1.0.1 The General Section of the Sporting Code contains general definitions and rules applying to all air sports.
This Section (SC3) gives specific rules that apply to gliders (GS 2.2.1.4 Class D). Rules for motor gliders (Class DM) are also included in this section.
Gliding aerobatic competition is covered in Section 6, hang gliders and paragliders (GS 2.2.1.13, class O) in Section 7, and microlights (GS 2.2.1.15, class R) in Section 10.
1.0.2 Section 3 rules apply to all glider flights for FAI badges and world records.
1.0.3 Section 3 includes annexes that contain specialised rules and guidance:
a. Annex A Contains rules and other details on world and all other FAI-sanctioned gliding competitions.
b. Annex B Covers requirements for equipment used for flight validation.
c. Annex C Gives non-regulatory guidance, methods and sample calculations to assist Official Observers and pilots in complying with SC3.
The FAI document, "Technical Specifications for IGC-Approved GNSS Flight Recorders" gives information required by manufacturers of flight recorders.
1.0.4 GLIDER A glider is a fixed wing aerodyne capable of sustained soaring flight and having no means of propulsion. Class D is the FAI Class for gliders and includes Class DM for motor gliders. For records, gliders fall within one of the following sub-classes:
a. OPEN any glider.
b. 15 METRE any glider with a wingspan not exceeding 15,000 mm.
c. WORLD a PW-5 glider as defined in Chapter 7.7.5.
d. ULTRALIGHT a glider with a takeoff mass not xceeding 220 kg, and a MICROLIFT glider is an ULTRALIGHT glider with a wingloading not exceeding 18 kg/m2.
MICROLIFT gliders do not have separate world records.
Championship classes are defined in Chapter 7.7
1.0.5 MOTOR GLIDER A fixed wing aerodyne equipped with a means of propulsion (MoP), capable of sustained soaring flight without thrust from the means of propulsion.
1.0.6 Terms, rules, and requirements are defined first in their most general sense. Where an exception to a general rule exists, it will be described in the paragraph of the
Code where the exception occurs.
1.1.1 SOARING PERFORMANCE The performance during that portion of a glider flight from the START POINT PERFORMANCE to the FINISH POINT. A means of propulsion must not be used during a SOARING PERFORMANCE.
1.1.2 WAY POINT A precisely specified point or point feature on the surface of the earth using a word description and/or a set of coordinates. A WAY POINT may be a START POINT, a TURN POINT, or a FINISH POINT and has an associated
OBSERVATION ZONE.
1.1.3 LEG The straight line between two successive WAY POINTS. The length of a LEG is subject to a correction in the circumstances given in 1.2.11.
1.1.4 COURSE All the LEGS of a SOARING PERFORMANCE.
1.1.5 OBSERVATION ZONE The airspace a lider must enter to verify that a WAY POINT has been reached (see 4.6.2f). A given SOARING PERFORMANCE may use only one type of OBSERVATION ZONE (OZ). The shape of OZ may be either:
a. a SECTOR OZ (1.2.9),or
b. a CYLINDER OZ (1.2.10). This OZ may only be used when a FLIGHT RECORDER (see
1.3.5) is used for verification.
1.1.6 RELEASE POINT The point on the ground vertically below where the glider releases from launch or ceases to use any means of propulsion.
1.1.7 START The beginning of the SOARING PERFORMANCE. It must be either:
a. The release from launch, or stopping the use of any means of propulsion, or
b. Leaving the OBSERVATION ZONE of a START POINT, or
c. Crossing a START LINE.
1.1.8 START POINT The WAY POINT marking the beginning of a SOARING PERFORMANCE. It must be either:
a. The RELEASE POINT, or
b. A WAY POINT declared as a START POINT, or
c. The midpoint of a START LINE.
1.1.9 START LINE A horizontal line one kilometre in length, oriented approximately perpendicular to the first LEG. The midpoint of the line (the START POINT) is at ground
level.
