FAI - IPC Canopy Formation Competition Rules
Fédération
Aéronautique Internationale
INTERNATIONAL PARACHUTE COMMISSION
World Cup In Canopy Formation - Competition Rules
- Effective 01 May 2005
1. FAI AUTHORITY
The competition will be conducted under the authority granted by the FAI,
according to the regulations of the Sporting Code of the FAI, General Section
and Section 5, as approved by the IPC and validated by the FAI, and these Rules.
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.
2.3.3 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.
2.3.4 Plane/stack: Plane/stack or any position on a riser or a line
attached to the centre cell between these configurations. A correct grip must
be maintained.
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.
2.6 Working time: The time allowed for a team to perform the jump.
3. THE EVENTS
The discipline has the following events:
3.1 Objective of the events:
The accumulated total of all rounds, in accordance with paragraph 6.3. and 7.3.8
is used to determine the final rank of the teams and declare the winner.
3.2 Performance requirement:
3.2.1 4-way sequential event: Each round consists of a repeatable sequence
drawn from the dive pool.
3.2.2 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.
3.2.3 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.
3.2.4 2-way sequential event: Each round consists of a repeatable sequence
drawn from the dive pool.
4. GENERAL RULES
4.1 Canopy Formation must not be performed using a reserve parachute.
4.2 Meteorological Conditions:
4.2.1 When air turbulence is apparent or clouds at lower altitudes affect
visibility, the Meet Director may decide to raise the exit altitude. The Meet
Director must inform all jumpers of the decision. This decision is not open to
protest.
4.2.2 Teams may refuse to jump in rain or turbulent conditions. The Meet
Director, FAI Controller and the Chief Judge by unanimous decision may decide to
continue the event. If a team aborts a jump a second time for the same reason,
that team will not jump that round and must be awarded the maximum or minimum
score whichever is worse.
4.2.3 Rain during a jump is not grounds for protest.
4.2.4 All forms of Canopy Formation jumping must cease by 750 m
(~2500 ft).
The FAI Controller has the authority to disqualify a team that breaks this rule,
for that round or the whole event.
4.3 Miscellaneous Equipment:
4.3.1 Competitors must carry the following equipment:
4.4 The Draw:
The draw of the sequences and the jump order will be supervised by the Chief
Judge. The teams will be given not less than 2 hours knowledge of the results
before the competition starts.
4.5 Training jumps:
Training jumps may be made only before the draw is made. If time allows these
jumps may be assessed by the judges and the score may be published.
4.6 Jump order:
The jump order will be used for each round until there is a break in jumping
of more than 30 minutes at the end of a round (rejumps ignored). The jump order
for the next rounds will be in the reverse order of ranking (the order in which
tied teams jump will be determined by their original draw). Reverse order of
ranking must be used for the semi-final and final rounds.
4.7 Exit procedure:
4.7.1 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.
4.7.2 Teams will be responsible for their own exits once the aircraft has
commenced the jump run.
4.7.3 The exit of the first team member must be clearly shown on the team's
video recording.
4.7.4 The pilot chute must not be withdrawn from the equipment until the team
member is clear of the aircraft.
4.8 Rejumps:
4.8.1 Where formations, inters, or total separations are not judgeable due to
meteorological conditions, or factors relating to the video equipment, the video
evidence may be considered insufficient for judging purposes. In this case, the
Video Review Panel will assess the conditions and circumstances surrounding that
occurrence and may award a rejump. Should the Video Review Panel determine that
there has been an intentional abuse of the rules by the team, or by the
videographer on behalf of the team, no rejump will be granted and they will
receive zero points, or maximum time for that jump.
4.8.2 Problems with a team's equipment are not reasons for a rejump, except
as determined under 4.8.1.
4.8.3 Contact or other means of interference, between a team and its
videographer are not reasons for the team to request a rejump.
4.9 Scoring:
4.9.1 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 the video evidence for judging
purposes is the responsibility of the team.
4.9.2 If a competitor, or team, is disqualified for a jump, they will receive
zero points, or maximum time for that jump.
