he got because he landed behind a hay stack and was beyond the visual line of sight, then we should not permit the use of radio or GPS tracking devices for the same reason. Let’s get real. If we do not do something to move in this direction, we will have the existing rules but for a sport which is under a lot of pressure,……
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Roger Morrell