1.1.10 TURN POINT A WAY POINT between two LEGS of a flight.
1.1.11 FINISH The end of the SOARING PERFORMANCE. It occurs on:
a. Landing the glider, or
b. Entering the OBSERVATION ZONE of the FINISH POINT, or
c. Crossing a FINISH LINE, or
d. Starting an MoP.
1.1.12 FINISH POINT The WAY POINT marking the end of a SOARING PERFORMANCE. It is:
a. The point at which the nose of the glider comes to rest without external assistance after landing, or
b. A WAY POINT declared as the FINISH POINT or goal, or
c. The midpoint of a FINISH LINE, or
d. The point at which an MoP is started.
1.1.13 FINISH LINE A horizontal line one kilometre in length, oriented approximately perpendicular to the final LEG. The midpoint of the line (the FINISH POINT) is at ground
level.
1.1.14 GOAL A FINISH POINT specified in a DECLARATION (see 4.3.3).
1.1.15 CLOSED COURSE A flight where the glider is required to return to the START POINT at the finish of the SOARING PERFORMANCE (see 4.3.3).
Depending upon the type of flight, the following parameters may be determined to assess a SOARING PERFORMANCE. The requirements for gathering soaring measurements and the precision of measurement are given in Chapter 4.
1.2.1 START TIME The time that the SOARING PERFORMANCE starts.
1.2.2 START ALTITUDE The altitude of the glider above sea level at the START.
1.2.3 FINISH TIME The time that the SOARING PERFORMANCE finishes.
1.2.4 FINISH ALTITUDE The altitude of the glider above sea level at the FINISH.
1.2.5 DURATION The time elapsed between the START TIME and the FINISH TIME.
1.2.6 SPEED The OFFICIAL DISTANCE divided by the DURATION.
1.2.7 LOSS OF HEIGHT The START ALTITUDE minus the FINISH ALTITUDE (see also 1.4.7).
1.2.8 GAIN OF HEIGHT The difference between the maximum altitude and a previous minimum altitude during the SOARING PERFORMANCE.
1.2.9 SECTOR OZ This OBSERVATION ZONE is the airspace above a 90 degree sector with its apex at the WAY POINT. This sector is:
a. For a TURN POINT, symmetrical to and remote from the bisector of the inbound and outbound LEGS of the TURN POINT,
b. For a START POINT, symmetrical to and remote from the outbound LEG,
c. For a FINISH POINT, symmetrical to and remote from the inbound LEG.
1.2.10 CYLINDER OZ This OBSERVATION ZONE is the airspace in a vertical cylinder of 0.5 kilometres radius centred on the WAY POINT.
1.2.11 OZ CORRECTION Each time a LEG rosses a CYLINDER OZ boundary, 0.5 kilometres shall be subtracted from the length of that LEG. This correction does not apply where
FLIGHT RECORDER fixes are used as WAY POINTS in free distance record performances.
1.2.12 HEIGHT PENALTY A distance equal to 100 times the excess over 1000 metres LOSS OF HEIGHT. (See 4.4.2 for how the penalty is applied.)
1.2.13 OFFICIAL DISTANCE The sum of the LEGS, with OZ CORRECTION deducted where applicable, less any applicable HEIGHT PENALTY.
1.3.1 OFFICIAL OBSERVER The Official Observer (OO) is the person who has the official control of flights undertaken for FAI badge or record attempts and of the data gathered to prove a SOARING PERFORMANCE (see Chapter ).
1.3.2 DECLARATION The official description of the task and other data as listed and defined in 4.2.
1.3.3 BAROGRAPH A recording device measuring external air pressure.
1.3.4 BAROGRAM The trace, recording, or electronic data output of a BAROGRAPH.
1.3.5 FLIGHT RECORDER An electronic device that has been approved by the IGC to record data, including position and altitude, during a flight.
1.3.6 MoP RECORDER A device that either:
a. Records the time and altitude of any operation of the MoP or a change in configuration of the glider after which the MoP cannot be operated, or
b. Records the fact that the MoP is not being used. It must operate in such a way that failure of the device will indicate that the MoP is being used.
