F3J in the Desert 2012 Rules Clarifications Interpretations, Processes

1. The following clarifications/interpretations/processes will be implemented at the 2012 F3J in the Desert Event:
2. The event will be conducted over 2 days in Queen Creek Feb 15-16.
3. A pilot’s meeting will occur at 7:30AM at the CD tent. First flight 8:00AM. The pilots meeting will be brief used only for clarification questions and points the CD desires to make. The goal is to ask any clarification questions to the organizers via email prior to the event.  
4. Teams should be set up on their assigned lanes prior to 7:50AM.  We WILL start the prep time at 8:00AM..
5. There WILL be fly offs.  
1. All teams will leave their equipment for the flyoffs
2. 13 pilots are planned for the flyoff.  This could change due to equipment or other logistical challenges
3. We are planning on 4 flyoff rounds, but may reduce this to 3 if time is short for the prelims
4. If a lane has 1 pilot in the flyoff, the pilot will stay on their equipment for the flyoff
5. If there is more than one pilot from a team that makes the flyoff, the team will choose who gets the lane.  The other pilot(s) will go into the "unassigned" pool.  Pilots will choose a remaining lane in the order that they finished in the prelims.
6. There will be about 30 minutes from the end of the prelims to the beginning of the flyoffs.
7. In the event that a reflight is granted for any pilot in the finals, then entire group will be called down and the entire group reflown.
6. No round will start after 4:30pm each day.
7. Lanes will be assigned randomly before the event.  You will have the same lane for the entire event and can leave your equipment in your lane.  One exception to the random assignment will be the F3J junior team will be placed next to the senior team to facilitate training.
8. There will be one throw out round applied after six complete rounds have been flown.  
9. All other F3J rules shall be in effect.
10. The official timer for a team is one of the pilot’s designated callers (Pilot may have two callers). As with most contests the honor system will apply.
11. Timer error is NOT grounds for a reflight. It is recommended that a backup watch be started by the pilot’s other caller or other helper on the team. If a failure of the primary watch occurs, the backup watch time should be used as the official flight time.  A timing error without a backup is considered a zero!
12. The current FAI rules regarding line crosses and cuts during launch will be followed. Crossed lines on the ground prior to a launch WILL be considered as a hindrance and cause for reflight, but only if the lines are crossed when the pilot is hooked up and ready to launch, and the CD or his designated line judge is notified immediately. Cut lines during a launch will be considered a cause for a reflight provided the cut was witnessed and / or brought to the immediate attention of a contest official and the contestant did not waive his right to a reflight by continuing with his launch and/or flight. Airplane collision with another competitor's line is cause for reflight. Pilot airplane collision with another competitor’s line is cause for reflight if observed by a contest official. Crossing of lines without a cut is NOT cause for reflight.
13. If a pilot lands out of the landing zone and chooses to refly, they must mark the spot of the resting place of the nose of the plane before retrieving it for the next flight.  If the spot is NOT marked and the pilot chooses not to make the reflight, then the round is ZEROED!  This prevents pilots/helpers from retrieving planes that may have landed outside the 75m landing requirement from obscuring the actual landing spot and then not relaunching and expecting to get their time from the initial flight.  The pilot may leave the plane at its resting spot and use an alternate for the next flight, or place a marker.  The CD will determine if a measurement is needed at the end of the round.
14. Flyers granted a reflight for any reason will be positioned in a flight group using the following priorities:
1. in an incomplete group, or in a complete group on additional launching/landing spots; (note that if the groups are full this will be unlikely.)
2. if 1. is not achievable, then in a new group of several (minimum 4) reflyers;Reflights from different rounds may be grouped together at a convenient time.
15. Therewill be no get out of jail free cards.  Pilots chosen to participate in the reflights are participating as spoilers only.  They will not get the better of their 2 scores.  Pilots may choose not to participate in the reflight if chosen and another pilot will be selected.
16. We will be using a new electronic scoring system this year.  Each team requires at least one phone that is capable of browser internet access at the field.  All pilots will be sent an email with the web address of the scoring application and instructions for use prior to the event.  Each team is responsible for entering their pilot's scores into the application on the phone by the end of the round.   This will transmit the scores electronically to the scorekeeper who will verify that all the scores are entered, that all overflights are recorded correctly and any safety penalties have been assessed correctly.  Once verified, the scorekeeper will close the round and the standings will be computed.  These standings are then immediately available in the application on your phone. You will be able to see the summarized standings and the details for all completed flights.
17. We will have 1 speaker for every 2 flight stations placed along the flight line - there should be no appreciable delay in the sound to any team.
1. NOTE: THE BEGINNING OF ALL HORNS INDICATE THE TIME! If you are landing, and not on the ground at the beginning of the horn - then you are late! If you are launching and the plane leaves your hand prior to the start of the horn - then you are early and must land and relaunch.
18. All flight announcement timing will be backed up by a manual watch.  In the event of a timing system announcement failure after the launch signal, the signals will be generated manually using the backup watch and the PA system.  In this case you will only get the 2 minute warning and the horn at the end of the slot.  If the PA system fails such that the launch, 2 minute warning or end horn cannot be heard, we will refly the group.
19. Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated.  You need to follow both the letter and intent of the rules.  Intentional unsportsmanlike conduct will result in either the disqualification of a flight or from the contest based on the gravity of the conduct.
20. Safety Zones - The safety zones will consist of the launch corridor, the Officials Tent, the pit/spectator areas and the parking area.  We will adopt the F3B style safety penalty rule.  Simply put, if your aircraft hits any object in the safety zone you are penalized 300 points. If you hit a person anywhere, then you receive a 1000 point penalty.  The one exception is that a helper that intends to catch the aircraft for a relaunch is not considered a safety infraction (whether he catches it or not).  If he fails to catch it and hits someone or something else, then it is a safety infraction. The catch must be attempted outside the safety area. Penalties are permanent and cannot be removed by a throwout.
21. The number of helpers rule is modified as follows:  The pilot may have 2 callers assisting with the flight.  Other team members are allowed to help with field logistics (other than calling) as needed (fetching chutes, fixing lines, getting lunch - whatever...
22. Prep Time - we will be trying to speed the contest up by reducing the prep time.  Since the winches are all set up and will not be moved during the event and because we have large teams with plenty of help we will run a shortened prep time.  There will be a one minute silent period at the end of each round to allow you to clear the landing area.  After the one minute silence the 2 minute prep time will begin.  This cycle will run continuously and will not be stopped unless the CD is notified in the 1 minute silent period. Once the prep time starts it will not be stopped unless the CD determines there is rightful cause.
23. Winches MUST have the turnarounds staked at designated marks on the field. There will be a line on the field as marker for the appropriate distance.  F3B winches will be staked at 150 meters from the upwind launch corridor line.  TD winches will be staked at 165M from the upwind launch corridor line.
24. Two winch/line options are allowed.
1. F3B winches may use up to 150 meter length mono, with braided nylon line for theground line. F3
2. US TD winches must use all braided line.  
25. Hand Tow is allowed following F3J rules.  You may use only ONE launch style for the event - if youstart with hand tow you must fly all rounds hand tow. If you start with a winch you must fly all rounds with the winch.
26. The turnaround positions will be marked by the organizers. Not adhering to the proper turnaround location or winch location will result in a zero flight.
27. The winches will be positioned on the upwind edge of the launch corridor.
28. The batteries are not regulated.
29. Two winches will be allowed per launch lane.
30. Allstakes/spikes/nails or similar things that are punched into the ground MUST have orange flagging on them to ensure removal.  These things do bad things to the mowers and cutters, and we don’t want to leave the field in poor condition with metal stakes.