Qualification of National RC Glider Teams - process

Hi Everyone,

Please be advised that the SA National team selections process is applicable across all MGA disciplines (F3B, F3J, F3K,...) in terms of selecting individuals to represent SA as a national team and for SASCOC National Colours eligibility. 

Also, please note that this process has generally been in place since the MGA was formalised: in 2008 it was consolidated across all MGA disciplines with revision in 2009 to eliminate the need for qualification rounds if 3 or less pilots were eligible for a National Team.

It is important to note that NO qualifier is compulsory - but at least one qualifier must be flown to be eligible to be selected for team trials. 

National Teams are only selected for FAI/CIAM recognised World Championship and when applicable World Air Games in which an appropriate RC Soaring discpline for Airsport Promotion is represented. 
The final award of National Colours for the individual/team remains the decision of SASCOC.
Only SA citizens may be selected for represent members of any SA National team (this was highlighted during January 2011).

Procedure: Qualification of National RC Glider Teams

Applicable: Across all MGA disciplines

General rules applicable to the selection of National RC Gliding teams:

1. All selections must be completed sufficiently prior to the applicable World Championship, to permit adequate teams practices
2. Selection events should ideally be scheduled for two days duration, were the second day is available for additional rounds to be completed. In the event that no rounds can be flown on both scheduled days, then the entire selection event must be postponed to a later date
3. In the event that the selections are interrupted (due to weather, etc), then the outstanding portion of the selections must be postponed to a later date that is agreeable to the pilots who where present at that selection event – the CD to confirm this within a reasonable period after the postponement
4. The CD is responsible for determining if an event should be delayed/postponed
5. The discipline of the World Championship to be attended will define the FAI/CIAM rules to be applied during the selection events
6. All the competitions will be flown according to the applicable current FAI/CIAM Rules and applicable local rules must be agreed by all pilots prior to the event
7. Qualification rounds may be flown in teams, but the Team Trials must be flown using the “man-on-man” format defined within the applicable FAI/CIAM rules
8. The National Team composition/structure is based on the applicable FAI/CIAM Rules
9. Only SAMAA members are eligible for National teams selection
10. The eligibility and allocation of National Colours are subject to SASCOC conditions and requirements
11. Members of a National RC Glider Teams are required to comply with the stipulations defined within the SAMAA MOP

 In the event that more than 3 pilots are able to qualify for the team, the selection process for participation as a member of the National RC Glider team to represent the Republic of South Africa at an FAI World championships are: 

• There will be at least 3 selection events held preceding the World Championships
• The first two events are scheduled as Qualifiers events and the last competition will be a Team Trial event
• Using each pilot’s best score from either of the two qualifying rounds, the top ten ranked & available pilots will be eligible for participation in the Team Trials event
• Final Team selection is based on the combined results of the Team Trials and the best results from either of the two Qualification events (i.e. the lowest qualifier score will be deemed a “throw-away”)
• The top 3 pilots qualify as members of the National Team, 4th place will be 1st reserve (non-travelling), 5th place will be 2nd reserve (non-traveling), etc.
• It is recommended that one of the two Qualifying events coincide with the Gliding Nationals and the other as a stand alone event
• It is recommended that the Team Trials are held at a neutral venue

In the event that not more than 3 pilots (or the team size as defined by the applicable FAI/CIAM Rules) are available to qualify, then in terms of development, the MGA may still consider approving a team of pilots who individually and in the appropriate discipline have each achieved a minimum of 80% of the previous National Championships winner’s score.

Additional team members who are not pilots and who may be eligible for National Colours are selected by the qualifying pilots. The MGA will agree this selection only when the additional team member(s) are motivated :

• already qualified to participate in the applicable Team Trials, or
• have actively participated as pilots in local and national competitions of the appropriate discipline to a level considered acceptable by the MGA, or
• have adequately demonstrated their proposed team role in local and national competitions of the appropriate discipline to a level considered acceptable by the MGA during the selection period.

The team may still motivate selection of individuals outside of these criteria, but the awarding of National Colours to these individuals will not be usual, and the SAMAA Team Grant may be withheld pro rata for these extraordinary selections.

Fly Safely