APF Comp Rules

APF Canopy Formation Competition Rules

For rules specific to each discipline, go to the competion rules page. For more detailed rules, go to the Regulations Section of this website. Otherwise, just peruse them below.

Following are rules from the Sporting Code Section of the APF Operational Regulations. These will be updated with the IPC rule changes mid 2005.

AUSTRALIAN PARACHUTE FEDERATION SPORTING CODE

(Sections 13 through 18 of the APF Operational Regulations)

3rd September 2004

SECTION 14 - NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS RULES

RULES SPECIFIC TO THE COMPETITION

14.4 NATIONAL CANOPY FORMATION CHAMPIONSHIPS

14.4.2 Aims of the Championships

(a) To determine the Australian Champions of Canopy Formation in:

Four Way Sequential Event;

Four Way Rotation Event;

Eight Way Speed Formation Event.

(b) To determine the Australian standings of the competing teams.
(c) To establish Australian Canopy Formation records.
(d) To promote and develop Canopy Formation parachuting as a discipline.
(e) To exchange ideas and strengthen friendly relations between the skydivers, Judges and others.
(f) To allow participants to share and exchange experience, knowledge and information.
(g) To improve judging methods and practices.

14.4.3 Definitions of words and phrases used in these Rules

Formation: consists of 3 or more jumpers and canopies linked by grips, correct or not.
Grip: Consists of a hold on the "A" lines, or front risers so that a formation is built in accordance with the diagrams.
Configurations:
(i) STACK: the shoulder of the upper jumper must be above the upper surface of the lower canopy. The grip must be on a line attached to the centre cell.

(ii) STAIRSTEP: the shoulder of the upper jumper must be above the upper surface of the lower canopy. The grip must be on the outside "A" line of the end cell. The grip must be taken with the inside leg or foot and the torso must be on the outside of the canopy: this may include an additional hand grip, if desired.

(iii) PLANE: the head of the upper jumper must be below the lower surface of the lower canopy. The grip must be on the front risers or a line attached to the centre cell.

(iv) PLANE/STACK: Plane, stack or any position on a centre line between these configurations. A correct grip must be maintained. The above configurations only apply for complete formations. Intermediate: Stage between two formations. An intermediate formation must be flown and remain intact with the correct grips.
Sequence: A series of formations and intermediates. Working time: The time allowed for a team to perform the jump.
Dive Pool: Consists of random (single formation) and block sequence (two formations and an intermediate) as illustrated in the dive pool.

14.4.4 The Events

The discipline has the following events:

Four Way Sequential Event;
Four Way Rotation Event;
Eight Way Speed Formation Event.

Teams are composed as follows:

A 4-way team in each event consisting of 6 members, any of who may be the team videographer.
An 8-way team consisting of 10 members, any of who may be the team videographer.

14.4.6 Performance requirement:

14.4.6.1 4-way sequential event: Each round consists of a repeatable sequence drawn from the dive pools.
14.4.6.2 4-way rotation event: Each round consists of successive 4-way plane/stack formations made by rotations. Rotations must be made by the top competitor in the complete formation dropping grips, flying to the bottom of the formation and again completing a 4-way plane/stack formation. The intermediate formation is the remaining correctly completed 3-way plane/stack formation.
14.4.6.3 8-way speed formation event: Each round consists of a single formation drawn from the dive pool. The formation must be held for at least five seconds. The holding time may run over the working time.

14.4.9 Break off

All form of canopy formation jumping must cease by 750 metres (~ 2500 feet). The Nationals Controller has the authority to disqualify a team that breaks this rule, for that round or the whole event.

14.4.10 Miscellaneous Equipment

Competitors must carry the following equipment:

(a) Every team member must carry a hook-knife for emergency use;
(b) Altimeter.

14.4.14 Exit Procedure

(a) There is no limitation on the exit other than those imposed by the Chief Pilot for safety reasons. The pilot must maintain the altitude and direction until the aircraft is well clear of the jumpers.
(b) Teams will be responsible for their own exits once the aircraft has commenced jump run.
(c) The exit of the first team member must be clearly shown on the team's video recording.
(d) The pilot chute must not be withdrawn from the equipment until the competitor is clear of the aircraft.

14.4.16 Scoring

(a) All formations and intermediate requirements must be completed and recorded in such a manner that the Judges may determine that the required performance has been achieved. Provision of video evidence for judging purposes is the responsibility of the team.

RULES SPECIFIC TO THE EVENTS

14.4.17 4-Way Sequential Event

(a) Exit altitude is 2,500 metres (~8,200 feet) AGL with a working time of 150 seconds.
(b) The draw of the sequences: Each block sequence or random will be drawn only once for each competition. All rounds shall consist of four or five scoring formations, whichever number is reached first.
(c)

Scoring: Teams will be awarded one point for the first formation and each subsequent formation or formations preceded by an intermediate correctly completed within the working time. Teams will not be awarded points for incorrect formations. There will be no penalty.

Omissions: Omission of a formation will stop the scoring at that formation. The next formation to score is the second correctly completed formation following the last omission. Scoring may also continue if the team goes back to correctly complete the omitted formation, incorrect formation or formation prior to the incorrect intermediate requirement. An attempt to complete a formation, although incorrect or incomplete, demonstrated by at least 3 canopies connected with grips, and in the formation required by the drawn sequence, will be judged as an incorrect formation, not as an omission.

