14 = Eco task proportion

Proposal from

Paap Kolar / Estonia

Proposal title

Eco task proportion

Existing text

4.29.3 

Tasks shall, as far as practicable, conform to the following guidelines in standard championships:

For Microlight aircraft classes AL, WL WF and GL

A Tasks for flight planning, navigation, etc with no fuel limit: 55% of the total value of the tasks flown.

B Tasks for fuel economy, speed, duration, etc with limited fuel: 30% of the total value of the tasks

flown.

For Paramotor aircraft classes PF and PL

A Navigation: 33% of the total value of the tasks flown.

B Economy: 33% of the total value of the tasks flown.

C Precision: 33% of the total value of the tasks flown.

New text

Reason

Economy tasks are not such a test of pilot skill compared with navigation and
precision and are mostly about engine consumption/performance only, which makes them unfair, unatractive and useless, with all negative impacts unnecessary and harmful to the sport.

a) 33 % has never been followed, because it cannot be followed exactly, especially in integrated approach.

b) 33 % should not be followed. It will make competition too much dependent on engine performance and less skills and makes it uninteresting, boring and less fun.

c) 33 % will create unnecessary pressure to the comp director to force efforts in following these proportions and also for all competitors knowing they are competing mostly for their engine performance in eco tasks.

d) 33 % will create extra stress for heavier pilots being aware of their disadvantage in fuel consumption and their endless punishing for their weight by unfair scoring of eco tasks.

e) For eco tasks there is always tendency for pilots to tune their machines as lean as possible, which creates additional risk of engine failure, material damage and unpredictable outlandings with following retrieval, scoring 0 for the task and possible retirement from the whole competition in case of severe engine damage.

By lowering the proportion of eco tasks to 20 % the disadvantage of heavy pilots will become much more acceptable and it leaves enough space for the best selection of eco tasks where pilots skills are playing major role. Thus eco tasks will become more fair and more fun.