Club Ladder Rules

The ladder is open to all club members. The points and handicapping system is designed to allow all pilots, from pre solo to triple Diamond pundit, to compete on an equal basis.  

1.   A pilot may only submit one claim per day. Any number of claims may be submitted but only the six best claims will be counted. All claims must be submitted within 31 days of the flight, or by the 30th of September, whichever is sooner.

2.   Eligible flights are those made from the club and badge claims made anywhere.

3.   The club ladder starts on the 1st of October and finishes on the following 30th September.

4.   Points are awarded for the following:  

      Soaring:              5 points per minute of the flight less 7 minutes per 1000' of Aero tow. Maximum claim 60 minutes, unless the flight qualifies for the Cross Country Endorsement Duration or Silver Duration when all time counts.

      Gain of height:   10 points per 100', minimum claim 500'.  

      Cross country points/km (for the full list see the claim form)

Bonus Points:    First Dual-seater Solo 2500 points

                                   Off checks per 2-seater 500 points

                                   First Single-seater solo 500 points  

Handicaps:      A percentage of the total points for the flight are deducted depending on the highest Certificate held by the pilot: Bronze - 10%, Silver - 20%, Gold - 30%, Diamond - 40%.

5.   If a flight from Walney qualifies for one or more badge legs then the points for the flight may be doubled.

6.   For a dual flight involving a pilot-under-instruction and an instructor the pupil may claim full points for the flight (less the pupils handicap, if any) and the instructor may claim half of the points for the flight (ignoring the instructors handicap). A flight where both the pilots have the cross country diploma or higher will be classed as 'Non Instructional'.

7.   For a non-instructional dual flight, both pilots may claim 75% of the points for the flight less handicaps for both pilots.

8.   No more than three turning points are permitted for a cross country flight and these turning points must all be greater than the minimum distance for the glider (shown below) from both Walney and Haverigg unless either Walney or Haverigg is the second or third turning point and they must be the minimum distance for the glider apart. A turning point is a 90' quadrant with a 3000M radius and a 500m radius circle. (Except Haverigg is ignored for solo Bronze pilots). In addition each leg must also be longer than the minimum distance. A  cross country flight must contain at least one climb. Pre-declared cross-countries earn points/km+50%.

9.   A barograph trace is needed for all solo flights for which a gain of height claim is made. Turning point photos / Flight recorder traces are preferred for Bronze C pilots and necessary for those pilots of Silver C and above.

10. For silver C pilots and above a turning point must be a distinguishable object.

11. SLMG's, Touring Motor Gliders & Turbo's, engine off time, height and location is classed as the 'off tow' point. An engine start in flight is classed as a field landing and the claim stops at this point.

12. The maximum aero tow height or engine climb height is 5000 feet on Walney's QFE.

Evidence from approved Flight Recorders is also acceptable in addition to or instead of photographs. The ladder is operated on trust. Evidence for each flight need not be submitted with the claim but traces, photographs and BGA badge confirmations should be retained until the end of the year. In the event of a dispute the ladder steward may demand that a pilot produce any trace or photograph in support of a claim. Any doubt over a claim could result in a null claim. Breaking of any Club, BGA or CAA rule or regulation during a flight will nullify a claim. Any proof or reasonable doubt of cheating will result in disqualification from the ladder.

Agreed by consensus of opinion - 7-11-94 , amended 8-1-96 , 7-4-96 , 14-4-97 , 8-12-97 and 25-05-03 .  

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