F3F World Championship 2024: Local Rules

Please comply with French drone law !!

There is 3 steps to follow to comply to the french "drone" law and fly your F3F models in France for any competition including the world championship

Training certificate (free to obtain): All pilots must have a valid training certificate before flying a model weighing more than 800 grams. This certificate is delivered by the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC). To obtain this certificate, you need to go to the following url https://fox-alphatango.aviation-civile.gouv.fr/en/ and follow the 4 training modules. When ready (that is to say when you estimate you can answer any questions related to this law), you can proceed to the test by answering to several online questionnaires. When failing, you will be invited to do test again (no limitation in the number of attempts fortunately) . Once successfully done, print your certificate and take it with you wherever you fly.
Models registration (free to obtain): All models weighting more than 800 g at take-off must be registered on French Civil Aviation Authority website at the following URL: https://alphatango.aviation-civile.gouv.fr
Labelling your model: Model registration label must be printed and sticked on your model. Sticker must be outside and be readable from 30cm minimum

F3F models flying at the World championship slopes are exempted of the transponder which will be mandatory everywhere else from the 1st of May 2020 for new registered models, and from the 1st of November 2020 for all models

Please find the local rules hereafter:

The following rules are set up to insure and to allow to perform a maximum number of rounds to be flown during the Pyrénées’ Cup and to guarantee a maximum of safety during all activities on ground and in the air. These rules have proven their efficiency during numerous contests on the proposed slopes.

All pilots must have a valid FAI licence.

Round 0

It is not planned to have a round 0, despite meteo conditions that are below FAI limits but still permit to fly without difficulties.

Meteo and wind measurements

With the aim to assure equivalent meteo conditions for all pilots, a dedicated measuring device will observe wind speed and direction and will indicated when FAI limits are exceeded (wind direction out of +/- 45° angle from normal slope axis or wind speed below 3m/s or above 25m/s for more than 20 sec).

Re-flights

In case of meteo conditions are out of FAI limits, the Course Director (CD) will stop the contest and the competitor is entitled a re-flight. The CD will ask the pilot in flight whether he accepts the re-flight or accepts to finish his attempt. The competitor shall answer immediately with a clear yes or no. This decision could not be changed or revised during the run that shall be stopped immediately in case of a requested reflight. The re-flight should be executed approx. 5 pilots later.

Time measurements

Automatic systems will be used for timing and wind measurements. 5 Seconds anti diving rule will be managed by the timing system.

Automatic start sequence

The CD will not call for the pilots, neither for their preparation neither for the start of the run (launch). At the end of the run of the preceding pilot, the following pilot has imperatively to show up and be ready for launch of his glider. After a simple sign from the CD that indicates the possibility to launch, the competitor (or his helper) shall launch the glider within the next 30 seconds. If the competitor does not show up within 30 seconds preparation time, the result of 0 points for the actual run is noted and the preparation time for the subsequent pilot starts. So, it is evident that at least two pilots are obliged to be ready to fly.

Safety line

The bases are installed approximately 3m behind the edge of the slope. The safety line is situated between the two bases and will be marked on the ground. The exact reference points that are used by the judge (with a horn) who is dedicated to observe the safety line, will be explained to all competitors during a short briefing on the slope. This safety line will be different on the various slopes to adapt to the individual shape of the slope. All passing of any piece of the glider during the entire flight (except during landing phase) a penalty will be attributed as per valid FAI rules. A limit line to separate the launching area from pilots will be marked on ground (“Pilots spectator line”).

Landing zone

The landing shall be performed directly after the run in a dedicated area (marked on the ground) and without perturbation of the following pilot. In case of non-respect (passing between base A and B, a small DS session for example) without obvious reasons, will lead to a penalty of 100 points. A landing outside the marked landing area will lead to a 0 result for the run as well as the flight over the pilot safety area or the car park.

Starting numbers

All pilots must wear the starting numbers in a visible manner, latest when he starts the preparation for his flight. A pilot, performing his attempt without wearing his starting number clearly visible to other pilots, will receive a penalty of 100 points. Be prepared.

Keeping of penalty points

The penalty points that are attributed to a competitor for safety reason are not removed in case of rounds being discarded.

Group Scoring

Under the condition that at least half of the pilots have flown their run and due to meteo reasons (interruption of more than 30 minutes), group scoring might be applied as per applicable FAI rules.

Discard of bad results

With four rounds flown, the worst result of each competitor will be discarded. In case of 15 rounds flown, the second worst result of each competitor will be discarded.

Communication

The organiser committee will inform through written information that will be attached on official boards on the slope. In case of questions or discussion, only the CD might be contacted. No pilot shall speak to judges. Non-respect of this behaviour rule might be subject to 100 points penalty, based on CD decision. Protest fee is 30€ and shall be paid when submitting the protest. A protest must be submitted before the start of the next round. In case that protest was justified, protest fee will be returned. A protest shall indicate the FAI paragraph, that has been compromised by a pilot or the organiser. Before raising a protest, a complain shall be raised (even verbally) to the president of the jury.

Environmental Impact

Please keep slopes tidy. The local communities and agricultural responsible are accepting us without any condition nor fees, so please make sure not to leave anything on the slopes (including scotch tape pieces or cigarette filters). Waste containers are available in St. Ferriol, Escueillens and Laurac and you will pass in front of them when you drive to the slope. In France, waste separation is standard, and you can dispose glass or plastic bottles in respective waste containers that are available in St. Ferriol, Escueillens and Laurac. Please be friendly to local visitors on the slope. They don’t know about the danger of our sport and the nature of our contest.