Official U. S. Microlight Contest & Records Rulebook
2002
Edition
SECTION 6 U.S. NATIONAL
MICROLIGHT CHAMPIONSHIPS
FAI Sporting Code
Section 10 Chapter references used.
CHAPTER 1 - GENERAL
1.3 DEFINITION OF A
MICROLIGHT
1.3.1 A one or two seat airplane whose minimum speed at gross
mass is less than 35.1 knots (40.39 mph), and having a gross mass of:
- 662 lbs (300 kg) for a
landplane, single seater
- 728 lbs (330 kg) for an
amphibian, or pure seaplane, single seater
- 992 lbs (450 kg) for a
landplane, two-seater
- 1,092 lbs (495 kg) for an
amphibian or pure seaplane, two-seater
1.5 CLASSES
OF MICROLIGHT AIRCRAFT
1.5.2 Table
of Microlight classes
Microlight description Class
name
Movable Aerodynamic Control /
Landplane / Flown solo RAL1
Movable Aerodynamic Control
/ Landplane / Flown with two persons RAL2
Movable Aerodynamic Control
/ Seaplane / Flown solo RAS1
Movable Aerodynamic Control
/ Seaplane / Flown with two persons RAS2
Movable Aerodynamic Control
/ Amphibian / Flown solo RAA1
Movable Aerodynamic Control
/ Amphibian / Flown with two persons RAA2
Weight-shift Control /
Landplane / Flown solo RWL1
Weight-shift Control /
Landplane / Flown with two persons RWL2
Weight-shift Control /
Seaplane / Flown solo RWS1
Weight-shift Control /
Seaplane / Flown with two persons RWS2
Weight-shift Control /
Amphibian / Flown solo RWA1
Weight-shift Control /
Amphibian / Flown with two persons RWA2
Weight-shift Control /
Foot-launched / Flown solo RWF1
Weight-shift Control /
Foot-launched / Flown with two persons RWF2
Paraglider Control /
Foot-launched / Flown solo RPF1
Paraglider Control /
Foot-launched / Flown with two persons RPF2
Paraglider Control /
Landplane / Flown solo RPL1
Paraglider Control / Landplane
/ Flown with two persons RPL2
NOTE: Powered parachutes
fall under RPL1 And RPL2
CHAPTER 4 - CHAMPIONSHIPS
4.1 GENERAL RULES
4.2 PURPOSE
The purpose of the Championships is to provide a good and satisfying contest, to determine the U.S. National Champion in each class and to reinforce friendship among pilots.
4.3 VALIDITY
OF A CHAMPIONSHIP
4.3.1 U.S.
National Championships may be organized only by an entity accepted by the USUA
Contest & Records Board (CRB) as competent to run the event.
4.3.2 For
a U.S. National Championship to be valid there must be at
least one viable class. A class is viable if it has no less than five (5)
pilots entered representing no less than three (3) regions, with entry
fees paid.
4.3.3
The
title of Champion shall be awarded only if there have been at least 5 separate
valid tasks in the class.
4.5 GENERAL
ORGANIZATION
4.5.1 Championship
flights shall be controlled in accordance with the regulations contained in the
Official U.S. Microlight Contest & Records Rulebook, Sporting Code,
(General Section and Section 10) and the published local regulations for the
event.
4.5.2 The
total period of the Championships shall not exceed 4 days including the opening
and closing ceremonies.
4.5.3
An
official practice period of not less than 2 and not more than 5 days
immediately preceding the opening of the Championships shall be made available
to all competitors. If practicable, on at least one practice day a set task
should be flown under competition conditions to test the integrity of the
organization. The scores thus generated shall not be counted.
4.6.3 NATIONAL
JURY
There shall be a nominated jury of 3 persons excluding the championships director or any persons involved with a protest. The USUA Contest & Records Board shall appoint the president of the jury. The president of the jury shall appoint the two other jury members if a protest appears imminent. The time limits within which a protest may be made and the amount of the fee shall be stated in the local regulations.
4.9 STEWARDS
4.9.1 The USUA Contest & Records Board shall appoint one chief steward. The organizer may appoint two more stewards excluding that of the organizer. The chief steward will have extensive experience of international microlight or other FAI competitions.
