General Description
This is a points based event with a
time limit. There are two "clocks" or time limits imposed.
A team of four parachutists exit an aircraft with a cameraperson. The first
clock starts when the first person (excluding the cameraperson) leaves the
aircraft. The second clock starts either when the first drawn formation is built
or after 30 seconds, whichever comes first. The team then has 120 seconds to
complete as many pre-drawn formations as possible. If no formation is built
within 150 seconds (30 + 120), the team scores zero.
There are either 4 or 5 points drawn from the dive
pool. The team must repeat this sequence of drawn blocks and/or random's as
many times as possible within the working time.
The team with the most points at the end of the competition (usually 8 rounds
with one throwaway) is declared the winner.
Click here for 4 Way Sequential tips
and techniques.
Competition Rules - Australia
 Working
time now starts up to 30 seconds after exit and has been reduced from 150
seconds to 120 seconds. It is expected that the APF will adopt this rule at its
next board meeting in May, 2005. Therefore:
The FAI competition rules has been
adopted for Australian competitions. See FAI rules below.
Click here for
complete rules & regulations.
Dive Pool - Blocks
Graphics
from www.canopy-formation.org
Dive Pool - Random's
 
 
 
 
 
Graphics
from www.canopy-formation.org
Competition Rules - International (FAI)
Click here for complete
rules & regulations.
Fédération
Aéronautique Internationale
INTERNATIONAL PARACHUTE COMMISSION
World Cup In Canopy Formation - Competition Rules
- Effective 01 May 2005
2. DEFINITIONS
2.1 Formation: Consists of 3 or more (2 for the 2-way event) jumpers
and canopies linked by grips, correct or not.
2.2 Grip: Consists of a hold on the "A" lines or front
risers so that a formation is built in accordance with the diagrams.
2.3 Configurations
2.3.1 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.
2.3.2 Stair/step: 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 handgrip if desired.
The above configurations only apply to complete formations.
2.4 Intermediate: The stage between two formations. An intermediate formation
must be flown and remain intact with the correct grips.
2.5 Sequence: A series of formations and intermediates.
3. THE EVENTS
3.2 Performance requirement:
3.2.1 4-way sequential event: Each round consists of a repeatable sequence
drawn from the dive pool.
5. RULES SPECIFIC TO THE EVENTS
5.1 4-Way Sequential Event:
5.1.1 Exit altitude shall be 2500 m (~8,200 ft) AGL with a working time of
120 seconds.
5.1.2 The draw of the sequences: Each block sequence (6.4.2) or random
(6.4.3) will be drawn only once for each competition. All rounds shall consist
of four or five scoring formations, whichever number is reached first.
5.1.3
-
Scoring: The Working Time and Scoring begins with
the first 4-way formation whether correct or not, or 30 seconds after exit
of the first team member, excluding the team's videographer, whichever is
first. 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.
5.1.4 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 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.
6. JUDGING RULES
6.3 Determination of Winners
4-WAY EVENTS:
-
Have the highest number of formations in the completed rounds.
-
If 2 or more teams have an equal number of formations, the first 3 places will
be decided by the highest number of points in any completed round for each team.
-
If there is still a tie, the team with the fastest time in those rounds with
the highest points wins the tied place.
-
Tied teams placed lower than third remain tied
6.4 Dive pool: Formation diagrams
6.4.2 4-way block sequences: See dive
pools in the 4 Way Sequential competition section
of this website.
6.4.3 4-way random formations: See
dive pools in the 4 Way Sequential competition section
of this website.
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