Appendix 2 - Sporting Code Review and Change Process

A proposal for an amendment to the Sporting Code or its annexes must be submitted to the IGC Bureau at least six months prior to the next IGC Plenary meeting. A proposal must refer to the paragraphs affected and give reasons for the amendment. It is preferable for the proposed change to be in the format of the Code.

The Bureau will review the proposal and determine if it is "substantial" or otherwise, following input from the specialist subcommittee. The Bureau will instruct the specialist subcommittee to process items that are clarifications of existing rules, or prepare discussion papers on substantial proposals for consideration at the next Plenary meeting. At the Plenary meeting, the philosophy behind a substantial amendment will be considered and set.
The specialist sub-committee will then draft the Code amendment with Bureau feedback, and have it tested as required. The proposed amendment will then be put on the IGC web site prior to the following Plenary meeting, at which time it will be submitted for approval or rejection. See the action flowchart following for details.

A Code clarification becomes effective on the 1st of October following approval by the Bureau. A substantial change become effective on the 1st of October following the IGC meeting at which it is approved, except that if it has flight safety implications it may be approved by the Bureau prior to the IGC meeting.