Rules for the Precision Navigation Event

The Precision Navigation Event is the first of the two events that go to determine who wins the 2014 P.F.E. - this exercise carries 90% of the total marks and so a good score here is needed to win!

1.  The lighter aircraft (Trikes, Gyros, Quiksilvers and similar) will be offered the option of being Early Launchers in order to avoid winds/turbulence.

2.  For fuel planning purposes, the course will not exceed 90 nm, including the transit to/from the start/end gates.

3.  The course will consist of 10 gates, including the start/end gates. 

4.  The Lat/Longs of each gate will be published on this BLOG at 15.00 hrs (local) on Friday 28th November.  These co-ordinates, together with aerial photographs of the gates, will also be handed out at the flight briefing on 29th November.

5.  Teams will depart Eastern in order of fastest aircraft first, slowest last.  A time-separation will be scheduled between each aircraft in order to avoid "bunching" during the navigation course.

6.  No aircraft may "search" for a gate - any evidence of "searching" will result in disqualification. ("Searching" includes backtracking or any heading adjustment of 90 degrees or more before a gate.)

8.  Each aircraft will be required to carry a GPS Data-Logger that records position information on a second-by-second basis.  This will be given to you by a marshal prior to take-off and will be collected after landing.

9.  When completing your entry forms, you will required to nominate a ground speed - this is the speed at which you should aim to fly for the duration of the navigation course. (Hint - pick a ground speed that is roughly half-way between your clean stall speed and your maximum cruise speed.)

10. Scoring - All teams will begin this event with a credit-balance of 200 points.  Points will then be deducted for early/late arrivals at each gate, accuracy overhead each gate in terms of horizontal distance from the gate.

11. Scoring - Each leg (between two consecutive gates) will be scored individually.  Therefore do not try to make up times on consecutive gates - for example: if you find yourselves 10 secs early when overhead gate two, do not aim to be overhead gate three 10 secs late.

12. Scoring - Time: 1 penalty point for each second early/late at each gate.  Horizontal distance: 2 penalty points for every 10 meters from each gate, starting at 11 meters - more than 50 meters will score 10 penalty points.  The judges will take your time data at the closest horizontal point you pass each gate.

13.  Scoring - No team will score more than 30 penalty points at any gate.

14. At each gate all aircraft must report: "HS-XYZ overhead gate 3 at 1,500 feet).  This is so other aircraft know their proximity to you!  

15.  All aircraft will fly the course on the same QNH - this will be given at the briefing and will be the regional QNH at the time of the first aircraft's launch.