Draft Additional Statement (RCDT use)
The FFTC issued the following statement on 8.07.11, both in its newsletter (BMFA Freeflight tech committee news. Issue 44) and, on the FFTC Web site:
The use of Radio DT to achieve a
flight of under 20 secs does not contravene the BMFA Rule 3.1.6 "Attempts
For Official Flights".
This
statement was deliberately kept short in order to explain the position in terms
of the current rules. Comments
have since been received regarding this statement and the FFTC feels that a
more detailed explanation is needed:
At the
first Team Selection event (19/20.6.11) a question was raised as to the
eligibility of one competitor’s scoring flight. This flight was achieved, on a
second attempt, after the first flight was terminated with RCDT for a
non-scoring attempt and thus allowing a second attempt to be made. Following
this questioning and a possible protest, the FFTC was asked to rule on the
eligibility of the said flight.
The BMFA
Free Flight rule book details the permitted use of RCDT by reference to
specific FAI rules which are also detailed in the BMFA Free Flight rule book.
Since the implementation of these rules (RCDT) the FAI have changed their rules
on attempts but not
their RCDT rules. These FAI attempt rules outlaw the use
of DT to achieve non-scoring attempts for flights of less than 20 seconds in
F1A but make no mention of the method of DT’ing. BMFA Free Flight contests, including Team
Selection events, are run, and also specifically noted to be run in the BMFA
Free Flight rule book, to BMFA rules and not FAI rules. BMFA rules do not outlaw DT action of any sort in the
context of an attempt.
Therefore,
the FFTC concluded that as no BMFA rules had been contravened the competitor’s
score must stand.
Nonetheless
many competitors have felt that this ruling, though correct is a result of a
“loophole” that should be closed. In the light of the comments received the
FFTC is now in the process of reviewing the relationship between the BMFA and
FAI Free Flight rules. The results of this review will produce some possible
changes in the BMFA Free Flight rules for 2012. These proposed changes will be
published, along with any other rule change proposals under the current 2011
rule change proposals process. The FFTC have evolved a rules change process
that allows considered changes. The FFTC does not believe that a “knee jerk”
change should be made. Any such change could have unintended consequences as
noted below.
Thus
there will be no changes to this year’s BMFA rules. The reason being that an
apparently simple change to the rules governing a Team Selection process, that
has already commenced, could have consequences at the end of the selection
process if anybody felt that they had been disadvantaged by that change.
This
issue has awakened the debate with respect to the use of RCDT within BMFA
domestic class events. The FFTC wants input with respect to this consideration.
Currently there is a prohibition on the use of RCDT, other than for FAI class
(F1A, B, C, E, Q)