OK - I just received a reply from Greg Hahn at AMA (Technical Director) that the new lines ARE approved by the Safety Committee, that the changes are being added to the on-line "2011-12 Control Line Combat" rules document and that they should be posted within a couple of weeks.

I have attached a copy of the "Proposed" wording, to which I added Greg's email, to use as documentation in the meantime.

Let me take a moment to applaud Mr. Hahn for his quick help and for actually paying attention to the Control Line community - it is the best experience I've ever had in dealing with the the AMA office personnel over a control line issue.

Way to go everybody that pitched in on finally getting this through.  It took a lot of work by a lot of folks.  Especially thanks to those who contacted their CLCB rep, or local rep.

Hi Dave - I'm the guy who proposed it and gave a 'test to destruction' presentation to the AMA Safety Committee and got it passed for combat. Many others pushed it along as well.  As far as I can see, it will be allowed in combat only in this rules cycle.  Stay tuned, it will be pursued for the CL General rules in the 2012 rules cycle.  Certainly having it used in combat, but not allowed for sport flying could be said to be illogical.
  I'd venture to say that the central difficulty facing its introduction is the present state of the CL Contest Boards.  When the old single CLCB was broken up in to separate boards for each event, a crucial omission occurred, in that there was no contest board established for CL General.  The procedure now is to have all members of all contest boards vote on any proposal to change CL General rule.  It is cumbersome to say the least, and makes change all but impossible.  I have written some letters and one formal proposal to get it changed so that the respective chairmen of each CL Contest Board constitute a general board to vote on changes to the General CL rules.  It has been ignored so far, but maybe sufficient pressure can be brought to bear to get it changed.  I have certainly found the the AMA officials I have dealt with are not difficult; they genuinely want to do the right thing.  The problem seems to be that we are trying to change 50 plus years of customary behavior.  It's hard to get a large group to step outside its comfort zone.  So let's get some experience with Spectra in combat and then see how the next cycle goes.  It won't hurt to let your AMA VP know you want to see this change, politely and in a constructive way.  Tom Hampshire

     Bill, I think we agree, at least as far as a separate board for each event, with specific experience in that event.  My only thought is that no board should have the 88 members who presently comprise the CL General board.  It's cumbersome, and too hard to administer.  Cordially, Tom Hampshire

     You're right, Bill.  I do think 55 is still too many for a committee.  Tom

I have not ever seen a set of these line what advantage do they offer?

well keep me informed and also will they do a 2X pull test? and what is line terminations like

Even though I've not flown combat for a very long time, this will eventually concern all of C/L and I am so totally thankful for guys like Tom, Phil, Bill, and others who put their time, work, and reputations out there to incorporate changes that benefit the sport!  I'm sure that sooner or later these changes will come to all of our C/L categories.
THANKS GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Will

Dave - See Greg's email; attached to the second post here.  My testing shows a Palomar at 80-82%, surgeon's knot at 85-90% or a 5 turn uniknot at 100%.  For combat, the surgeon's knot looks like the choice under the rules as drafted.  Note they are not yet official.  Tom Hampshire