Proposal from
José Luis Esteban, ESP.
Proposal title
Definition of backtracking
Existing text
S10, Annex 4, 2A4, 2A5, 3A5, 3A6:
Safety
During the task competitors must not back track along the track line against the direction of the task. If there is a
need to backtrack competitors must leave the track line and fly back well clear of it before rejoining the track line
at an earlier point.
New text
S10, Annex 4, 2A4, 2A5, 3A5, 3A6:
Safety
During the task competitors must not back track along the track line against the direction of the task. If there is a need to backtrack competitors must leave the track line and fly back well clear of it before rejoining the track line at an earlier point.
S10, Annex 3, 1.10.9:
Add:
During a navigation along a leg competitors must not back track along the track line against the direction of the task. If there is a need to backtrack competitors must leave the track line and fly back well clear of it before rejoining the track line at an earlier point.
Backtracking is defined as flying with an angle greater than 90 degrees with respect to the intended flight direction. This limitation is extended to the corridor defined by the width used to score gates in the task.
Reason
Backtracking is a serious issue in navigation tasks but it is not clearly defined. The proposed text is the way it has been interpreted in the past.
The provision is deleted from the navigation tasks in the task catalogue, moved to the model Local Regulations and the concept of backtracking is clearly defined.