Chapter 2: FAI Badges
This chapter defines and gives the requirements to meet the
international standard levels of soaring achievement.
2.0 General
The FAI badges are international standards of achievement that are not required to be renewed. Flights qualifying for badges shall be controlled in accordance with the requirements of this Code. The
distance requirement for each badge shall be the calculated official distance (1.2.13).
2.0.1 A flight may count towards any badge performance for which the conditions are fulfilled. The pilot must be alone in the glider, and the OO must certify that this was the case.
Each NAC should keep a register of badge flights it has validated.
2.1 Badge Requirements
The soaring performances required to qualify for the FAI badge standards of achievement are:
2.1.1 Silver Badge The Silver badge is achieved on completing the following three soaring performances:
a. SILVER DISTANCE a flight on a straight course of at least 50 kilometres.
Any leg of 50 kilometres or more of a longer predeclared course may qualify, subject to the requirements of 4.4.2 on altitude difference applied to the whole course flown.
The Silver distance flight should be flown without navigational or other assistance given over the radio (other than permission to land on an airfield) or help or guidance from another aircraft.
b. SILVER DURATION a duration flight (1.2.5) of at least 5 hours.
c. SILVER HEIGHT a gain of height (1.2.8) of at least 1000 metres.
2.1.2 Gold Badge The Gold badge is achieved on completing the following three soaring performances:
a. GOLD DISTANCE a distance flight of at least 300 kilometres,
b. GOLD DURATION a duration flight of at least 5 hours,
c. GOLD HEIGHT a gain of height of at least 3000 metres.
There are three Diamonds, each of which may be worn on the Silver, Gold, and the badges for flights of 750 kilometres or more (see 2.1.4). NACs should maintain a register of these badges and on notification by a NAC, FAI will enter the names of pilots attaining the 3 Diamond award in an international register.
a. DIAMOND DISTANCE a distance flight of at least 500 kilometres.
b. DIAMOND GOAL a goal flight of at least 300 kilometres over an out-and-return or triangular course (1.4.6a and 1.4.6b).
c. DIAMOND HEIGHT a gain of height of at least 5000 metres.
2.1.4 Badges and Diplomas for flights of 750 kilometres and more
These are a family of badges that are achieved on completing a distance flight of 750 kilometres or more, in increments of 250 kilometres (ie. 750 km, 1000 km, 1250 km, etc.). One badge is awarded per flight for the incremental distance immediately less than the distance flown. NACs should maintain a register of these badges and on notification by a NAC, FAI will award a special Diploma for flights of 1000 km and more.
