Organising a flying competition

[DP7657]

Hello all,

This is a shameless request for ideas and advice based on your experiences of arranging, or participating in flying competitions.

'Hypothetically speaking' http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/censored.gif I am arranging a flying competition for next summer. It is not to have a significant impact on business as usual at the airfield (which is hopefully going to be a light blue, military one).

The most basic concept I have which is close to nil impact is as follows:

I select around 10 points on the ground in the local area and create a mixture of clues, Lat/Longs, bearings, times and speeds etc for a route, with a short time to draw up maps. I then give participants extra items to decipher en-route. This would involve departing the airfield and roughly an hour in the local area before returning - minimal impact to station flying.

Advantages: Piece of cake to organise, minimal impact on stn flying http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/cwm13.gif, inclusive to all, including low hours PPL holders.

Disadvantages: No timed element, no spot landing element, too basic to interest experienced pilots?

What could I add or amend to improve it without it affecting normal flying operations (which are often circuit based).

Any suggestions appreciated!

[KPax]

On return you could have a 'spot landing' competition closer to the nominated landing point equals more points, worked in Akrotiri when I was there.

[charliegolf]

too basic to interest experienced pilots?



Could you add the equivalent of a golfer's handicap? (Cue jokes about clubs!)

CG

[Bob Viking]

Might I suggest that the order in which the pilots visit the waypoints is prescribed in such a manner to discourage everyone converging on the same point without employing proper lookout. The Prince of Wales Trophy at Valley involves lots of jets with lots of people racing around in a state of mild panic. Safety was always the number one concern for obvious reasons.
BV

[NutLoose]

Do it like a treasure hunt, say 10 min departures or faster aircraft first to the first waypoint etc, so they actually go around a course..
You could have clues (such landmarks with a cryptic clue and a heading from that.) as an example Ford Prison could be a Car for bad boys etc.

Give them all a set of sealed envelopes with the answers in to each waypoint, make sure they cannot be read through the envelope by holding it up to the window, that way if they cannot find a single or multiple waypoints, the answer contained will get them back on the course, (points deducted accordingly), you can then factor into the final results any opened envelopes etc.

[Rosevidney1]

I suggest contacting the Tiger Club. They have always produced air shows that are entertaining for the participants and the viewing public.

[Pie Man]

Are you thinking of inviting the public to watch this event or will the dates of the event be publicised? If the answer is yes you need to ensure you comply with the regulations contained in RA 2335 (you don't indicate your background so I'm sorry if I'm teaching you to suck eggs).

PM

[The B Word]

Pie Man

RA2335 is about as unclear as you can expect from the MAA:

17. Categorization as a Flying Display. Where the event is open to the general public, paying or not, or the event is advertised with an expectation that the public will gather to witness the event, it should be considered a flying display. This includes parallel events such as flypasts conducted on a unit for purposes other than the display schedule, but which are conducted on the same day as a display, and which could be interpreted as a result of proximity to the general public as being part of the official display schedule.

19. Special Events. Some flying events may be organized that are not open to the general public, but are attended by dependants and specifically invited personnel. For example; Families Days, Ship Displays and minor events for Service publicity and recruiting, such as helicopter visits to schools, Military Ceremonial Events and civil events not regulated by the Air Navigation Order. Where para 18 does not apply, these Special Events are not categorized as Flying Displays. However, the Establishment Commander and/or the participants’ Aviation Duty Holder should stipulate the applicability of the display regulations and the minimum safety criteria for such events. If it is predictable that the general public will gather, as aviation enthusiasts, in off-site viewing areas, the event organizer should include such gatherings in his risk assessment. If there is any doubt as to the categorisation of an event, the Aviation Duty Holder or Establishment Commander should seek clarification from the MAA.

What a ridiculous amount of wording and could be written soooo much more simply! That horrendous "should" word is also used that the MAA are so keen to use - what ever happened to "is to", "are to" and must.

