RULES (18.10.2007)

GOALS

The goal of the On-Line Contest (OLC) is a timely scoring of cross-country flights, free from the burden of flight declarations, to allow an easy and up-to-date comparison of decentralised cross country flights. The increase of the number of cross-country flights is another goal of the OLC.

1. Documentation

Documentation of the flights is achieved with GPS based flight recording in IGC format. There are two levels of flight validation:
"IGC-valid" (green V-point in the info window)
These IGC files have to be generated exclusively by IGC approved GNSS flight recorders. A current list of IGC approved GNSS flight recorders is available at the IGC-website (http://www.fai.org/gliding/gnss/).
For the OLC-league and for the FAI-OLC (OLC triangle flights according FAI rules) only IGC approved recorders are allowed.
"OLC-valid" (blue V-point in the info window)
All other recorders which generate IGC files with a software which is approved by the OLC. A current list of the OLC approved software for these recorders can be found at: http://www2.onlinecontest.org/validate.php.
Motor-gliders will document flight without propulsion by recording of the Engine Noise Level (ENL) with an IGC approved GNSS flight recorder (green V-point).
Official observers are not required.

2. Country of scoring

The flight will be scored for the OLC in the country where the glider took off.

3. Evaluation, official distance

The flight has to be in free flight without any means of propulsion, from start point to finish point.
The flight will be scored from scoring start to scoring end. Scoring start is the beginning of propulsion less flight, scoring end is the end of propulsion less flight.
Start point, waypoints and finish point must each be actual GPS fixes of the flight track.
The scoring distance is calculated by the OLC system.
3.1 OLC-Classic
After the flight the start point, up to five turnpoints and the finish point are determined on the flight trace, so that the scored points for the flights are maximized.
3.2 FAI-OLC (in the style of the FAI rules)
The maximum distance FAI triangle will be placed in the recorded, closed circuit flight track. The shortest leg has to be at least 28% of the total distance, or if the total distance is more than 500 km then the shortest leg has to be at least 25% and the longest leg can be a maximum of 45% of the total distance.
The flight track counts as a closed circuit if there is at least one valid GPS fix within one km of the starting point.

4. Altitude difference, start and finish time

The minimal finish altitude is 1000 metre below the start altitude.
The start altitude the lowest altitude after the begin of free flight and before reaching the start point.
The start time is the time at which the start altitude is reached.
The finish altitude is the highest altitude after reaching the finish point and before end of free flight.
The finish time is the time at which the finish altitude is reached after the finish point is reached.

5. Scoring, points

The minimum score must be 50 points, flights with less points are displayed in the daily list, but are not scored.
The raw points as per 5.1 and 5.2 are multiplied by 100 and then divided by the applicable DAeC Index. The resulting final points are rounded to two decimal digits.
5.1 OLC-Classic
1 raw point per kilometer is granted for the distance from start point around three turnpoints to the fourth turnpoint.
For the distance between the fourth turnpoint to the fifth turnpoint 0.8 raw points per kilometer are granted.
For the distance between fifth turnpoint and the finish point 0.6 raw points per kilometer are granted.
Turnpoint four and five, as well as the finish point can be the same.
5.2 FAI-OLC
The distance around three waypoints are scored with 1 raw point per kilometer.

6. Flight claiming

Fliht claims will be only accepted at www.onlinecontest.org. Claimes have to be submitted by 24:00 (midnight) on the Tuesday following the flight local time of the finish point.
The IGC-file has to be submitted as part of the flight claim.
By submitting the flight the participant certifies that the flight took place as claimed.

7. Scoring period

The scoring period ends on the second Monday of oktober. The competition for the following 12 month period begins on the following day, and so on.

8. Winners and prize-distribution

Winner and 'OLC Champion' of the year (OLC-Classic and FAI-OLC) is the participant who scores the highest number of points with six flights. The prize-distribution will take place at the OLC-symposium. Date and place are timely added.

9. Publishing of data/Right of use

The participant agrees that his flight data and flight-routes will be published on the Internet at www.onlinecontest.org
The right of use for the flight track files is non-exclusive but is granted non-revocable and indefinite to the organizers of the OLC.

10. Validation

Flights and scores will be accepted if no objections have been filed against them within 4 weeks after the corresponding weekly deadline (see para 6).
Deadline for objections against flights made after the 15th September will be the Tuseday after the second Sunday in October.
Flight data in the form of IGC data files must be kept by the participant until one month after the end of the current competition.

11. Participation and Registration

Participants are individual pilots, or two-pilot teams for double seaters.
Participation is free of charge (sponsors finance the OLC).
Registration can only be made online via the forms provided at www.onlinecontest.org and has to be made once a year.
By their registration the participants agree to the competition rules.

12. Airspace Violations

The OLC organizers have to assume that the participants in the contest will not violate restricted airspace during their flights. ATC clearances are necessary to enter certain airspace. The OLC team will not check if a pilot has obtained the necessary clearance to enter airspace which needs ATC clearance. This is not within our competences and responsibilities. However, if we get to know that there has been an obvious violation of airspace then we reserve the right to carry out special actions against that pilot and his participation in the OLC. Of course every pilot is allowed to contact other pilots in case of a potential airspace violation.