Focus on Competition
What do you do when you feel a Contest Director (CD) is not upholding the rules of a competition or the AMA Safety Code? Do you confront the CD, or wait until you get home and grumble? Those who attend contests need to stop the habit of after-the-fact grumbling. CDs running events are typically very good, but they are not perfect. While juggling the many details of an event, some things will be forgotten and some officials may be unfamiliar with certain rules.
Address concerns promptly
- Address your concerns to the Contest Director in a timely fashion. Whenever possible, do so before the contest begins.
- If a problem occurs after the contest starts, raise it as soon as practical. Addressing concerns early has the least effect on contest results and conduct, and a CD is more likely to listen.
Protests and appeals
If addressing the CD does not resolve the issue, you have the right to file a protest.
- For protests relating to the conduct of the contest: the Contest Director is required to accept your written protest up to (and no later than) one hour after the close of the contest.
- For protests not regarding the conduct of the contest: submit the protest within three days of the close of the event to the appropriate Contest Board Chairperson.
Your protest must include:
- the full action or decision being protested,
- the names of entrants and officials involved, and
- complete details of the situation.
Protest procedures are found in the AMA Competition Regulations, General Section, items 18–21. Be familiar with these guidelines prior to submitting a protest — they are more involved than this summary. If you feel your protest was not answered by the CD, you have the right to appeal; appeal procedures are contained in the same Competition Regulations sections.
Remember: the goal is to encourage you to voice concerns to a Contest Director. Going home and grumbling serves no one.
National Aeromodeling Championships (Nats) procedures
The Nats have special protest procedures to ensure competitors are treated fairly and issues are handled quickly:
- Nats protests must be resolved the same day.
- Decisions may be appealed to the Nats jury as far as the process allows.
This ensures awards are delivered promptly and correctly. If someone raises an issue long after the event, you should ask why it was not brought up sooner.
Florida Jets — Bunnell, Florida
I recently attended Florida Jets in Bunnell, Florida, organized by Frank Tiano (Top Gun/ZAP Products). About 150 pilots attended, many bringing multiple aircraft. What stood out was the number of turbine-powered aircraft — several times there were four or more in the air simultaneously. The sound and sight were impressive, and the technology has clearly progressed in a short time.
Electronic control units used on many engines improved safety by preventing improper startup sequencing (fuel before ignition). I saw only a few minor problems, quickly handled.
One incident highlighted the importance of safety precautions and quick action: a turbine-powered YF-22 began a takeoff roll, lifted a foot or two, then rolled left inverted and immediately struck the runway. It slid a couple hundred feet down the centerline before turning left and coming to rest. A small fire developed and was quickly extinguished. Because the flight line and pit area were properly positioned and fire extinguishers were readily available, the situation was contained without injury or major damage.
Exhibits and innovations
Walking the exhibits I saw many interesting items:
- Expanded-scale voltmeter and exhaust gas temperature displays for ducted-fan models; I located the manufacturer and ordered one for my helicopter to aid consistent tuning.
- Kevlar-enclosed fuel cells for turbine installations to improve safety.
- A droppable, working centerline fuel tank for some models.
There was much more; a complete story about the event will appear in the next issue of Model Aviation.
Nats planning and registration
Planning for the 1998 National Aeromodeling Championships is well under way. As of late February, more than 200 participants had registered — a slight increase over the last two years. We expect turnout at least as good as recent years, possibly around 1,200 competitors. Hosting the Nats in Johnson City, Tennessee (indoor) and Muncie, Indiana continues to appear to be a good choice.
If you need entry forms, give us a call.
Till next time ... skaluf@modelaircraft.org
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
