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.