What is Precision Flying?
Precision Flying is an exercise in precise flight planning and aircraft control. Pilots are expected to make a flight plan for travelling over a given course. It involves calculating the time at which the aircraft will reach each turning point over the track and comparing planned to actual times. Discrepancies incur penalty points.
Ground targets (usually geometric shapes) are laid out at various points around the track and these must be observed and marked on the map as the aircraft navigates the course. A number of aerial photos are supplied and these too much be matched with positions on the map. Failing to identify and missing or mis-marking targets & photographs also incurs penalty points.
Lastly, each aircraft carries out one or more grid landings at the end of the sortie. The further the aircraft touches down from the optimum point, the more penalty points it incurs.
Lowest penalty score wins the competition!!
What is the difference between a Precision Flying event and a Rally event?
Precision Flying is a solo competition with each pilot competing individually. They are also accompanied by an air judge. Rally flying is done in teams and an air judge is not used. Precision Flying also penalises smaller flightplan timing discrepancies and landing grid distances than Rally Flying.
Who can compete in Precision Flying and Rally events?
Any pilot holding a PPL or better is more than qualified to enter Precision Flying and Rally events. The skills required are exactly the same as those learned in gaining a pilots license. They just need to be applied more precisely.
What is the best aircraft for competition purposes?
Any airworthy aircraft may be used. However experience has shown that a slower aircraft makes it easier to observe targets and photos on the ground as you fly. In Rally Flying it is also a good idea to use an aircraft from which all crew members have good visibility of the ground below. This makes target and photo identification easier. Open cockpit aircraft can be used but juggling maps and photos in the slipstream can be somewhat challenging. A vanilla Cessna 172 is a fine aircraft for these competitions.
What tips can you give me about competing successfully?
- Plan to use an airspeed below your normal cruise (but safely above stall speed, of course). That way, if you find you are ahead or behind time, you can easily slow down or speed up as necessary to put you back on time.
- Practice using your flight computer and maps to flightplan. Being able to accurately plan taking into account track and allowing for wind is a vital skill.
- When Rally Flying, allocate specific targets and photos to each crew member. That way you spread the observation effort around.
- Carry clipboards. These competitions involve juggling a fair bit of paper. You don't want it all floating round the cabin while you are trying to fly.
- Have a stopwatch with large numbers on its display. Timing is important. Knowing the exact timing is invaluable.
- Practice landings on the spot. The closer you get to perfect, the better you will score.
- Don't worry about the apparent focus on penalties. The best pilots in the world will still incur penalties. The object of the game is to score fewer than everyone else.
- Be prepared to try something new and HAVE FUN!
Where can I find the official FAI rules for Rally Flying?
Download the rules from this link
To make the organisation of non-championship events more straight-forward, some minor modifications to the official rules may be made at the discretion of the NZPFRA organising committee.