[F3A-Discussion] New rules proposed for the upcoming CIAM meeting in mid-April

[Derek Koopowitz]

Everyone,

I've been reading the proposed rule changes and there are several that
affect F3A.  I'd like to get your opinion on the proposed changes - the
following are modifications that could be made to the ABR section:

1.  i) B.7.4. Additional Fees (Germany)
Amend the paragraph as follows:
With the exceptions listed below, the maximum possible fee is 600 Euro for
seven nights, except for events which require more than five judges or more
than seven nights.
*F3A: 750* F3B: 660 F3C: 700 F3D: 720 F4: 700 F5: 660
*Reason: Financial demands to run an F3A first category event are possibly
the **highest of all F-classes. Therefore the limit needs to be raised.*
*
*
2.  m) B.16.2. Team Classification (Germany)
Delete paragraph c)
*c) When teams consist of four competitors or, in the case of F2C, four
pairs of **competitors (ref B.3.5) then all the team members in first,
second and third place **will be awarded medals.*
Reason: B.16.2 a) states clearly, that the performance of the three best
scoring team members establishes the team classification. Awarding of
medals to team members who might even have no score at all and who’s
performance is not counted, is inconsistent with the idea of sport and the
Olympic spirit.

3.  n) B16.2. Team Classification (RSA)
Amend the paragraph as follows:
The team classification is established by adding the scores of the three
team members *nominated on the entry forms* of the team together.
*Reason: The present system is unfair to countries that are unable to enter
a junior.  **It is unfair for the official 3rd. Team member to possibly not
receive an **award.*
*The score of a defending champion entered as an individual is not
eligible.  **Possible future veteran categories also need to be
excluded. **Junior
entry fees are often reduced.*
*
*
*4.  *t) B.18. Protests (France)
Amend the paragraph as follows:
B.18.1. All protests must be presented in writing to the Contest Director
at the competition and must be accompanied by the deposit of a fee. The
amount of this fee shall be the equivalent of 35 Euro. The deposit is
returned only if the protest is upheld.  *The same person (Team-Manager or
competitor depending of the type of the competition) cannot present two
consecutive protests on the same subject.*
*Reason: Avoid the situation which has been encountered for the F2C final
at the 2010 Control Line World Championships.*
*
*
5.  u) B.19.4 Safety Precautions & Instructions (France)
Amend paragraph b) of B.19.4 as follows:
b) All spinners and other forward-facing *(except wings)* metal or equally
rigid projections should have a minimum radius of 5 mm.  *A jig (as
sketched below) will be applied to the front of the part to be controlled.
 Whenever this part reaches the 5mm radius curve at 1 or more points,
without being in contact with the two adjacent, tangent straight lines, the
model will **not be eligible to fly.*
*Reason: To define the way of controlling the 5mm mandatory radius. To
avoid further protests, as it occurred during last EC and WC in F2B.  This
is a safety matter, and we must emphasize the fact that F2B judges
usually stand or sit inside the fenced area. Also the use of sharp spinners
represents a real danger in other categories, from F1, F2 and F3 classes.*
*
*
*6.  *v) B.19.7. Flying Sites (F3 Aero Sub-committee)
Add a new paragraph four as follows:
*At each operational flightline an appropriate fire extinguishing
equipment shall be available.*
*Reason: Modern electric drive systems, such as for model aircraft
propulsions or winches, as well as turbines, etc. or flammable substances
in use in or near the competing model aircraft and the persons around are
subject of fire risk, which may require a sudden and quick action of fire
fighting.  E.G. at the 2011 World Championship F3A an ESC exploded during
the sound test on ground causing the model aircraft to catch fire. If fire
extinguishing equipment would have been available on spot, the damage to
the model aircraft could have been significantly reduced. Luckily no
personal injury resulted from the accident.*
*
*


You'll notice that the overall (per person) entry fee is being proposed to
be 750 euros (maximum) for F3A... this hopefully will pass as it is almost
impossible to run a WC and make any money at the current maximum.  If we'd
been able to charge 750 euros per person at the 2011 WCs our overall loss
would have been much smaller.  I'm definitely in favor of this.

#2 and #3 are different proposals to address scoring of team placings.  My
preference is #2.

#4 is to address the potential of filing the same protest twice by the same
person.  I'm ok with this.

#5 is a proposal to measure spinners to ensure they aren't sharp - there is
a template provided.  My inclination is to vote no on this.

#6 is a proposal that the F3 aerobatic sub-committee is submitting.  I'm
definitely in favor of this.


Thoughts?

-Derek
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