In all aspects one can measure, IMAC has come a long way over the past seven years. Without a doubt, the one area that has improved immeasurably is that of rules. From a set of “loosely defined” questionable rules, mostly derived from pattern rules, a couple of hard working folks took a page (or many pages) from our full-scale counterparts (IAC) and created the first IMAC Flying and Judging Guidelines (F&JG). The AMA
accepted our F&JG as part of the official rules and Scale Aerobatics finally emerged as a truly serious competition event for precision aerobatics.
Let there be no doubt about competitive Scale Aerobatics being a serious sport. The folks I know really enjoy the camaraderie at the events but they also spend hours of time and significant money in pursuit of their love/hate relationship. Anyone that has burned gallons and countless hours at the field adjusting mixes or working on the execution of a difficult section of a sequence can understand the love/hate part.
It is in recognition of this significant investment in time and resources that we, as competition pilots and judges, owe it to our fellow competitor to know the rules and apply them fairly and evenly. To go to an event after spending hours and hours practicing and then be judged by someone who does not know the rules or misunderstands them can be both frustrating and disheartening.
It is also important that as an active member of the scale aerobatic community, we take time to understand how the overall rules process works and how we, as individuals, can have an impact on the rules under which we fly. - (next tab)
Let us get a few basic definitions and questions out of the way first….
Who actually makes the Rules?
IMAC cannot add, change, or delete any of the competition rules - only the AMA has that power. IMAC can propose rule changes to the AMA (as can any AMA member). Because IMAC is recognized as the AMA’s official Special Interest Group (SIG) for Scale Aerobatics, its rule proposals may carry more weight in the overall rule process. As noted above, IMAC has no actual control over actual competition rules. However, it does have the ability to exercise some minor degree of control over IMAC events themselves.
How can we add, change, or delete a rule?
Since the AMA is the actual rule making body, it is obvious that they have to be involved. The AMA created a process to handle rule changes. This process has a timeline called a Rules Cycle and, with the recent change in AMA policy, is now two years long (previously three years). Any AMA member in good standing can submit a rules change proposal (RCP) directly to the AMA during the acceptance part of the cycle. There is a form available on the AMA website that you can download, fill out, and submit for consideration. A minimum of three signatures are required – a sponsor and two co-sponsors. The exact routing of the AMA RCP through the rules system is covered later in this article by a flowchart.
What is a Request for Action (RFA)?
An IMAC RFA is simply a request by any IMAC member (called a sponsor) to the IMAC Board of Directors for some kind of decision or action. An RFA can fall into one of several categories including the Rules Change category. An RFA also requires signatures of two additional IMAC members (called co-sponsors). The IMAC RFA form and detailed instructions are available from the IMAC website.
Let us follow a fictitious rule through the whole process. You can refer to
this flowchart1 and follow each step in the process.
Create the RFA One day while practicing with his sidekicks at the local club, Moe suddenly has a brainstorm – He thinks everybody that competes in scale aerobatic contests should fly a PINK airplane. His reasoning - Well…pink is easy to see, matches well with other colors, but mostly it is because PINK is his favorite color.
It does not take long for Moe to convince his sidekicks, Larry and Curly (of course), of the merit of his idea. Moe now has the necessary number of people to file one of these NEW things IMAC introduced in 2004 called a Request for Action (RFA).
Moe fires up his trusty computer, logs onto the IMAC website, locates and downloads the IMAC RFA form. Picking up the phone, he invites Larry and Curly over for a signing party. A few brews later, Moe places the RFA bearing the three signatures into an envelope, licks the stamp, and drops it into the mail.
RFA to the Board The RFA, received and logged by the Secretary of IMAC, is now copied to each member of the Board of Directors. This starts the 45-day clock. The Board has up to 45 days to advise the sponsor of its INITIAL decision.
Moe’s RFA belongs to a category of RFA called a Rules Proposal. RFA pertaining to rules get handled slightly different than RFAs in other categories. In this case, the Board holds an initial vote to decide if the RFA is in the proper format and if it merits further consideration.
In the real world, Moe’s request most likely would not merit further consideration, but for the sake of this example, let us assume that the Board votes to pass it to the next step in the process and emails Moe to let him know it has passed the first test. This email ends the 45-day clock for the initial decision.
