SPORTING CODE
Section 6

CHAPTER 1.
GENERAL RULES FOR THE ORGANIZATION OF WORLD AND CONTINENTAL AEROBATIC CHAMPIONSHIPS AND INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC COMPETITIONS

1.2 GENERAL REGULATIONS


1.2.1 Contest Categories


1.2.1.1 World Championships


a. World Championships will be held every two years and should last, as a rule, not less then 9 and not more than 15 days.

World championships in Advanced will be held every two years and should, in principle, not last more than 8 days.

b. A national FAI member aero club which has applied to be host and organiser will be entrusted with the organisation of World Championships pending approval by CIVA.

c. The organisers will provide conditions for entry and participation for any national FAI member aero club on equal rights basis, and will carry out the World Championships on the basis of the decisions and rules of the FAI.

d. Each national FAI member aero club will be notified by the organising aero club, not later than 6 months before the beginning of the championships, of any general organisational conditions such as time, place, travel and visa formalities, entry forms, entry deadline, etc.

e. CIVA shall decide at the meeting which precedes a World Championships which FAI language(s) shall be used as the working language(s) both orally and in writing for all purposes for the duration of the championships.


1.2.1.2 Continental Championships

a. Continental Championships may be held in years when there are no World Championships and in principle should not last more than 7 days.

b. The championships shall be open to all FAI members of one of the continents: FAI members of other continents may be invited to compete, but not for the title of Continental Champion.

c. In other respects rule 1.2.1.1 applies.

d. Except where otherwise stated in these rules or in CIVA regulations, the rules and regulations of World Championships should apply.


1.2.1.3 International Competitions


a. Organisers will be a national FAI member aero club.

b. International contests must be made known to the FAI for inclusion in the calendar of international events by October of the year preceding the contest.

c. Any national FAI member aero club may be invited to participate in an international contest.

d. It is recommended that programmes are arranged according to the rules and regulations of World Championships.

e. Each participating national FAI member aero club will be notified by the organising aero club not later than 3 months before the beginning of the contest of any general organisational details and of details specifically relevant to the contest.


1.2.2 Aircraft Categories
World and Continental Championships are at present open to:


1.2.2.1 Piston-engined aircraft - Unlimited Class "U"

1.2.2.2 Piston-engined aircraft - Advanced Class "A"

A list of types of piston-engined aircraft excluded from Advanced will be updated at each CIVA meeting.

1.2.2.3 Gliders "G"


1.2.3 Number of Competitors


1.2.3.1 "U"

World and Continental Aerobatic Championships will be held or recognised as such if there are in the men's class at least 15 competitors from at least 5 countries. The women's World Championships will be held if the men's championships take place and provided that there are at least 6 women competitors from at least 3 countries.

Continental Championships may also be recognised as such if there are at least 15 men and women competitors from at least 5 countries competing in a single class.

"A" and "G"

World and Continental Aerobatic Championships will be held or recognised as such if there are at least 15 competitors from at least 5 countries.

1.2.3.2 Events will be recognised as international competitions provided that there are at least 6 competitors from at least 3 countries participating.


1.2.4 Team Composition


1.2.4.1 World Championships

a. "U"
National aero clubs shall notify the organisers of a World Championships, not less than two months before it is due to start, of the number of competing pilots to be entered from their countries up to a maximum of 5 men and 5 women. If the resulting total number exceeds 80 competitors, the organisers shall have the right, without reference to CIVA, to reduce the maximum number of pilots in men's teams from 5 to 4, and in this event shall at once notify national aero clubs accordingly.

"A" and "G"
National aero clubs shall notify the organisers of a World Championships, not less than two months before it is due to start, of the number of competing pilots to be entered from their national aero club up to a maximum of eight. The organisers shall have the right, without reference to CIVA, to reduce this maximum number of pilots of each nation from 8 to 6 competitors. In this event the organisers shall at once notify national aero clubs accordingly.

b. The team of each national aero club may include the following officials: 1 chief delegate, 1 team manager, 1 judge (officially listed by the FAI), 1 or 2 suitably qualified assistant judges (at least 1 preferably a judge officially listed by the FAI), 1 trainer, 1 doctor, 1 interpreter, and no more than 3 mechanics.

c. The participation of further assistants may be allowed by agreement with the organising aero club or under special arrangements in the general rules.

d. "U"
Solo male or female entries are allowed and will be accepted from national aero clubs unable to send the minimum number of 3 competitors required for the team competition in the men's and women's divisions.

