Competition Aerobatics
In aerobatic competitions,
every competitor flies a series of flights that are graded by
a team of judges. The judges grade each individual figure
flown, as well as how well the sequence is positioned within
the aerobatic box. The figures are graded on such factors as:
� precision of the lines and
angles,
� symmetry of figures, and
� other factors as spelled
out in the IAC "Official Contest Rules."
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Each judge has a copy of the figures
the pilot will fly. On these sheets the figures are graphically
represented by symbols - a system devised by Jose L. Aresti of Spain.
In addition to the graphical symbol, each figure is assigned a
difficulty coefficient or "K factor" based on the difficulty
involved in performing the figure. The judges, in turn, grade the
figure on a scale of 0 to 10. The K factor and grade are multiplied to
derive the points for that figure. A computer scoring program then
adjusts the totals to account for bias or inconsistency.
Regional Contests
The International Aerobatic Club sanctions approximately 50 regional
aerobatic contests annually that are hosted by various IAC
Chapters. A complete
Calendar
of Events is published monthly.
Championship Events
The IAC also hosts two Championship
events
annually - one National and one International competition. The U.S.
National Aerobatic Championships are held each year in September in
Denison, TX. The U.S. National Aerobatic Champion is crowned at this
competition. At the IAC Championships/Championships of the Americas, a
roving competition, the IAC champion is chosen.
The Competitors
There are five competition categories for powered aircraft - Basic,
Sportsman, Intermediate, Advanced and Unlimited, and three categories
for glider aircraft - Sportsman, Intermediate, and Unlimited. Each
competition category flies a different set of sequences with varying
degrees of difficulty.
- Basic
Known Compulsory.
This is a set of figures published prior to the contest season.
Every pilot flies the same set of figures.
- Sportsman
Known Compulsory and Free Program.
Sportsman pilots fly the Known compulsory twice and are also
permitted to compose a Free Program of his/her own design, subject
to certain restrictions.
- Intermediate
Known Compulsory, Unknown and Free Programs.
Intermediate pilots not only fly a more complex Known compulsory,
they also must fly an Unknown compulsory that is distributed by
IAC Headquarters to the competitors only a few hours before the
flight and that cannot be practiced. The Unknown is a test of the
pilot's ability to fly a group of figures in a certain sequence
that he/she has not flown before. Intermediate pilots also compose
a Free Program of his/her own design, subject to certain
restrictions.
- Advanced
Known Compulsory, Unknown and Free Programs.
Advanced pilots fly even more complex Known, Unknown and Free
programs. The top ranked pilots qualify to be on the U.S. Advanced
Aerobatic Team which competes in world-level aerobatic
competitions.
- Unlimited
Known Compulsory, Unknown, Free and 4-Minute Freestyle Programs.
The Unlimited pilot flies the most complex and difficult sets of
figures of all competition pilots. He/she also must fly an
extremely high-performance aircraft capable of flying the figures
which are required. The 4-Minute Freestyle program is often very
exciting and entertaining for the audience and demonstrates both
the technical difficulty level the pilot has attained, plus
artistic performance. The top ranked Unlimited pilots qualify to
be on the U.S. Unlimited Aerobatic Team which competes in
world-level aerobatic competitions.
What are the Requirements to Compete
in a Sanctioned Aerobatic Contest?
You must be a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)
and the International Aerobatic Club (IAC), a division of the
EAA.
You must also possess at least a Private Pilot Certificate, ASEL, and
have a current medical to compete in a contest.
The Buddy System
All first time competitors have an experienced aerobatic pilot
assigned to you for guidance and advice during a contest.
The Judges
The flying is judged by IAC approved judges. There are specific
judging criteria for each figure. All allowed figures are specified in
the IAC Contest Rule Book. Each figure is assigned a difficulty
factor. The final score is then calculated from the score that the
judges give for each figure (in the range of 0 - 10), multiplied by
the difficulty factor. The total score for a sequence is the sum of
the scores for each figure.
To become qualified to judge an
aerobatic contest, an individual must attend an approved IAC Judges
School held at varying locations throughout the year, complete an IAC
Judges Home Study course, and be an assistant to a grading judge in no
less than 40 flights within an 18-month time period. To remain current
a judge must pass a Recertification and Currency exam annually and
have judged at least 30 flights during the previous year.
The Contest Volunteers
There are plenty of opportunities for non-competitors and non-pilots
to be involved at aerobatic contests. In fact, the volunteer is the
heart of IAC competitions. It takes several volunteers to run a
contest. In addition to a Contest Director, there is an Assistant
Director, a Contest Jury, a Chief Judge, an Assistant Chief Judge,
Judges, Assistant Judges, Recorders, Boundary Judges, Deadline Judges,
a Safety Director, Medical Director, Volunteer Coordinator, Technical
Director, Registrar, Scorers, Starters, Runners, Box Panel Flippers,
Social Coordinators, and Merchandise Coordinators.