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| Volume 4, Issue 5 |
September, 2005
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CORRECT PROCEDURE TO SUBMIT A FLIGHT TRACE I have completed the filing of a claim for some badge legs. Things have changed a lot since I did this last (barograph and smoked foil days) and I had a lot to learn. The security of a trace can be compromised in a variety of ways and these changes cannot be identified. This means that an innocuous change that would not affect the integrity of the flight itself cannot be distinguished from a change that could be introduced to deceive and cheat. I submitted my flight with a download from SeeYou and it didn't work. I downloaded it again with StrePla and this trace was acceptable. There are no guarantees. Talking with Judy Ruprecht, I've learned that there are more straightforward things we can do to preserve the security of these flights. She urged me to download flights directly to a disc or floppy without the intervention of SeeYou or StrePla. There are packages available online through IGS that are tailored to specific loggers and that allow the raw data to be downloaded, examined, and judged whether the high-level security is maintained, and thus verify whether the trace is worthy of a badge or record flight. Submission of a raw file is the best security in getting a claim accepted. These are simple packages that perform what is called a "vali-check." She uses these packages and she wanted me to do that with the flight trace I sent her. I was unable at the time, but she was able to do a vali-check on the StrePla file I sent and it passed muster. Here is the url that will get you directly to the software you need. http://www.fai.org/gliding/gnss/freeware.asp Doing this lightens her work load, and that is a good thing. When you submit a flight you should be sure that all items are completed FOLLOWING THE DIRECTIONS ON THE APPLICATION. They point out things you might overlook; read them carefully BEFORE you start to fill out the application. INCLUDE A COPY OF THE LOGGER'S CALIBRATION WITH DATE AND SIGNATURE OF CALIBRATOR, particularly if you are claiming an altitude leg. It is a good idea to scan the logger calibration into your computer; you can print out copies as necessary. I had to run to Kinko's to get an extra one. Nyal Williams |
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