"A" and "G"
Solo entries are allowed for national aero clubs.

e. Every competitor must be a member of his or her national aero club and must be in possession of a valid FAI sporting licence.

f. Every official must be a member of his or her national aero club.

g. The admission of observers depends on the facilities available and is subject to agreement with the organising aero club.

h. Pilot entrants at World Glider Aerobatic Championships must demonstrate experience in glider aerobatics either through previous glider aerobatics competitions or competence in a programme flown before the International Jury during one of the official training flights.


1.2.4.2 Continental Championships and International Competitions

a. The composition of teams and the number of members of a team will be fixed by the organising aero club.

b. "U"
As a guide line, the following composition of a team is recommended: 4 competitors, 1 chief delegate, 1 judge, 1 mechanic, 1 trainer.

-- For Continental Championships, the number of competitors of each national aero club should be no more than 4 men and no more than 4 women.

"A" and "G"

As a guide line, the following composition of a team is recommended: 6 competitors, 1 chief delegate, 1 judge, 1 mechanic, 1 trainer.

-- For Continental Championships, the number of competitors of each national aero club should be no more than 6.

c. The participation of further assistants or observers may be allowed by agreement with the organising aero club or under special arrangements in the general rules.

d. Every competitor must be a member of his or her national aero club and must be in possession of a valid FAI sporting licence.

e. Every official must be a member of his or her national aero club.


1.2.4.3 Eligibility “A”

Pilots are eligible to fly in an Advanced contest providing that they have not flown in an Unlimited World or Continental Championship for powered aircraft during the year of the Advanced contest or in the preceding year.


1.2.5 Entries


1.2.5.1 The official entry forms must be completed correctly and submitted to the organising aero club not later than requested by the organisers.

1.2.5.2 Every national FAI aero club must be notified of the address of the organising aero club not later than 6 months for World and Continental Championships, or 3 months for international competitions, prior to the beginning of the event. (See 1.2.1.1. or 1.2.1.3.)


1.2.6 Aircraft Documentation


1.2.6.1 All competing aircraft must meet the performance characteristics required for the kind of flight they will be undertaking. A valid aerobatic certificate of airworthiness or equivalent document issued by the competent aviation authority of the participant's country must be produced to the organisers for every contest aircraft.

1.2.6.2 Aircraft will not be admitted to the contest unless the appropriate documentation has been submitted to the organisers.


1.2.7 Air Safety

1.2.7.1 All competitors must observe and adhere to the regulations currently in force in the organisers' country for air safety as well as the special regulations in force at the contest aerodrome.

1.2.7.2 Any violation of the safety regulations in force may at any time render the offender liable to exclusion from the contest. No responsibility will be undertaken by the organisers for any such violation by competitors or others.

1.2.7.3 To enable the pilot to watch over his or her own safety, an accelerometer must be installed in each competing aircraft.

1.2.7.4. The Chief Judge may, with the agreement of two-thirds of the Board of Judges, exclude a pilot who is not flying safely or could cause an unsafe situation. This would apply from takeoff to touchdown.


1.2.8 Insurance


1.2.8.1 The organisers will provide a promoter's liability insurance of an adequate sum against third party risks for the duration of the contest covering functional test flights, training and competition flights, in accordance with the legal requirements of the country in which the championships or competition is held.

"G"
The organisers must further have insurance for damages to competition gliders, etc., caused by the organiser or his staff.

1.2.8.2 All competitors must produce evidence of adequate third party insurance valid for the duration of the contest and valid in the organisers' country. The organisers should specify in local regulations the amount of insurance cover regarded as adequate.


1.2.9 Competitors and Aircraft


1.2.9.1 All flights carried out by competitors at World and Continental Championships and international competitions must be made solo; this applies to competition flights and training flights.

1.2.9.2 Replacements of competitors at Championships and international competitions will be left to the discretion of the International Jury, but no such replacement will in any case be permitted less than 12 hours before the commencement of the first competition flight.

1.2.9.3 A contest aircraft may on the recommendation of the technical commission, and with the permission of the International Jury, be replaced at any time by another contest aircraft.