Scottish Gliding Union Ladder Rules

Season 2003/2004

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The rules are based on those for the 2003/2004 BGA Ladder. Differences are shown in italic. New SGU rules are underlined.

1. The competition will start on November 1^st and end on October 31^st.

2. Any flight which originates from Portmoak may count except for those made while competing in a BGA-rated competition. Points will only be awarded to P1 in a two-seater.

Aerotow or ‘iron thermal’ may be used before a start but free flight must start within a beer can of 5,000 feet aal and 40 km radius from POR.

All flights at Scottish Inter-club League competitions (includes Milfield) will count towards the SGU Ladders if the pilot is flying, reserve or crewing for SGU.

3. There will be five separate ladder competitions:-

• The SGU Open Ladder - for any cross country flight.
• The SGU Weekend Ladder - for cross country flights made on weekends (i.e. on Saturdays and Sundays only - not Scottish bank holidays).
• The Hot Wings Ladder - for cross country flights in thermal (and under 6,000' QFE Portmoak with other than GPS logger evidence).
• The Height Gain Ladder - for height gain flights only.
• The SGU Junior Ladder - for cross country flights made by pilots not yet 26 years of age at the start of the competition.

4. For each competition a pilot may enter any number of flights but only the best four will count towards a final placing. No more than one cross country or height gain may be claimed from a single flight. Any single flight may be entered for all ladders for which it qualifies.

5. The pilot’s word will be accepted for flight times, rounding TPs and landing positions except that SGU Ladder trophies will only be awarded in each of the SGU Ladder Competitions with the support of photographic or properly controlled GPS logger evidence.

5.1 Turnpoints

Turnpoints will conform to one of the following:

• FAI 90-degree sectors, as for badge flights.

• 0.5km-radius cylinders ("Barrel Sectors") with the following provisos:

• The scoring distance will be reduced by 1km per turnpoint.
• Turnpoints may not be claimed by pilots not carrying GPS.
• SGU Trophies will only be awarded with GPS-Logger evidence.
  

• Thistle shape control zones are acceptable.
• Tasks of three turnpoints (four legs) will not suffer a scoring penalty.
• FAI triangles score a bonus of 10%. (i.e. 28% if <500 km and 25%/45% if =>500 km)

Flights that use both types of turnpoint will be scored as using 0.5 km radius cylinders.

5.2 GPS Logger Evidence

GPS logger traces will be accepted provided that the trace is either from a secure logger or has been downloadedto the satisfaction of the club ladder steward or his deputy who will then record that the flight has been properly controled.

5.3 Barographs

Barograph traces must be shown to the club ladder steward for height claims. Logger files must be sent to the ladder steward by email.

5.4 Photographic Evidence

TP photographs must contain the following:

5.4.1 A start board clearly showing:

• The date
• Pilot’s name Glider type and identification
• Declaration of start, turning and finishing points

5.4.2 Photos of the start point, each turnpoint rounded and if possible the finish point.

5.4.3 A photo of the glider fin showing the same identification as on the start board. Cut films are acceptable if accompanied by a declaration containing the following for each flight on the film:

• Date of the flight
• Pilot’s name
• Glider type and identification
  

6. Flights in gliders with motors are accepted. If the engine is used in flight, the glider is scored from the furthest GPS position logged prior to engine start. If qualifying for a club ladder trophy, barograph/camera or GPS evidence is required to substantiate whether or where the engine was used.

7. Declarations must be made before take-off, either electronically or in writing as appropriate, and must include the start point, up to four turning points and the finish point. If a GPS Logger which does not allow an electronic declaration is used, it shall be sufficient to have the task declared written in the comment cell of the launch point log-sheet and signed and dated by a witness. If photographic evidence is being used, then photograph the witness holding the log-sheet. (This does not apply for badge flights or flights to be counted in winning the National Ladder).
All declared turnpoints must be features shown on 1:50,000 Ordinance Survey map, and/or sets of coordinates, and preferably be selected from the BGA List of Turning Points (obtainable from the BGA web site).

8. Up to four BGA Turning Points may be used for Undeclared flights. If any other point is turned, the nearest BGA TP which gives a shorter scoring distance will be used for scoring purposes.

9. The competition handicap (Si) will apply to all tasks.

10. For uncompleted tasks, the distance counted for the uncompleted leg is the length of that leg as declared, less the distance between the landing point and the next turning point (as in BGA contest rules). For undeclared flights the full distance counts.

For gliders carrying GPS loggers, the termination point of a pre-declared task may be calculated as the furthest recorded GPS position on track for the purpose of calculating achieved distance. Logger files must be made available to the ladder steward if pilots intend to submit flights that include GPS landouts.

11. Points are given for Cross Country distance and/or speed and for Height gains.

11.1 Full cross country points plus a bonus are awarded for declared flights where the declared start, turn and finish points are all rounded in the declared order AND the height loss between the start and finish points is the lesser of 1,000m or 1% of the distance flown.

A proportion of full points is given to declared /incomplete flights where a declaration was made but not achieved. A fixed proportion is given to undeclared flights.

11.2 Height points are awarded for gain of height. No flight may earn both height and speed/distance points. No points may be claimed for flights above 15,000ft without oxygen.

12. Calculation of points.

12.1 Cross Country Points = (A * S * dh * (4000 + (va * vh)) / 2000)

where:
Si = speed index
dh = handicapped marking distance in km (= actual marking distance in km *100/Si)
va = actual speed in km/h
vh = handicapped speed in km/h (= actual speed in km/h*100/Si)
A = 1.1 for declared and completed tasks
'' = 0.85 for undeclared tasks
'' = (distance achieved) / (distance declared) for declared but uncompleted tasks
S = 1.10 for 28% triangles under 500 km and 25/45 triangles of 500 km or over.
'' = 1.0 for tasks with 1,2,3 or 4 legs

12.2 Height Points = ((height gain in feet) – 5000) / 10

13. Details of each flight must be submitted to the club ladder steward by entering them in the Ladder Book, which is kept in the club-room, within one month of the flight taking place. Full details of flights, including photographs and/or GPS Logger evidence when available, must be submitted to the club ladder steward within one month of being requested.

14. Trophies are awarded to the winners as follows:

• SGU Open Ladder - The McClay Championship Trophy
• SGU Weekend Ladder - The Peter Copeland Trophy
• SGU Hot Wings Ladder - The "Hot Wings" Trophy
• SGU Height Gain Ladder - The height Gain Trophy
• SGU Junior Ladder - The Junior Ladder Trophy

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