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.
5.2 4-Way Rotation Event:
5.2.1 Exit altitude shall be 2150 metres (~7,000 ft) AGL with a working time of
90 seconds.
5.2.2 The Working Time and Scoring begins with the first 4-way plane/stack
formation whether correct or not, or 30 seconds after 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.
5.3 8-Way Speed Event:
5.3.1 Exit altitude shall be 1850 m (~6,000 ft) AGL with a working time of
120 seconds.
5.3.2 Each round consists of a single formation as shown in the dive pool
(6.4.4). A draw will be made for the first 4 rounds. The formations will be
replaced to enable the draw for the remaining rounds.
5.3.3 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 5 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.
5.4 2-Way Sequential Event
5.4.1 Exit altitude shall be 1850 m (~6,000 ft) AGL with a working time of 60
seconds.
5.4.2 The draw of the sequences: Each round consists of 5 points that have
been drawn from the dive pool of 6 formations. When a formation is drawn, it
will be immediately returned to the dive pool so that it may be drawn again.
5.4.3
-
Scoring: The working time and scoring begins with the first 2-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
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 or incorrect formation.
5.4.4. Each formation must be performed in accordance with the illustrations
in the drawn sequence. Jumper position for each random is set by the draw, i.e.
the dark canopy position on the first formation built within a round must remain
in the dark canopy position on all subsequent formations of that round. There
must be complete separation between each formation. No mirror formations are
allowed. All formations shall be performed as shown in the dive pool, as seen
from behind.
6. JUDGING RULES
6.1.1 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.
Each videographer must use the video transmission system, if provided by the
Organiser.
6.1.2 For the purpose of these rules, "video equipment" consists of
the complete video system used to record the video evidence of the team's
performance, including the camera, video tape, tape recorder and battery. The
equipment must deliver a PAL digital signal through an IEEE 1394 compatible
connection (Firewire).
6.1.3 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 that does not
interfere with a team's performance, as determined by the Event Judge. If any
video equipment does not meet the performance requirements as determined by the
Video Controller, this equipment will be deemed to be unusable for the
competition.
6.1.4 The videographer must deliver the video equipment (including the tape
used to record that jump) for dubbing at the designated dubbing station as soon
as possible after each jump is completed. Only one videotape will be dubbed and
judged. Secondary video evidence may only be used where there is insufficient
video evidence due to meteorological or technical reasons.
6.1.5 A Video Review Panel will be established consisting of the Chief Judge,
the President of the Jury, and the Chair of the Canopy Formation Committee or a
person nominated by the Chair of the Committee. Decisions rendered by the Video
Review Panel shall be final and shall not be subject to protest or review by the
Jury.
6.1.6 If the Video Review Panel determines that the video equipment has been
deliberately tampered with, the team will receive no score for all competition
rounds involved with this tampering.
6.2 Observing the Performance:
6.2.1 The judges may use an electronic scoring system to record their
evaluation of the performance.
6.2.2 Each performance must be evaluated by a panel of three judges.
6.2.3 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 when authorised by the Event Judge.
The judges shall start the timing when the first team member (excluding the
team's videographer) leaves the aircraft. At the end of working time, freeze
frame of the video image shall be applied.
6.2.4 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 |
| O |
Penalty |
| NJ |
Formations, inters or total separations not visually judgeable |
| NV |
Insufficient video evidence |
| // |
End of working time |
6.2.5 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. Additional viewings may be used in this case.
6.3 Determination of Winners
The Winners are the teams who:
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 in the completed
rounds calculated as follows:
2-WAY EVENT:
-
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.
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
8-WAY SPEED FORMATION:
-
Have the most 8-ways in the completed rounds.
-
If 2 or more teams have an equal number of 8-ways, the winner is that team
with the lowest total time for the
completed rounds.
-
If there is still a tie the first 3 places will be decided by the fastest
times for any completed round.
