Yes, unfortunately, there is a need to have Rules to successfully conduct events such as the GAAR.  The GAAR is intended as a fun event and is open to everyone who is interested in virtual flight.  Please take the time to read the Rules.  Registration in the event is interpreted as acceptance of the Rules.

Objective and Event Format
1.  The GAAR will be officially conducted over the period 01 - 28 Feb 13 and will involve a total of 10 flights.  The GAAR is not a race nor a competition!  It is an event in which individuals participate against their own flying ability by navigating over a series of Flight Legs on which they are aiming to fly as close as possible to an individually calculated "target time".  Flight Legs can involve either and / or a combination of VOR, NDB and "dead reckoning" navigating under both day and night Visual Flight Rule (VFR) and / or Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) conditions with variable departure times and weather conditions.

2.  The event is conducted using MSFS versions FS9 and FSX.  These are the only officially supported flight simulators for the event.  Participants wishing to use X Plane for the event are welcome to do so, however, the flight situation files cannot be provided in X Plane format.

Eligible Aircraft
3.  Participants may fly any radial or other piston engined aircraft of their choice that flew in the period 1930's to 1950's.  Turboprop, turbojet, turbofan and other such engined aircraft are not eligible for entry in the event.  Subsequent model variants of an aircraft are eligible under this rule, e.g. Cessna 172 - first flew in 1956, (thereby making it eligible) with current production models being the 172R and 172S (or 172SP).   A model variant will only become ineligible if it compromises the rule on engines, i.e. fitted with a turboprop, turbojet, turbofan and other such engine.  Aircraft may be fitted with "ferry tanks" to effect a minor increase in the range of the aircraft.  Where "ferry tanks" are used, the total aircraft weight must remain inside the specified maximum take-off weight (MTOW) for the aircraft.

4.  It is the responsibility of individual participants to ensure their nominated aircraft is suitable for use in the GAAR.  Changing to another aircraft type once the event has begun is not permitted.  Other considerations will include the Flight Leg distance and runway surface.  Information on Flight Leg distance can be found under the "Flight Schedule" link.

5.  It is highly recommended, but not mandatory, that aircraft have both a VOR and NDB navigation capability.  Additionally, a DME capability would also be useful.  Whilst it is intended and highly encouraged that these be the primary instruments of navigation, it is acknowledged that some participants may find the event too challenging.  Therefore, the use of GPS, Plan-G, FSNavigator, or other such navigation aids is not precluded.

Target Times
6.  The "target time" for each flight leg is calculated for each individual participant based on a Test Flight over a specified course in their chosen aircraft.  Additional time elements are included for the "climb to cruise" and "landing circuit" phases of each Flight Leg.  The Test Flight time is submitted during the Pilot Registration process.  The details for the Test Flight are contained under the "Test Flight" link.  The "target time" for each participant for each Flight Leg will be displayed under the "Target Times & Results" link.  Note:  In the interests of presenting an additional challenge during the event, the "target time" for selected Flight Legs may be "blind", i.e. not provided.  In such instances, the Proficiency Ratings will still be calculated as per other Flight Legs.

Pilot Registration
7.  Pilot registration for the event will open from 0001 hrs UTC, 01 Jan 13 and close at 2359 hrs UTC, 30 Jan 13.  Prior to registering, complete the Test Flight as per the instructions under the "Test Flight" link.

8.  Persons wanting to participate in the event must complete and submit the application under the "Pilot Registration" link.  All applications must be completed fully.  Incomplete applications will not be processed. On acceptance, each participant will be allocated an ID number which MUST be quoted in all PIREPs and correspondence.  It is not intended to issue registration confirmation emails.   Participants can confirm their registration in the event by checking for their name on the Roster under the "Roster" link.  It may take up to three days for a name to appear on the Roster.

9.  Participants can submit multiple entries for the event flying different aircraft.  A separate Pilot Registration is required for each entry.

Team Entries
10.  Team entries for the GAAR are permissible.  In the case of a team entry, each member of the team flies the same aircraft for their allocated Flight Leg.  Registration for team entries is as per single participants with a single point of contact to act as the coordinator for correspondence and PIREP submissions.  Team entries can only submit a single Test Flight time and can use the method of their choice to calculate that Test Flight time.  The most usual method is the average of each team member's individual Test Flight time.  Flight Leg "target times" will be calculated using the team's submitted Test Flight time.

GAAR Downloads
11.  A series of downloads (one for each Flight Leg) are required to set up standard flight parameters for weather and departure time for each Flight Leg.   Whilst departure and arrival runways are established as part of these flight parameters, participants are free to choose whatever runway they like.  These required files are available under the "GAAR Downloads" link.

PIREPs
12.  Participants must file a separate PIREP for each Flight Leg by 2359 hrs UTC on the date specified on the Flight Schedule.  Any participant failing to file a PIREP within the specified time period will be declared "Withdrawn".  Participants my fly and submit PIREPs in advance of the time and date specified in the Flight Schedule.  Results from PIREPs submitted in advance will not be posted until after the respective Flight Leg specified reporting time and date.

13.  All PIREPs are to have times submitted in minutes rounded to two decimal places.  For example, a flight of 1 hr 2 mins 56 secs would be submitted as 62.93 mins.  It is recommended that you download and use Tom Goodrick’s FTime from the link on the "GAAR Downloads" page.  It records time from when the aircraft reaches 30 knots on takeoff until it decelerates to below 30 knots on landing.   Alternatively, you may record the time using a panel clock, but convert the seconds to decimal minutes. i.e. 30:45 on a clock would be 30.75 minutes.  The use of external clocks, watches, etc, is prohibited.  All timers must be internal to the flight simulator.

14.  The honesty and integrity of participants is relied upon entirely in entering this event and for submitting PIREPs that are accurate. Where a PIREP appears questionable or to be in error, the organisers may return it for correction or confirmation before posting the results.

15.  The format for submitting PIREPs is detailed under the "PIREPs" link.

Proficiency Rating
16.  The proficiency rating system involves a participant starting each Flight Leg with 100 points.  The "actual time" flown for each leg is compared to the Target Time and for each percentage point difference, a point is deducted. For example, the Target Time for a Flight Leg is 50 mins, the "actual time" flown is 52 mins, therefore the proficiency rating for the Flight Leg is 96 points.   Conversely, using the same example but where the "actual time" flown is 46 mins, the proficiency rating for the Flight Leg is 92 points.  The proficiency ratings for each Flight Leg will be accumulated over the entire rally.  All proficiency ratings will be calculated to four decimal places and rounded to two decimal places.

17. The Proficiency Ratings will be updated ASAP after the closing date for each Flight Leg.  However, the organisers do not guarantee that updates will be applied within any particular timeframe.

Time Zone
18.  Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is the standard time zone used for the event for the purposes of Pilot Registration, Flight Schedule dates, PIREPs, etc.

Event Forum
19.  The organisers have provided a forum where participants in the event may leave comments, messages, etc, for other pilots and / or generally discuss their progress in the event.  This forum should not be used as a means for formally contacting the organisers with official queries or messages.