What’s New

We are off to a great start this year with 39 pilots having attended a 2011 Judging School. Thank you to all who attended to ensure good consistent judging on the flight lines. We will be getting 3 Judging Schools back on the calendar for next year as soon as possible. It really is a must to attend a Judging School each year and not make it a one time deal. You will pick up more and more detail each year that will improve not only your judging, but also your flying. This translates to better scores and that’s where it pays off. It’s also a great time to catch up with friends after the winter hideout. I hope to see everyone at a Judging School again next year.

The season has kicked off for some lucky individuals already. I see from the Regional Points that a few have already attended a contest out of region. Just a reminder, you can count 2 “out of region” contests towards your “highest 5” contests for the IMAC Regional Points Series (IRPS). The NATS will not count for the IRPS due to dropping contestants for the final rounds. The NE Regional Finals will count towards the IRPS. To learn more about the IRPS please see:

http://www.mini-iac.com/InfoCentral/tabid/74/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/320/categoryId/10/2011-IMAC-Regional-Points-Series-IRPS.aspx

Judges Corner

For those of you that could not make it to a Judging School this year, please make sure that you review the new 2011-2012 Rule Book. Below are some changes for 2011-2012 that I would like to highlight but there are more:

(Please back each other up on these until it becomes the norm – I would really hate to see someone zero a round because they didn’t call the box properly or see 0-5-10 sound scores)

• Sound Score (Rule Book Para 5 pg SCA-3,4)
  • Sound Score is now whole numbers 1-10.
  • If a pilot receives a 3 or less from TWO OR MORE judges for the SAME SEQUENCE, that pilot will be notified and requested to adjust his/her setup by the CD.
  • If the pilot (after notification) receives a 3 or less from TWO OR MORE judges for the SAME SEQUENCE again, that pilot will be disqualified from further competition at that contest.

• Beginning your sequence (Rule Book Para 10 pg SCA-5,6,7)
  • You MUST call “IN THE BOX” or “ENTERING” this year for each sequence to mark the beginning of an official ATTEMPT.
  • Saying that you are “starting next pass” is a courtesy, but DOES NOT COUNT toward meeting the requirement above.
  • Failure to signal the attempt will result in ZEROING the ROUND if the pilot exceeds the time limits or allowed maneuvers prior to signaling the attempt.
  • JUDGING will still START when the plane departs horizontal wings level flight - not when the pilot signals entry.

• Allowable maneuvers prior to entering the aerobatic airspace (Rule Book Para 13 pg SCA-8,9)
  • The list of maneuvers that may be performed prior to sequence, between sequences, and prior to landing has changed. There is still a list of acceptable maneuvers, but SEVERAL MANEUVERS have been ADDED.

CD’s Corner

I would like to thank all Contest Directors for their hard work in getting us contests setup for 2011. It takes a lot more work then many understand. Please thank these guys when you see them.

ü I would like to ask all CD’s to please review, as a minimum, the above rule changes at your morning pilots meeting. It will head off a lot of potential problems.

ü If you need any help or support for your contest, please do not hesitate to ask. I have a lot of resources available to help you with whatever you need.

ü Have you signed your contest up for UNKNOWNS?

ü I will be sending out notifications this year to all clubs within 100 miles (you won’t believe this, but that is usually about 50 clubs) of your contest ~8 weeks in advance as has been done for our Judging Schools. It seems to be paying off as I get a lot of emails requesting more information on IMAC and the event.

We are constantly in need of more CD’s and ARD’s. If you would like to become more involved in helping the region grow, please let me know.

2011 National Championship (NATS)

Things are ramping up for the 2011 NATS and it is going to be one that you don’t want to miss. If you have never been to the NATS before, you will love it. 4+ days of friends, fun, flying and of course competition at your great AMA National Flying Site! Please do not think that you have to be good enough to attend. Pilots of all skill levels are encouraged to come and will have a great time.

Now is the time to sign up – you can get an entry form from the AMA website. Once you go one year, you will automatically get an entry package sent to you in the mail in the spring of each year with all the information and an application.

It would be great to have a lot of NE pilots at the NATS!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Capital IMAC – Bowie, MD – 5/21-5/22

Lums Pond IMAC Challenge – Bear, DE – 6/11-6/12

NATS – Muncie, IN – 6/27-6/30

Happy Flying!

Brian Foveaux

NE IMAC Regional Director