-
Tied teams placed lower than third remain tied
6.4 Dive pool: Formation diagrams
6.4.1 Definitions used in the formation diagrams are as follows:
-
| Canopy identification:
Colours used on this web site, not
shapes. |
|
-
Block sequence numbers: 1 2 3 4
-
Random formation letters: A B C D
-
Intermediate requirement: INTER
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.
6.4.4 8-way formations: See dive
pools in the 8 Way Speed competition
section of this website.
6.4.5 2-way random formations: See
dive pools in the 2 Way Sequential
competition section of this website.
7. RULES SPECIFIC TO THE COMPETITION
7.1 Title of the competition: "Add
competition title here".
7.2 Aims of the "Add type of competition
here".
7.2.1 To determine the Winners of "Add competition
Title here" in the
following events:
-
2-Way Sequential
-
4-Way Sequential
-
4-Way Rotations
-
8-Way Speed
7.2.2 To determine the world standings of the competing teams.
7.2.3 To establish Canopy Formation world records.
7.2.4 To promote and develop Canopy Formation competition.
7.2.5 To exchange ideas and strengthen friendly relations between the sport
parachutists of all nations.
7.2.6 To allow participants to share and exchange experience, knowledge and
information.
7.2.7 To improve judging methods and practices.
7.3 Competition Information
7.3.1 Date and place:
7.3.2 Judges' conference:
There will be a judges' conference: "Add
judges conference dates here".
7.3.3 Entries:
-
Provisional entries must reach the organiser by: "Add
deadline dates here".
-
Official entries must reach the organiser by: "Add
deadline dates here".
-
Entries sent after 45 days prior are subject to a late entry fee.
-
The entry forms shall be sent to: "Add
contact details here".
7.3.4 Entry fees:
7.3.5 Organisation:
-
The Organising Committee is chaired by: "Add
persons name here".
-
The Meet Director is: "Add
persons name here".
-
The FAI Controller is: "Add
persons name here".
-
Training facilities shall be available to teams prior to the start of the
competition.
7.3.6 Composition of delegations:
-
Each delegation may comprise:
-
1 x Head of Delegation
-
1 x Team Manager
-
1 x Team Coach
-
1 x Tnterpreter
-
Accompanying personnel
-
4 x 2-way teams consisting of 4 members, any of who may be the team videographer.
-
1 x 4-way team in each event consisting of 6 members, any of who may be the
team videographer.
-
1 x 8-way team in each event consisting of 10 members, any of who may be the
team videographer.
Note: for world cups, more teams
are allowed. Three four way & 8 way teams are usually allowed.
7.3.7 Aircraft Type and Speed:
-
The aircraft used for the 2-Way Sequential event will be:
"Add aircraft type here" Exit
speed: 85 ± 5kts.
-
The aircraft used for the 4-Way Sequential event will be:
"Add aircraft type here" Exit speed: 85 ±
5kts.
-
The aircraft used for the 4-Way Rotations event will be: "Add
aircraft type here" Exit speed: 85 ± 5kts.
-
The aircraft used for the 8-Way Speed event will be: "Add
aircraft type here" Exit speed: 85 ± 5kts.
7.3.8 Program of events:
i) The "Add type of competition
here" is comprised of the following events:
-
2-Way Sequential - 8 rounds
-
4-Way Sequential - 8 rounds
-
4-Way Rotations - 8 rounds
-
8-Way Speed - 8 rounds
ii) The 7th round of each event shall be the Semi-Final Round in which teams
holding the first ten placings shall participate.
iii) The 8th round of each event shall be the Final Round in which teams
holding the first six placings shall participate.
A minimum of 1 round must be completed to establish Winners of the
"Add type of competition here" in any event.
The timetable for competition jumping is:
-
Training jumps commence:
"Add training dates here".
-
Competition jumps commence:
"Add competition start date here".
-
Competition jumps end:
"Add competition ending date & time here".
7.3.9 Panel of Judges:
-
Chief Judge is: "Add
persons name here".
-
Assistant Chief Judge is: "Add
persons name here".
-
Judges approved by the IPC are: "Add
persons name here".
7.3.10 Protest fee:
A fee of "Add fee amount & currency
here" must accompany each protest.
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