2011 FAI Team Selection Comments.                                                                                          November 5, 2010

TSC,

Many of you know that for years I have promoted going to a Finals format in which each day of flying decides a team member and the third team member is the flyer with the best two day combined position. The genesis of this was a compromise to using a multi-contest selection format. A single bad contest / flight should not eliminate a flyer.  The TSC has the detail plan on record.  I understand that this was seriously considered at the last TSC in person meeting.  

The other format that has been discussed for years is 2 or 3 separate contests spread across the country and calendar.  I believe Gil Morris was the backer of plan like this.  Select one team member at the NATs and two at a conventional Finals. I would however change Gil’s plan to allow a flyer to fly at both contests.  This idea’s strongest benefit would be to maintain participation of the eastern flyers as it appears that Lost Hills is becoming the only viable Final’s site from both open chase area but also available organization.

The other discussed method would be a multi-contest format like most of the world uses. The difficulty with any of the multi- contest formats is the ability to run these contests with the rigor of the current Finals, mainly provided timers and dedicated event airspace (ie no other events being flown that could impact the final flights).  This short coming would have to be accepted but self regulation of the rules at these contests would increase with the increased importance.

My recommendation:  Any of the three are better than the current single elimination format we have now. This is from one of the happy nine.  However, I believe the survey results will follow those of the past and the majority is satisfied with the current Final’s format and so I anticipate no significant changes.

Assuming I’m correct, the real challenge the TSC has over the next several programs is securing the proper organization to run the finals. The 2010-2011 programs had zero offers to host the Finals at the deadline for proposal.  SCAT and a group from Muncie stepped up. The reality is no one wants to run the Finals, this makes me all the more appreciative of Hartill. Bogart, Rozelle and Batiuk.

Options: A) Change the Finals to one of the multi-contest formats to leverage off the existing contest organization but accepting that these contests would be less rigorous than the current Finals.  B) In the likely event the current Final’s format is kept, the TSC needs move to a new operational mode,  the TSC is responsible to run the finals. If they can find a club or person to delegate this to, fine. But in the future this will get exceedingly more difficult to do.  Twelve of our most experienced flyer, organizers and CD make up the TSC.  I recommend that the TSC establish in the program a Finals CD and an Organizer rotation between the TSC districts.  The Organizer per current guidelines can fly at the Finals. This means, that one of the TSC would CD the Finals and not fly every 24 years.  SCAT  and MaxMen would make available  the equipment used at Lost Hills for Finals held there.

Jim Parker

SCAT President, 2010 Finals Organizer and F1A Participant