Position Recorders

In the Sporting Code revision dated 1 October 2009, the use of cameras and film was withdrawn for the purpose of providing evidence of horizontal position for flights to IGC standards.

At the same time, for Silver and Gold badge flights, a category of GPS recorder below that of the existing IGC-approved Flight Recorder was introduced, called an "IGC Position Recorder". The IGC rules and procedures that apply to Position Recorders are listed in the PDF document below.

National Airsport Control (NAC) Authorities for Gliding may issue National Approval Documents for each type of Position Recorder. The IGC GFA committee is the principal advisor to IGC on GNSS recorder matters and under Sporting Code rules, and is sent drafts of these documents before issue, so that compliance with Sporting Code rules can be checked, and, if possible, some commonality achieved where different NACs are approving the same equipment. When finalised, all such NAC documents will be posted on these web pages for general information.

Comments: Comments on the IGC Position Recorder system are welcome by the following IGC Committee chairmen:

• Airspace, Navigation and Display Systems Committee: Bernald Smith (USA)
• GNSS Flight Recorder Approval Committee: Ian Strachan (UK)
• Sporting Code Committee: Ross Macintyre (New Zealand)

IGC Sporting Code rules and procedures on Position Recorders

The rules pertaining to Position Recorders can be found in Section 3 of the FAI Sporting Code (SC3) and in the Annexes B and C to SC3. The relevant extracts for the Code are collected together in this PDF document.

National approval documents on IGC Position Recorders

• The Gliding Federation of Australia
  • Calibration Guidelines for Pressure Sensors in Position Recorders
  • Approval Document: OzFlarm and miniOZ.
  • Approval Document: flyWithCE
• Fédération Française de Vol à Voile
  • Approval Document: FLARM.

Specimen approval documents for Position Recorders, for consideration for use by National Gliding Authorities

Note: as experience is gained in this new category of GPS recorder, these documents will be revised.

• Specimen approval document for IGC position recorders for IGC silver and gold badge flights.
• Draft approval document for a FLARM unit to be used as an IGC position recorder for IGC silver and gold badge flights.