Rules RC-OLC updated September, 23rd 2014 1. Preface If any rules are not clearly defined in English, the German original shall serve as masterversion. 1.1 Goals The RC-Online Contest s goal is to rapidly record RC flights in the internet in order to allow comparing the different flights performance. RC-OLC is a decentralized competition for radio controlled gliders; flights can be conducted at various locations. The task will always be an undetermined free triangular distance, to be flown fast as possible, depending on the RC-glider s wingspan. The pilot s talent and ability of using thermals to their best will be evaluated. RC-OLC would like to motivate RC-glider-pilots to take on sportsmanlike RC-soaring. 1.2 Organizer Segelflugszene gemeinnützige GmbH 1.3 Location and time period 1.3.1 Country of scoring A flight is scored in the country s RC-OLC where the RC-glider is launched (take off). 1.3.2 Scoring period Each year, the third Monday in September is the last competition day of a scoring season. The following day marks the beginning of the next scoring year. 1.4 Participants RC-OLC s participants are natural persons. 1.5 Scoring Validity a third party may object a flight up to 7 days after the flight s declaration. Participants must keep and store IGC-files (logged flight data) another month after the current scoring period is over. During the OLC-year, flights will randomly be checked. Some weeks before the end of the current season, the major scoring lists top ten flights are reviewed. 1.6 Registration Participants must enroll online using the entry form provided at http://www.onlinecontest.org. Once a year, the information must be confirmed. With their registration RC-OLC s participants confirm to agree with its terms and conditions.
1.7 Violations See: 1.8 Rules 1.8 Rules 1.8.1 These rules apply to all flights uploaded to the Online Contest (OLC) for radio controlled gliders (RC-OLC). 1.8.2 Participating individuals commit themselves to comply with aeronautical rules, sporting codes and the contest s regulations. They do acknowledge RC-OLC s rules. 1.8.3 RC-OLC s contest director appoints an evaluator to judge and decide in case of upcoming protests. 1.8.4 Without stating a reason, an evaluator may review competition flights and take decisions about the scoring. 1.8.5 Any participating pilot may protest against any registered RC-OLC flight. The pilot concerned, who conducted the flight, may object the protest. 1.8.6 Protest and objection can be raised during seven days following the registration of a particular flight in RC-OLC. Latest reception is the end of day No. 7. 1.8.7 The contest director decides about protests and abjections in written procedure. Before taking a decision, participant and evaluator will be heard. The contest director may consult witnesses and experts to hear evidence. Telephone or other long distance communication media may be used. If a participant asks for witnesses evidence or for an expert s report, the contest director may impose an adequate advance payment to cover upcoming expenses. The contest director may come to a less favorable decision than the evaluator. 1.8.8 If evaluator or contest director determine a violation of rules, the contest director may - depending on its severity - impose the following sanctions: a) delete a particular flight from the score list b) delete multiple flights from the score list c) delete all flights from the score list d) block the participant for the rest of the current season e) disqualify the participant for the whole season f) block the participant for one or multiple upcoming contests 1.8.9 To appeal against a contest director s judgment, participants would have to take legal action. Before going to court, the resolution about protest and objection must be final. 1.9 Champion The winner and therefore 'RC-OLC Champion' of a particular season is the RC-pilot who with six flights scored the highest amount of points. Participants can upload an unlimited number of flights to RC-OLC, the top six flights will be taken to determine the champion. If more than one flight is listed on a particular day, only the best one will count for the champion scores.
2. Scoring / classes All RC-gliders score in one class. Differences in performance are compensated by a handicap (RC-OLC index). The scoring differs in two types of terrain, depending on where the glider is launched. The participant grades a particular site. (OLC will double-check the classification). a) Hillside-Terrain Definition: A valid task can at all times be flown without the use of thermal energy. b) Normal-Terrain Definition: All other terrain. 3. Documentation and submission of flights 3.1 Documentation Flights can only be documented by GPS-based logger data. Two different levels of validation are applicable: i) Documentation by an IGC-approved data recorder (logger) (green V-sign in the Infowindow) Flight data (files) must be generated by an IGC-approved logger. ii) Documentation by an OLC-approved data recorder (blue V-sign in the Info-window) All other loggers, which can be read-out using an OLC-approved software. Loggers must provide barometric altimetry. A catalog of currently approved loggers is available on OLC s website (http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/gliding/logger.html). 3.2 Flight submissions Flights have to be submitted online at http://www.onlinecontest.org, using the provided entry form. A flight must be submitted no later than 48 hours after landing (in case of an earlier interrupted documentation, no later than 48 hours after the last point recorded). With the submission of a flight a participant confirms the given information is correct. 4. Flights and procedures 4.1 Task Flying and finishing up to 10 FAI-triangles without predeclaration (free triangles) within a defined range, as fast as possible. Scoring speed is the average speed of ten rounds. It is determined by adding up the speeds of the top 10 flights and dividing the result by 10. The rounds during which the triangles are flown do not necessarily have to follow one after another. A random number of rounds are allowed. A flight is scored already with one valid round. OLC s server will identify triangular flights for scoring.