It sounds like the OP is organising a fly-in with a sporting competition half way through. In my opinion it would fall under the auspices of JSP360 (civil use of MOD airfields) and as it has to be advertised for the participants to register their interest to compete but, as it is not intended as a spectacle, then it must not be regarded as a display. It may well have invited personnel (ie. those invited to fly in the competition) but they are not spectators - fee paying or not. However, I believe it ticks the box as a special event and so the Stn Cdr and Aerodrome Operator must be consulted for appropriate authorisation. The MAA's Display Flying Handbook holds a nice little risk assessment example with an Event Instruction if I recall correctly? This will help sort out the risk of any spotters enclosures around the site. That said, I would be surprised if there was a huge turn out for a bunch of Cessnas, Pipers, Grobs, etc...

The B Word

[Just This Once...]

I also have a dislike for the MAA use of the word 'should' as in this context it is effectively an order for most of us as only the regulator has the option of doing something different:

Shall is the executive verb used in regulation to state that the regulated person has no choice but to do what is stated in the regulation.

Should is the permissive verb used in the AMC to allow a Regulated Entity the opportunity to consider alternative approaches in meeting the regulation; noting that any alternative approach must be approved by the MAA.

[Pie Man]

The B Word,

You definitely have my vote on how RA2335 is worded. The problem phrase in this case is:
Where the event is open to the general public, paying or not, or the event is advertised with an expectation that the public will gather to witness the event, it should be considered a flying display.
It implies if there is anything other that standard take-off and landing the event is a flying display - I spent many hours this year producing risk assessments as a result. Even as a Special Event RA2335 applies as indicated by the opening para of the RA.
2335(1) Establishment Commanders shall be responsible for the
administration, organization and safety management of
Flying Displays held on MOD establishments. Aviation Duty
Holders shall retain responsibility for managing aviation
Risks to Life at Flying Displays or Special Events.

More detail of what is planned would be useful.

Regards

PM

[Courtney Mil]

If you're coming to PPRuNe for advice on this, I wonder exactly what you're organizing and what your role is. There are many huge potential pitfalls here. Perhaps before everyone jumps in with gleeful ideas, you might give us a lot more detail. Anyone else here see my concern?

[The B Word]

Pie Man

I think you have the answer. If the competition is to fly to points in the local area then it would only be simple take offs and landings on MoD Property. I suspect this is JSP360 stuff only.

Courtney

I agree that more detail is needed. However, the OP was really looking for different competition ideas and not advice on how to staff it! (others like myself lept down that rabbit hole!!).

Anyway, for DP7567 - have you considered looking at the format of TOP NAV (run annually by the Royal Institute of Navigation) or the British Precision Pilots competitions? Try a Google/Bing search to see what you can find.

Some good ideas here Competition Information | (http://www.precisionflying.co.uk/?page_id=42)

Final word of advice. Ensure that you do not need any exemptions to the ANO or you will need to speak to the CAA as well. A bog standard 'nav competition' needs nothing special.

The B Word

[DP7657]

Some great ideas here that I should be able to incorporate without putting too many demands on the airfield in question. I would love to have provided more information, but this is in its infancy so I wouldn't want to make it too specific / obvious until everything is approved.:oh:

Based on your input, I think I'll shape it up more like this:

Time separated departures on a route with 30 mins - 1 hour planning time based on cryptic clues and possibly back up headings and distances in point-deducting envelopes. Followed possibly by timed arrivals (if this doesn't affect local flying) and a simple distance (from threshold / inset threshold) judged spot landing competition.

Ah yes RA 2335 and what a delightful read it is!:eek: No, there is no display flying and are unlikely to be any events of interest to the general public. As far as the airfield is concerned, it shouldn't be any different to an increased number of PPR visitors. I have been advised that it falls, below the Special Event category and lies in the JSP 360 territory. Hence further reason for me not wanting to give the game away too much in semi-public in my cryptic description of the event.

B Word - Thanks, I had looked at TOP NAV but not the BPPA, which looks like a more advanced version of what you have all helped me come up with.

Thanks again for the input, any more ideas or concerns will be greatly appreciated!:ok:

DP