Judging Downgrades Summary
Here is a précis of the principal "faults" that you should look for and the number of marks to deduct whilst you are applying standard CIVA rules of critique to sequence programmes at all levels. Always however refer to the current CIVA Section-6 Rules (power or glider) for the ‘official’ solution in all matters of judging detail.
At the entry to and exit from EVERY figure element
Horizontal start & finish Lines | Downgrade |
|---|---|
Off-axis left or right n-deg | 1 point/5 deg |
Climbing or diving n-deg | 1 point/5 deg |
One wing low n-deg | 1 point/5 deg |
No distinct line drawn | 1 point each |
Flying in the wrong direction on the "A" axis | Mark = Hard Zero (HZ) |
Family 1 - lines and angles
Horizontal 45's & Verticals | Downgrade |
|---|---|
Climbing or diving n-deg (before or after roll) | 1 point/5 deg |
Steep or shallow n-deg (before or after roll) | 1 point/5 deg |
Positive or negative n-deg (before or after roll) | 1 point/5 deg |
No line drawn before or after roll | 1 point each |
Longer or shorter line before or after the roll | 1 to 3 points |
Family 2 - turns and rolling turns
Turns | Downgrade |
|---|---|
Rolling entry or exit (i.e. a "co-ordinated" turn) | 1 to 2 points |
Bank angle is too shallow (less than 60 deg) | 1 point/5 deg |
Bank angle varied | 1 point/variation |
Rolling Turns | Downgrade |
|---|---|
Roll rate varied | 1 point/variation |
Roll stopped or turn and then restarted | 2 points |
Not an even integration of rolls at the end | 1 point/5 deg |
Not enough / too many rolls or a flick-roll seen | Mark = hard zero |
Both Types | Downgrade |
|---|---|
Turn rate or radius varied | 1 point/variation |
Climbing or diving in turn | 1 point/5 deg |
Exit | Downgrade |
|---|---|
Was n-deg early or late | 1 point/5 deg |
| However if n > 45° then the Hard Zero applies | Mark = Hard Zero (HZ) |
Family 3 - combinations of lines
All Figures | Downgrade |
|---|---|
Longer or shorter 2'nd etc. line | 1 to 3 points |
Family 5 - stall turns
Up/Down Lines | Downgrade |
|---|---|
Up/down-line pos/neg/left/right n-deg (before or after roll) | 1 point/5 deg |
Short, long or no line drawn up/down (before or after roll) | 1 to 3 points |
The Turn | Downgrade |
|---|---|
Turn-around too wide (pivot beyond wingtip) | 1 point/wing length |
Rolled or pitched n-deg in turn-around | 1 point/5 deg |
Exit pull or push radius smaller or larger | 1 to 3 points |
Family 6 - Tail Slides
Up/Down Lines | Downgrade |
|---|---|
Up/down-line pos/neg/left/right n-deg (before or after roll) | 1 point/5 deg |
Short, long or no line drawn up/down (before or after roll) | 1-3 points |
The Slide | Downgrade |
|---|---|
Visible 'cheat' angle at the top | 1 point/5 deg |
No slide seen | 4 points |
Yawed or rolled n-deg in slide | 1 to 3 points |
Pitched the wrong way (wheels up or down) | Mark = Hard Zero (HZ) |
Family 7 - Loops and Eights
Half & Full Loops | Downgrade |
|---|---|
Large or small radius at the top or in 1'st/2'nd etc. quarter | 1 to 3 points |
Line drawn between roll and looping segment | 1-4 points max. |
Roll not central in looping segment | 1 to 3 points |
Off-axis during looping segment | 1 point/5 deg |
Higher or lower exit | 1 to 3 points |
Eights | Downgrade |
|---|---|
Smaller or larger 2'nd half | 1 to 3 points |
Lower or higher 2'nd half (horizontal) | 1 to 3 points |
With Corners | Downgrade |
|---|---|
Longer or shorter 2'nd etc. line length | 1 to 3 points |
Up/down-line pos/neg/left/right n-deg {before or after roll} | 1 point/5 deg |
1'st/2'nd etc. 45 steep or shallow {before or after roll} | 1 point/5 deg |
Horizontal segment off-axis left/right/up/down | 1 point/5 deg |
Family 8 - Combinations of Lines, Angles and Loops
Humpty Bumps | Downgrade |
|---|---|
