Navigation Event Rules
[As of 07/01/05]

II. Flying Event Rules (continued)

C. Navigation

1. This event shall consist of a cross-country flight in a single engine airplane over a three to five leg course between 70 and 120 miles in length, using pilotage and dead reckoning only. No electronic aids (avionics) to navigation may be used. The aircraft will be flown in a clean cruise configuration. The turnpoints should be such that they can be easily identified when overhead.

2. Each contestant must submit a flight plan before take-off, including the estimated time enroute for each leg, estimated total elapsed time, and estimated fuel consumption. The check pilots or judges will record time of take-off, time over checkpoints, and time back over the destination. Planning time shall be determined by the chief judge.    Only current NOAA sectional charts are approved for use by contestants in the navigation event.

3. If no check pilots are used, another team member must accompany the navigation contestant for safety reasons. This person must meet the following requirements:

(a) They must be a registered member of the same team as the contestant.*

(b) They must meet the eligibility requirements of rule I. C.

(c) No contestant or safety observer may fly more than one navigation route.

* If a team cannot meet this requirement, the Chief Judge will appoint a safety observer.

4. If check pilots are used, contestants should check their watches to make sure they agree with the check pilot's. ETEs for legs two, three, four, and five may be re-figured within three minutes after leaving the checkpoint starting that leg; the new ETE may then be submitted to the check pilot verbally or in a legible, written form.

5. If no check pilots are used, the altitude for the flight may be optional (unless otherwise specified by the judges), except over the checkpoints, in which case the altitude must be maintained between 500 and 1,000 feet above ground to permit positive identification by ground observers. Current Federal Aviation Regulations must be observed at all times. If check pilots are used, altitudes over checkpoints shall be the same as for the previous leg. These altitudes shall be in accordance with FAR's and those specified by the judges.

6. When check pilots are used the airplane must pass directly over each checkpoint in straight and level flight on a heading within 20 degrees of a direct course from the previous checkpoint or point of departure so the check pilot may record the time when the aircraft is directly overhead. The turn to the next leg should be started, as soon as practical, after passing the checkpoint.

7. If no check pilots are used, secret time checkpoints may be placed along some part of the route of flight. ETE for these secret checkpoints will be based upon the ground speed each contestant identified as the ground speed they would be using for the competition. The purpose of these secret checkpoints is to keep the contestants at the ground speed they identified they would use so as to prevent aircraft from overtaking one another along the routes.

8. Scoring

(a) One part of the total score will be based on the accuracy with which the fuel consumption for the entire flight (start to stop engine) is estimated. Points will be awarded on the basis of a percentage error in figuring fuel consumption in the following manner:

(1) Underestimation (10% or less) - No points will be awarded for using within 10% more than estimated fuel; e.g. estimated 8 gallons and burned 8.8 gallons is an error of .8 gallons. Error = .8 gallon error/8 gallon estimate = .10 or a 10% error. No penalty points assigned.

(2) Underestimation (more than 10%) - Gallons of fuel used over estimate divided by estimated fuel times 1,000; e.g., estimated 8 gallons and burned 9 gallons is an error of 1 gallon. Penalty points = 1 gallon error / 8 gallon estimate = .125 (12.5% error) x 1,000 = 125 penalty points.

(3) Overestimation (10% or less) - No points will be awarded for using within 10% less than estimated fuel; e.g., estimated 8 gallons and burned 7.6 gallons is an error of .4 gallons. Error = .4 gallon error / 8 gallon estimate = .05 or a 5% error. No penalty points.

(4) Overestimation (more than 10%) - Gallons of fuel used less than estimate divided by estimated fuel times 500; e.g., estimated 8 gallons and burned 6.8 gallons is an error of 1.2 gallons. Penalty points = 1.2 gallon error / 8 gallon estimate = .15 (15% error) x 500 = 75 penalty points.

(5) The use of dipsticks is prohibited.

(b) The second part of the total score will be based on the accuracy, in seconds, of the original estimated total elapsed time from take-off to time over the last checkpoint. One penalty point shall be added for each second of error.

(c) The third part of the total scoring for this event will be the total deviation in seconds from the estimated time enroute to each checkpoint including secret timing checkpoints. One point shall be added for each second of error. If check pilots are used, the adjusted ETEs to each checkpoint shall be used. If ground observers are used for the event, then the preflight ETEs must be used.

(d) If no check pilots are used, there may be a fourth part of the total scoring for this event based on the accurate identification of symbols placed on the ground at each checkpoint. Penalty points will be assessed for failure to identify the symbol or for recording an incorrect letter or symbol.

(e) The lowest total score will determine the winner.

(f) When check pilots are used the following items will result in penalty points or disqualification. However, the pilot should complete the flight with the rest of the flight being scored and the final decision should be made on the ground by the Chief Judge. The contestant should not be informed of the alleged disqualification until completion of the flight.

(1) Deviation of more than 200 feet from the appropriate altitude on any leg will result in the addition of a 50 point penalty for that leg. Special considerations may be made in turbulent conditions. Deviation of more than 500 feet will be disqualifying.

(2) Heading deviations of 30 degrees to 60 degrees either side of the planned heading will result in a 200 point penalty for that leg except:

a. as necessary to initially establish track on each leg,

b. to establish checkpoint crossing heading when within 8 NM of each checkpoint,

c. for safety considerations

NOTE: The following will be disqualifying.

(3) Circling and heading deviations in excess of 60 degrees except:

a. as necessary to initially establish track on each leg

b. to establish checkpoint crossing heading with 8 NM of each checkpoint

c. for safety considerations

(4) Failing to identify a turn point within 2 minutes of passing.

(5) Incorrectly identifying and then flying over the incorrect checkpoint (contestant may amend checkpoint designation prior to fly-over without penalty).

(6) Crossing over a checkpoint at a heading with greater than 20 degrees deviation (plus or minus) from the correct point-to-point heading.

(7) Exceeding estimated flight time on any leg by more than 10 minutes.

(8) Using navigation radios (communication radio may be on, but the navigation receiver must be tuned to a non-operating frequency).

(9) Operating the aircraft in an unsafe or hazardous manner.

(10) Operating during cruise in other than a clean configuration.

(g) When ground observers are used in lieu of check pilots the following items will result in penalty points or disqualification.

(1) Failure to record the checkpoint letter or symbol on the Checkpoint Report Form will result in the addition of a 50 point penalty for that checkpoint.

(2) Recording an incorrect checkpoint letter or symbol will result in a 200 point penalty.

(3) Failure to fly over a checkpoint will result in a 600 point penalty.

(4) Circling or making excessive heading deviations of more than 90 degrees either side of the course for that leg will result in disqualification if noted by the ground observers placed along the route and at the checkpoints.

(5) Slow flight or flight at minimum controllable airspeed will result in disqualification if noted by the ground observers placed along the route and at the checkpoints.

(6) Operating the aircraft in an unsafe or hazardous manner will result in disqualification.

(7) Operating during cruise in other than a clean configuration.

(h) Other penalties as identified in the Judges Manual.

05/20/01 - Date of last change to this section