4.2 Definitions 4.2.1 Triangle size: Triangle size is the total of all legs in the largest possible FAItriangle, calculated by OLC s server. The total must be bigger than the sum of all legs in the wingspan class minimum-triangle (MinTria). Not more than the sum of the legs in the MaxTria will be scored = 50% bigger than the wingspan class minimum triangle (MinTria). A synopsis of the wing span classes, RC-OLC s index, the minimum triangle (MinTria), maximum-triangle (MaxTria), start-goal-circle (SGC) can be found here: http://static.onlinecontest.org/files/modelgliding/rules/rc- OLC_Classes_Index_Trias_Speed_140923.jpg 4.2.2 FAI-triangle: The shortest leg must cover at least 28% of the scoring distance. 4.2.3 Scoring distance: The total of three legs flown between the turn points. 4.2.4 Not applicable 4.2.5 Altitude conditions (each round): The arrival altitude after a round (= finish-fix) must be higher as or equal to the departure altitude at the beginning of the specific round (= start-fix). 4.2.6 Scoring start: The beginning of the evaluation has to be manually set when submitting a flight. Self-launching RC-gliders evaluation starts right after switching off the engine. This instant must be identifiable (e.g. by flying a peak, a distinct push on the stick). After an engine run, to avoid landing, the new scoring-period starts when shutting down the engine. An engine run must be well visible on the barogram (ENL), for example by running it long enough. If RC-gliders are launched by hand, winch or aero-tow the evaluation will not automatically start after releasing. The RC-glider shall immediately head straight to the start-goal-circle s center (SGC-center) where the evaluation begins. Zigzag-flights and returns are not allowed. 4.2.7 Scoring end: Once the engine is switched on to avoid landing, or when the RCglider touches down. The end of the evaluation has to be manually set when submitting a flight. 4.2.8 Start-goal-circle (SGC): A circle with a radius of 5 % of the leg length in the minimum triangle (MinTria) of the specific wingspan class. The center of the start-goal-circle is defined by the lateral position at the time of the evaluation start (to be determined with the flight submission). 4.2.9 Start point round 1: Evaluation start (=start-fix round 1) 4.2.10 Start point round n: Lateral position of the first GPS-fix after crossing the finish circle in round n-1 (=start-fix round n) 4.2.11 Start time: Time of specific start-fix 4.2.12 Start altitude: Altitude of specific start-fix 4.2.13 Finish altitude: Altitude of specific finish-fix 4.2.14 Finish point: Lateral position of the first GPS-fix after crossing the finish circle (= finish-fix)
4.2.15 Finish Time: Time of the specific finish-fix 4.2.16 Further agreements 4.2.16.1 Length of a data-logging interval: maximum 1 second 4.2.16.2 Start- / finish-fix: One fix must be recorded in the start-goal-circle. 4.2.16.3 Start speed: The speed is limited and must not be exceeded at the start-fix. Speed limits can be found in the diagram at the column StartSpeedLimit : http://static.onlinecontest.org/files/modelgliding/rules/rc- OLC_Classes_Index_Trias_Speed_140923.jpg 4.3 Evaluation The scoring speed (points) of a flight is calculated by multiplying the achieved speed in a valid round with 100 and dividing the result by the particular wingspan class RC-OLC index (formula: points = km/h * 100 / Index). 5. Definition Scale 5.1. RC-gliders which are defined as scale by manufacturers (replica of an authentic glider) 5.2 If the definition is ambiguous, the wing area (wingspan, wing-depth at the root and at the wingtip) and the shape of the fuselage (height and width near the cockpit) must be measured and compared with the original RC-model to determine whether the particular RC-glider belongs to the scale class (gear, flaps, dive breaks, size of the tail, propulsion, retractable engine, cockpit interior, building technique, painting etc. are not taken into account.). OLC may request a detailed description. 6. Requirements of participation 6.1. Participants Participants are individual RC-glider-pilots. Participation is free of charge. To enroll, a contestant must use the entry form provided at http://rc.onlinecontest.org. The data has to be confirmed once a year. By enrolling a participant confirms to acknowledge RC-OLC s rules and regulations. 6.2 Disclosure / Rights of use Participants agree that their flight data and logger file(s) are published in the internet at http://rc.onlinecontest.org. The rights of use for the logger files do not exclusively, irrevocably and indefinitely pass on to RC-OLC. 6.3 Compliance with aeronautical regulations / airspace violation RC-OLC assumes that while piloting an RC-glider during the contest, participants do not violate any aeronautical rules or other regulations RC-OLC will not review airspace matters. RC-OLC is neither capable nor in charge of sanctioning misconduct in different countries. If OLC s team is informed that a pilot has been charged penalty while conducting a competition flight, they have the right to take appropriate action outside these rules. Everybody is of course allowed to address a pilot if airspace or aeronautical rules might be violated. A violation of aeronautical rules can only be determined by authorities or by a national aero club.