Up/down-line pos/neg/left/right n-deg (before or after roll) | 1 point/5 deg |
Rolled or yawed in half-loop | 1 point/5 deg |
Push instead of pull, or pull instead of push | Mark = Hard Zero (HZ) |
Family 9 - Rolls and Spins
Slow Rolls | Downgrade |
|---|---|
Rolled n-deg short or too far | 1 point/5 deg |
Roll barrelled (pitched and/or yawed whilst rolling) | 1 point/5 deg |
Roll rate varied | 1 point/variation |
Axis changed left/right/up/down n-deg during/after roll | 1 point/5deg |
Hesitation at random point | 2 points |
Wrong type of roll substituted | Mark = Hard Zero (HZ) |
Hesitation Rolls | Downgrade |
|---|---|
Climbed or sank in knife | 1 to 2 points |
Slower or faster 2'nd etc. half/quarter/eighth | 1 to 3 points |
Under/over rotated 1'st/2'nd etc. half/quarter/eighth | 1 point/5 deg |
Hesitation missed (wrong type of roll substituted) | Mark = Hard Zero (HZ) |
Flick Rolls | Downgrade |
|---|---|
Part flicked and part aileron'd roll | 2 to 5 points |
Not flicked (no stall seen) | Mark = Hard Zero (HZ) |
Positive instead of negative, or neg instead of pos | Mark = Hard Zero (HZ) |
Combinations Of Rolls | Downgrade |
|---|---|
Any line between two rolls | At least 2 points |
Significant(?) line between rolls | Mark = Hard Zero (HZ) |
Same direction when opposite is required (or vice versa) | Mark = Hard Zero (HZ) |
Wrong number of rolls where linked | Mark = Hard Zero (HZ) |
Rolls immediately prior to or just after looping | Downgrade |
|---|---|
Any line between stopping loop/roll and starting roll/loop | At least 2 points |
Roll starts before the loop finishes | 1 point/5 deg (from required line) |
Significant line between rolls | Mark = Hard Zero (HZ) |
Spin Entry | Downgrade |
|---|---|
Entry not stalled, and/or "rolled" in – not auto-rotation >> spinning | Mark = Hard Zero (HZ) |
Flicked entry (too fast) | Mark = Hard Zero (HZ) |
Spin Exit | Downgrade |
|---|---|
Spin rotation short or too far n-deg | 1 point/5 deg |
Line after was positive or negative n-deg | 1 point/5 deg |
No line drawn after | Mark = Hard Zero (HZ) |
The following general points apply to all sequences:
- At all Levels or Categories pilots are entitled to fly a selection of "Safety Figures" prior to the start of their sequence, as detailed on the "Warm-Up figures and Breaks" page.
- The sequence start, end and any intermediate breaks must be signified by three wing rocks - see the "Wing Rocks" page.
- Every figure must begin and end on the "A" or "B" axis in erect or inverted level flight.
- The mark for each figure is 10 points minus the sum of the deductions that you judge appropriate.
- Figures missed-out (i.e. not flown) or obstructed by cloud must be awarded a Hard Zero (HZ).
- Figures started behind the judges must be marked normally but put the comment "Behind" in the remarks column. The Chief Judge will subsequently determine by majority vote whether they should be scored or not, i.e. set to Hard Zero (HZ).
- For a figure flown so far distant that the exact detail is not apparent, you are entitled to deduct 2 points for every element that you can’t judge.
- The Positioning or Framing mark (out of 10) is judged on the symmetrical and good use of the whole 'box' - see the Positioning page.
Zeros
Occasionally the Chief Judge will call the Judging panel members together after a sequence to discuss contentious points. Debates at these occasions can become quite heated, but a common settlement of any disputed points is essential and it is the Chief Judge's job to ensure that this is reached as quickly as possible.
While you should certainly present your own point of view, once the Chief Judge has made a decision - do accept it! It is unfair to harass the CJ and often impossible to prove who is actually correct.
Judging an example sequence Judging: An example Judging Sheet