 Running
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Powered Paragliding
Competition
After a year of doing these we have refined the process and
made it faster with less waiting. Each competitor now launches, flies all the
tasks and is done after the spot landing.
There is a competition director who can also be the lead judge
(no judge can fly in the event).
Areas
Three areas are set aside. The first is for launching (about
200 x 200'). The next area is for the cloverleaf (about 200 x 200) which also
serves as the foot drag course. Then at least 100 feet from its edge is the spot
landing site which also serves for the bomb drop, touch & go and power off
precision landing spot.
Times
Pilots will be assigned a launch time slot in half hour
increments with 6 pilots per half hour. The pilot must present himself at the
start of the appointed time slot or risk being disqualified at the discretion of
the lead judge. There is no refund for no-shows.
If a launch is aborted and the wing needs to be laid out again
then the next pilot ready will be cleared for launch. The aborted launch pilot
will be cleared when ready.
Who Does What
The lead judge runs the launch area and is the only person who
clears a pilot for launch. Generally a pilot will be cleared to go in 5 minute
increments or as course traffic allows. Once launched the pilot is expected to
fly each task in a reasonably expedient manner.
The pilot must know the order of tasks! This
should be printed out and taped to his flight suit or knee so it cannot be
mistaken. Flying a task out of order zeros the points. The reason for this is
safety since there will be pilots flying each one simultaneously and if a pilot
flies the wrong task he risks it for others.
There are three judge teams:
The launch team is the lead judge and an assistant. The lead
judge clears pilots to launch and is the only one that should talk to the pilots
on the radio. He will also talk with other judge teams. His assistant records
the number of launch attempts that each pilot requires to get airborne.
The
The spot landing team is two judges. One must put a foot on
the touchdown (or bomb stop location) and the other measures. |