4.9.2 At least 1 steward shall be present at each Championship site or contest area throughout all operational activities (G.S. Chapter 4, 4.3.4.2).
4.9.3 Stewards are advisors to the Event Director. They watch over the conduct of the event and report any unfairness or infringement of the Rules and Regulations or behavior prejudicial to the safety of other competitors or the public or in any way harmful to the sport. They assemble information and facts concerning matters to be considered by the National Jury. They advise the Event Director on interpretation of the rules and regulations and on penalties.
4.9.4
The
chief steward may also serve as president of the jury.
4.9.5 MARSHALS
4.9.5.1 Marshals are appointed by the Meet Director as needed to perform the various operational functions necessary to conduct the event. Sample duties include measuring fuel and landing placement, directing takeoffs, observing at gates and turn points, etc.
4.12 PILOT
AND NAVIGATOR QUALIFICATIONS
4.12.1
A competing pilot shall be of sufficient standard to meet the
demands of a national competition as described in the Official U.S. Microlight
Contest & Records Rulebook. Both pilot and navigator must hold an FAI
Sporting License issued by the National Aeronautic Association. The navigator
must have reached the age of 14 years.
4.13 AIRCRAFT
AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT
4.13.1 Aircraft
and other equipment that are provided by the competitors must be of a
performance and standard suitable for the event. An aircraft that does not
comply with the microlight aircraft definition (S10 Chapter 1, 1.3) may not fly
in the competition.
4.13.2 For the purpose of championships, a microlight may be
operated under FAR Part 103, FAR Part 91, or a waiver or exemption granted by
the FAA.
4.13.3 An
aircraft shall fly throughout the Championships as a single structural entity
using the same set of components used on the first day (Chapter 4, 4.19.4).
However, propellers may be changed to enhance performance providing that the
weight limit of the airplane is not exceeded, and that the certificate of
airworthiness is not prejudiced.
4.13.4 An
emergency parachute is not to be considered as a part of the structural entity
of a PF aircraft and may be removed or added during a competition.
4.13.5 All
aircraft must be made available to the organizers during the period of
registration (Chapter 4,4.16) for an acceptance check in the configuration in
which they will be flown.
4.13.6 The
organizers have the right to inspect for airworthiness and if necessary, ground
for safety reasons, any competing aircraft at any time during the
Championships. Competing microlight aircraft in classes AL and WL may have
tasks expecting a still air range of not less than 80 miles. Classes WF and PF
shall have a still-air range of not less than 50 miles.
4.30 COMPLAINTS AND PROTESTS (Ref. General Section, Chapter 5)
4.30.1 A
competitor who is dissatisfied on any matter may make a complaint in writing to
the Director. Complaints shall be made and dealt with without delay. A
complaint that could affect a task result, shall be dealt with and answered in
writing before any official score sheet is issued.
4.30.2
If
the competitor is dissatisfied with the decision, he may make a protest to the
Director in writing, within the time limits stated in the Local Regulations and
accompanied by the protest fee. The fee is returnable if the protest is upheld
or withdrawn before the start of the proceedings. A protest may be made only
against a decision of the Championship Director.
4.30.3 A
protest shall be presented by the Event Director to the Jury President without
delay. The Jury President shall note the time of receiving on the protest
document (GS 5.5.1).
4.30.4 The
Jury President shall verify (GS 5.4.2):
- that the relevant dispositions concerning
protests and the treatment of protests, as stipulated in the Sporting Code and
the rules for the event, have been respected,
- that the published time limits concerning
protests have been met,
- that the protest fee has been deposited
with the Event Director.
4.30.5 The Jury President shall make sure that the jury decision is made public by the Event Director (GS 5.5.3) and that, where the protest fee is to be returned to the protester, the fee is promptly returned to the protester. In case where the protest fee is not returned to the protester (GS 5.4.4), the Jury President shall keep the fee until the end of the event, when it will be sent to USUA Headquarters (within 28 days of the conclusion of the event).