(d) Each formation and intermediate requirement must be performed in accordance with the illustrations in the drawn sequence. Where there is no intermediate requirement between formations, there must be complete separation of all canopies. Mirror images are acceptable for a complete blocks and random formations. Formations need not be symmetrical. At the end of a sequence there must be complete separation before restarting the sequence as drawn.

14.4.18 4-Way Rotation Event

(a) Exit altitude is 2,150 metres (~7,000 feet) with a working time of 90 seconds.
(b) The Working Time and Scoring begins with the first 4-way plane/stack formation whether correct or not, or 30 seconds after the exit of the first team member, excluding the team's videographer, whichever is first. One point is scored for every correctly completed 4-way plane/stack formation within the working time, according to the performance requirement.

14.4.19 8-Way Speed Event

(a) Exit altitude shall be 1,850 metres (~6,000 feet) AGL with a working time of 120 seconds.
(b) Each round consists of a single formation as shown in the dive pool. A draw will be made for the first four rounds. The formations will be replaced to enable the draw for the remaining rounds.
(c) Scoring; The score for the jump shall be the time in seconds and hundredths of seconds to complete a correct 8-Way formation, provided the formation is held for five seconds. If the formation separates within working time, the team may rebuild the formation. The holding time may run over the working time. The maximum score for any round shall be 120 seconds.

14.4.20 Air to Air Video Recording

(a) Each team shall provide the video evidence required to judge each round. Only one of the team's members may jump on each jump as a videographer.
(b) Video equipment shall consist of the complete video system or systems used to record the video evidence of the team's performance, including camera(s), video tape(s), tape recorder(s) and battery(ies).
(c) A Video Controller will be appointed by the Chief Judge prior to the start of the Judges' Conference. The Video Controller may inspect a team's video equipment to verify that it meets the competition requirements. Inspections may be made at any time during the competition which does not interfere with a team's performance, as determined by the Event Judge. If any video equipment does not meet the requirements determined by the Video Controller, this equipment will be deemed to be unuseable for the competition.
(d) The videographer must deliver the video equipment to the Chief Judge or their designee as soon as possible after each jump is completed. Only one video tape will be dubbed and judged. Secondary video evidence may only be used where there is insufficient video evidence due to meteorological or technical reasons.

14.4.21 Judging Rules

14.4.21.1 Observing the Performance

(i) Each performance must be evaluated by a panel of three Judges. At a National Championship, the judging panel should have a majority of Judges who are Nationals-endorsed for Canopy Formation.
(ii) The Judges will watch each performance once at normal speed. At the request of any working Judge, a second viewing at normal speed may be made. A third viewing at normal speed may only occur where authorised by the Event Judge.
(iii) The Judges may use an electronic scoring system to record their evaluation of the performance if available.
(iv) The Judges may correct their evaluation record after the jump has been judged. At the end of working time, freeze frame of the image must be applied.
(v) The Judges shall start the timing when the first team member (excluding the team's videographer) leaves the aircraft.
(vi) If the Judges use score sheets to record their evaluation, they will operate their own chronometer and use the signs below to record their assessment. The score sheets of all Judges must be collected immediately after the Judges have scored the jump for checking by the Event Judge and Chief Judge. Freeze frame of the video image need not be used.

Situation:

Correct scoring formation √

Penalty 0

Formations, inters or total separations not visually judgeable NJ

Insufficient video evidence NV

End of working time //

(vii) The determination of time awarded in the 8-way event: If 3 scores fall within a 3 seconds spread, the score for that jump is the average of these. If only 2 scores fall within a 3 seconds spread, the score for that jump is the average of the two with the third score discarded. If no scores fall within a 3 second spread, then the Event Judge shall consult with the judging panel to determine whether there is an actual time of completion for the formation. In this case, additional viewings may be used.

14.4.22 Program of events

(a) The Australian Canopy Formation Championships comprises the following events:

4-Way Sequential Event 8 rounds;

4-Way Rotation Event. 8 rounds;

8-Way Speed Event 8 rounds;

(b) The 7th round of each event shall be the Semi-Final Round in which teams holding the first ten placings shall participate.
(c) The 8th round of each event shall be the the Final Round in which teams holding the first six placings shall participate.
(d) A minimum of 1 round must be completed to establish Australian Champions in any event.

14.4.23 Determination of Australian Champions

The Australian Champions are the teams

a) Where only one round is completed, have the best score for that one round, or.
b) Where more than one round is completed, have the best score after discarding their worst performance in the completed rounds calculated as follows:

4-WAY EVENTS:

Have the highest number of formations in the remaining completed rounds.

If two or more teams have an equal number of formations, the first three places will be decided by the highest number of points in any completed round for each team.

If there is still a tie, the the team with the fastest time in those rounds with the highest points wins the tied place.

8-WAY SPEED FORMATION:

Has the most 8-ways in the remaining completed rounds.

If two or more teams have an equal number of 8-ways, the winner is that team with the lowest total time for these rounds.

If there is still a tie the first three places will be decided by the fastest times for any completed round.

14.4.24 Dive pool

Formation diagrams. Definitions used in the formation diagrams are as follows:

Canopy identification
Block sequence numbers 1 2 3 4
Random formation letters A B C D
Intermediate requirement INTER

Hit Counter