To the IRSC and Back Again The group in IMAC charged with hashing out the whys and wherefores of all rule requests is called the IMAC Rules and Standards Committee or (IRSC). The chairperson of the IRSC gets Moe’s PINK Airplane request, scratches his head a bit, and copies everyone else on the committee.
It just so happens that a few of the committee members are also strong supporters of the color PINK. After a flurry of emails and phone calls, almost everyone on the IRSC is convinced of the pure logic of Moe’s request and they set about writing up a draft of the rule to be proposed to the AMA.
The IRSC, during their discussions, uncovers the fact that there are a number of shades of PINK -- who knew? So, following the IRSC process, the chairperson blasts out an email to our sponsor, Moe and asks if he had a particular shade of PINK in mind or did he intend that any PINKISH color would be acceptable?
Moe didn’t think of that aspect of his request but after a day or two of soul searching decides that all shades of PINK are good things and should be permitted. Moe advises the IRSC chairperson that all PINKISH colors are OK by him.
That out of the way, the IRSC rapidly finishes the draft of the proposed rule. A final vote in the committee results in the draft being routed back to the Board for review. The Board looks it over, decides this proposal is ready for the next BIG test – the membership review period.
IMAC Members take a look Moe’s PINK Airplane Rule Proposal is now published to the IMAC website and the 30 day membership review period starts. The whole IMAC membership receives notification by email that a review period has started for Moe’s potential rule. Members log on to the website, read the draft of the proposed rule, and leave comments for the Board to review.
The comments are collected, organized, and, at the end of 30 days, are used to reach…(wait for it!)...
The FINAL decision!
It seems that based on 30 days worth of comments Moe has many friends that like PINK. A few professional interior decorators have chimed in with their objections, but it appears that most members taking the time to comment support Moe’s proposed rule.
After a final poll of the Board of Directors, the idea that started with Moe, Larry, and Curly has taken on a new life as a potential AMA rule and is added to the official IMAC Rule Change Proposal document. This document will be submitted to the AMA and encompasses all the rule change proposals that have survived this entire IMAC process.
On to September and the AMA The AMA Rules Cycle requires that all RCPs be submitted no later than the beginning of the 4th quarter of Ye ar One of the two year cycle. This applies to individual AMA members’ submissions as well as the IMAC official submission.
Surviving the AMA process Moe’s Pink Airplane RCP is part of the Official IMAC submission but the AMA considers each RCP separately. The initial examination of the RCP is made by the AMA Competitions Department. This examination closely mirrors that of the first evaluation of the IMAC Board.
Finding the form properly filled out and no major red flags, such as tying control lines to a 40% Extra 330 (can you imagine the circle you would need!), Moe’s Pink Airplane RCP is distributed to the members of the Scale Aerobatics Contest Board or SACB.
The SACB gauntlet In previous rules cycles, the scale aerobatic rules were voted on by the RC Aerobatics Contest Board which also handles the rules for Pattern. In January of 2005, the AMA Executive Council authorized the creation of a separate scale aerobatic contest board. The 2007 Rules Cycle (which we are currently in) will be the first time in our history that Scale Aerobatic rules are voted on exclusively by scale aerobatic representatives.
Moe’s PINK Airplane rule somehow has made it this far. The SACB decides to let the whole AMA membership have a look at Moe’s idea and passes Moe’s request to Phase II – the AMA membership review period.
Moe’s idea is now published to the ENTIRE AMA membership in Model Aviation and all members are invited to contact their AMA District SACB rep with their comments. The SACB members are also polling their district’s active scale pilots to see if Moe has a good idea or not.
At the end of the membership comment period, the SACB gathers for the final vote. Any rule proposal that passes this final vote becomes an official AMA rule at the start of the next Rules Cycle (in this case, Jan 2007).
The tension builds, a drum roll please…. By a final vote of 7 to 4 (for/against), Moe’s Pink Airplane rule becomes an official AMA rule…just barely…one more vote in the Against column and Moe’s rule would not have received the required 60% majority…and now…..
We have to fly PINK airplanes