1.3.7 GEODESIC (Also geodesic line and geodesic distance.) The shortest distance between two points on the surface of an ellipsoidal world model. See also 4.4.1 and Annex C Appendix 2.
a. A SOARING PERFORMANCE may be claimed for gain of height, absolute altitude, duration, distance, and speed.
b. A SOARING PERFORMANCE may be claimed from any flight that meets the requirements of proof for that performance. (AL8)
c. A DECLARATION is required except where specifically not required in the rules.
d. WAY POINTS must be declared and used in the sequence declared except where specifically not required in the rules.
1.4.2 Altitude, gain of height, and duration performances.
No DECLARATION is required.
a. ABSOLUTE ALTITUDE
A SOARING PERFORMANCE measured for maximum altitude achieved. An absolute altitude performance is valid only if preceded by a GAIN OF HEIGHT of at least 5000 metres.
b. GAIN OF HEIGHT
A SOARING PERFORMANCE measured for GAIN OF HEIGHT.
c. DURATION
A SOARING PERFORMANCE measured for DURATION.
1.4.3 Free distance performances for records only.
The WAY POINT(S) of free distance record flight performances may be declared postflight. Free distance courses may be claimed in conjunction with any other flight course in 1.4.4, 1.4.5 and 1.4.6 using declared WAY POINT(S) if desired. The free distance record types are: (AL8)
a. FREE DISTANCE
A flight from a START POINT to a FINISH POINT with no TURN POINTS.
b. FREE OUT AND RETURN DISTANCE
A CLOSED COURSE flight having one TURN POINT.
c. FREE DISTANCE USING UP TO THREE TURN POINTS
A flight from a START POINT via up to three TURN POINTS to a FINISH POINT. The TURN POINTS must be at least 10 kilometres apart and may be claimed only once.
d. FREE DISTANCE AROUND A TRIANGLE
(i) A CLOSED COURSE flight via three TURN POINTS independent of the position of the START/FINISH POINT. The OFFICIAL DISTANCE is given by the sum of the LEGS of the triangle formed by the TURN POINTS.
(ii) A CLOSED COURSE flight via two TURN POINTS.
(iii) For record flights of 750 kilometres or more, no LEG of the triangle may have a length of less than 25% or more than 45% of the OFFICIAL DISTANCE. For shorter record flights, no LEG may have a length of less than 28% of the OFFICIAL DISTANCE.
Note that the start and finish points are not turn points unless specifically declared as such (this applies to 1.4.4b also).
1.4.4 Distance performances for badges and records
The following COURSES may be used only for distance flights:
a. STRAIGHT DISTANCE TO A GOAL
A flight from a START POINT to a declared FINISH POINT with no TURN POINTS.
b. DISTANCE USING UP TO THREE TURN POINTS
A declared flight from a START POINT via up to three TURN POINTS to a FINISH POINT. If the FINISH POINT is the landing place it need not be declared. The TURN POINTS must be at least 10 kilometres apart and may be claimed once, in any sequence, or not at all.
1.4.5 Distance performance for badges only
STRAIGHT DISTANCE
A flight from a START POINT to a FINISH POINT with no TURN POINTS. No WAY POINT DECLARATION is required unless a START POINT other than the RELEASE POINT is used or the FINISH POINT is also to be a GOAL.
1.4.6 Distance and speed performances for badges and records
The following COURSES may be used to claim distance and/or speed performances.
a. OUT AND RETURN FLIGHT
A CLOSED COURSE flight having one TURN POINT.
b. TRIANGLE FLIGHT
(i) A CLOSED COURSE flight via three TURN POINTS independent of the position of the START/FINISH POINT. The OFFICIAL DISTANCE is given by the sum of the LEGS of the triangle formed by the TURN POINTS.
The minimum OFFICIAL DISTANCE for this type of course is 300 kilometres.
(ii) A CLOSED COURSE flight via two TURN POINTS.
(iii) For records only, the restrictions on triangle geometry noted in 1.4.3d (iii) also apply.
1.4.7 Loss of height - alternate calculation for distance flights
A distance flight (1.4 4,
The release point is not the start of the course in this case.