ANNEX 5 – NOTES FOR DIRECTORS, NATIONAL
OFFICIALS AND OFFICIAL OBSERVERS
2. THE
NATIONAL JURY
2.1 JURY
OBJECTIVES
To apply the rules of the Official U.S. Microlight Contest &
Records Rulebook, FAI Sporting Code General Section, Section 10 and the Local
Regulations and come to a decision based on these rules as they are written.
The "spirit" of the rules and of "sportsmanship" should not
be considered if they conflict with the written rules and their intention.
2.2 PROCEDURE
The Jury should accept a protest, which must be in writing, only via the Director or Deputy Director. The protest must be given to the jury president although another jury member may accept it on his behalf.
2.8 OTHER
WORK OF THE JURY
The jury has a commitment to ensure that the Director obeys the rules of the Official U.S. Microlight Contest & Records Rulebook, FAI Sporting Code Section 10 and of the competition. If the jury finds that this is not the case, they are empowered, after warnings, to actually suspend or stop the event.
3.2 THE
STEWARDS' ROLE
To be effective a steward must:
1) Be aware that he has no formal power or authority to make decisions. His role is one of providing advice and/or SUPPORT to the Director, the National Jury, AND the competitors.
2) Possess a thorough understanding of the Official U.S. Microlight Contest & Records Rulebook, FAI Sporting Code General Section, Section 10 and the Local Regulations and have these documents available at all times during the event. As he must advise the Director on rule interpretation, it is preferable that he has been present at Contest & Records Board meetings where the local regulations were approved. It is helpful if he has had experience in the interpretation of complex documents.
3) Be able to anticipate, and recognize in advance issues that may
cause competitors to consider that they have not been treated fairly by the
organizer. The steward should ensure that the information given to competitors
is unambiguous. He should ask himself "Was that briefing clear? How could
the information be misinterpreted? Was the briefing consistent with the regulations?
Were any changes, from what was required yesterday, clearly defined as
different? Were all the items that were supposed to be covered,
mentioned?" He should back up his judgment in these matters by enquiring
of team leaders and/or competitors of their understanding. In addressing such
issues he must not reduce the credibility of the Director.
4) Be prudent in answering questions from competitors - His answers
must be consistent with the rules and regulations and what the Director has
stated, or will state at briefings. If the steward is unclear in any detail, he
MUST confer with the Director.
5) Be able to establish a good working relationship with the
Organizers, the team leaders and competitors. By recognizing potential problems
in advance he should take steps to avoid them becoming issues. Many problems
arise from a breakdown in communications. He should be aware of the strengths
and weaknesses of the Director and his organization.
6) Be experienced in sporting events at the highest level and the stress
under which all involved operate. He must be sensitive to the human aspects.
7) Not take it for granted that all things are happening in accordance
with the rules and/or the way they appear on the surface. He should be looking
at the systems the organizer has in place to make sure that they are robust.
"Are the scores being calculated correctly and is all the required
information being presented in daily score sheets? How are the turn point
photos being checked? What security is in place to ensure that turn point films
cannot be tampered with? How are any official timepieces synchronized? What
systems are in place to make sure a pilot's goal time is always recorded?"
These and a multitude of other questions should be asked continuously.
8) Be visible, watchful and observant. Take notes of incidents that may
be unsafe or cause for complaint or protest. Record time of briefings; launch
opening, complaints or protests being submitted. Be able to provide objective,
accurate and factual evidence.
3.3 AFTER
A CHAMPIONSHIP
Once a championship is complete, the steward(s) should review the event
and look at:
- Problems that arose;
- Situations that could have developed; and
- The successes of organizer and/or the organization.
The jury is required to report to the Contest & Records Board on the meeting, including information on protests and any special problems.
The steward(s) should propose to the Contest & Records Board modifications to the Official U.S. Microlight Contest & Records Rulebook and Sporting Code (or other documentation) so that for future championships problems are avoided (minimized), and successes repeated.
ANNEX 6 – U.S.
REGIONS
Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode
Island, Vermont
Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia
Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee
Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Virgin
Islands
Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas
Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio
Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska
Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin
Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming
Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah
California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada
Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington
ANNEX 7 –
CHAMPIONSHIPS ENTRY ELIGIBILITY
The following minimum criteria must be met to be eligible for entry in a U.S. National Championships:
A competing pilot must also show evidence of meeting one of the following criteria: