by admin » Sat Nov 14, 2009 8:59 pm
Boy, this is a really interesting topic, PteroB.
PHRF OAs (Organizing Authorities), with pretty much unlimited autonomy, seem to be able to respond to what the local conditions dictate (e.g., in terms of ratings, etc) and in this regard, that autonomy is a good thing.
When it gets dicey is when the perception changes from the local OA being responsive to objective local conditions to being responsive to local OWNERS who have some strong political clout or strong friendships with the people on the local OA. That's a bad thing.
All-in-all, my gut says let the local OAs keep their autonomy and let them make rating adjustments as the venue fits. Example: a cheater pole in the east bay of SF, Berkely Circle, for example, isn't going to be as big an asset as it would be in Naptown, where the median windspeed is probably 10 knots less than the East Bay.
That having been said, you know the issues I've brought up with PHRF Ches along the lines of the use of A-sails, so I'd say the discussion of some sort of uniformity is certainly warranted and timely.