It worked-out very well!

It was a great day and the weather was kind for most of it but, we had some rather heavy rain on the route at one point.

Spot-landings were fun with Tom (HS-DOG) and Reggie from Tantawan tying for first place - Artem from Nongprue came 3rd.

The overall winners of this year's PFE were Fritz and Mike Wall - well done to you both, you deserved to lift the cup.  

In second place was Fernando/David with the Macak brothers taking 3rd.

Well done to all those who took part - we had a great turn-out.

Here's a quick video of the day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAV9q62KltU&list=UU5ckg0NuEaGrZL7dXBu4ZGQ

Lat/Longs for 2014 PFE

Turning Points:

1.  12 56 28 n   100 57 53 e
2.  13 03 58   101 01 18
3.  13 08 18   101 11 33
4.  13 16 30   101 10 25
5.  13 16 56   101 19 04
6.  13 11 56   101 27 37
7.  13 07 31   101 19 25
8.  12 57 58   101 12 48
9.  12 56 05   101 04 30
10.  12 51 40   100 56 39

29th and 30th November 2014

Rules and Information for the Precision Flying Event 2014

1.  Teams must enter as a crew of one or two persons.

Not permitted                                   

2.  Each team must fly the same aircraft for both events.

3.  A team may use the same aircraft that is being used by another team.

4.  No person may enter as a member of more than one team.

5.  All teams will be required to sign an indemnity waiver against the organisers and marshals, in the event of an accident.

6.  The judges' decisions will be final. Appeals against the results may be made to the judges. Every effort will be made to satisfy all appeals.

7.  Ignoring/flouting the rules/ATC such as to compromise flight safety will result in disqualification from the flying events.

8. Scoring:  The team with the highest score will be deemed winners of the 2014 P.F.E.  Total scores for each team will consist of their Navigation Event Score (maximum 200 points) and their Spot-Landing Event score (maximum of 20 points or, 15 points for Early Launchers - see definition of Early Launchers below).

9. Any delays that necessitate a re-ordering of teams' departures caused by aircraft mechanical problems may result in disqualification, but will remain at the discretion of the judges.

10. In the event of adverse weather conditions, the judges will make a decision on whether to delay/cancel the P.F.E. in total or in part.

11. No part of the P.F.E. requires crews to carry life-vests.

Flotation devices not required

12. Trikes, Gyros, Quiksilvers will be permitted to request a launch during the early morning in order to reduce the effects turbulence - such aircraft will be known as Early Launchers. If a trike/Quiksilver/gyro does not request an early launch, it will be treated the same as any other aircraft in terms of scoring.

13.  All teams will be required to attend the flight briefing on Saturday 29th November at Eastern.

14.  Non-competitive entries will be permitted for those who would like to fly the course for fun, but without a data-logger.

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.

Rules for the Spot-Landing Event

The Precision Flying Event is divided into two components and the Spot-landing Event (the second component) comprises 10% of the total points.

Textbook example of a perfect spot-landing

Rules, Scoring & Characteristics of the Spot-Landing Event

1.  Competitors will be required to execute their spot-landings immediately after completing the Navigation Event.

2.  Two marker lines will be marked out on the runway which will be clearly visible from your cockpit as you fly your final approach - one line for runway 19 and the other will be for 01 (if the wind dictates we use 01). Your score will be determined by the "spot" where you land: 20 points for a landing on-the-line with 1/2 point being deducted for every meter long. Early Launchers will receive 15 points for a landing on-the-line with 1 point deducted for every meter long.

3.  Each competitor will have only one attempt at this event.

4.  No go-arounds are permitted unless instructed to do so by ATC - a go-around is therefore considered a foul and will score zero points.

5.  The "spot" will be measured from where your main-wheels touch the runway.  If you bounce, your "spot" will be taken as the point where both your mains settle on the runway for the last time.

6.  If any part of an aircraft's main-wheels touch the marker line, the landing will score maximum points.

7.  After your landing you will follow the marshals' instructions to park "economically" back in the field.

 Example of "economic" parking                                   

8. Prior to your landing you will call "HS-XYZ downwind for spot-landing", you will also call finals - you will then await ATC to give you permission to land.  If the circuit becomes congested, you may be asked by ATC to execute a 360 degree orbit to the left/right at any point on the downwind leg.

9.  Aircraft will be divided into two categories in order to facilitate a handicap system.  Early Launchers and others.  The Early Launchers will be the trikes/Quiksilvers who requested an early departure - it's fair to assume that these aircraft will be easier to spot-land due to their weight, speed and smooth air conditions and therefore, they should be handicapped.

10.  A landing before the marker line will score zero points and no second attempt will be permitted.

Timetable of Events

Friday 28th November 2014
Aircraft may arrive early for an evening meal and refreshments.  Camping space will be available for those who wish to rough-it. If you'd like to rent a car, please let us know.

17:48              Sunset
18:00              Briefing for trikes/Quicksilvers who wish to fly the Navigation Event at dawn
                       on Saturday.


Saturday 29th November 2014

06.22              Sunrise
06:30 - 07:00  Launch trikes/Quicksilvers for Navigation Event.
06:30 - 11:00  Air Traffic will be present for visiting aircraft and early-entrants                    
07:30 - 08:30 Trikes/Quicksilvers return for Spot Landing Event

08:30 - 11:00  Breakfast and refreshments will be available in the clubhouse restaurant
11:00 - 12:00  Crew briefing and completion of entry forms

EFC 2012 Crew briefing

12:00 - 14:00  Lunch in the clubhouse restaurant - food will be served all day
13:30              First aircraft take-off for Main Navigation Event and thereafter at intervals of                        3 to 5 minutes
14:30              First aircraft returns for Spot-landing
16:20              Last aircraft take-off
17:40              Last aircraft returns for Spot-landing

18:20              Marshals calculate points for competitors
17:48              Sunset

19:00               Commence "Precision BBQ"
19:45              Results have been calculated
20:00              Announce results and prize giving

 2012's breakfast fly-out at Dok Krai

Sunday 30th November 2014

06:25              Sunrise 
07:00              Tea/coffee in hotels or in the clubhouse restaurant
07:45              Depart for breakfast fly-out to Bang Phra (VTBT) Airfield
10:30              Depart for home airfields