Competition aerobatics is an air sport in which ground-based judges rate the skill of pilots performing aerobatic flying. It is practised in both piston-powered single-engine airplanes and also gliders.
An aerobatic competition is sanctioned by a national aero club, its designee, or in the case of international competitions, by CIVA, the Commission Internationale de Voltige Aerienne, which is a constituent body of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI).[1] The sanctioning body establishes the rules that apply to the competition, including entry qualifications for all participants, operating procedures, and judging criteria.
A pilot enters a competition in a category of his or her choice, which defines the level of difficulty of the aerobatic sequences to be flown. Within each category, a pilot flies one or more flight programs. Each flight receives a total score from the judges; ranking each pilot's combined total scores for all flight programs within each category determines that category's winner.[2]
Five power categories are flown in the U.S. (and other countries that adopt the BAeA model). They vary by difficulty of the individual aerobatic maneuvers they contain, as well as the combination of those maneuvers within the sequence. In order of increasing difficulty, the power categories are:
Some aero clubs include a Classic category for airplanes without inverted fuel and oil systems. The sequences flown are similar to those flown in the Sportsman category. A one-design Yak-52 class exists in many countries which is flown in conjunction with the intermediate class.
Four glider categories are:
Categories flown in a competition are announced in advance.
Within each category, each pilot flies one or more flight programs. They are:
The aerobatic box is a volume of airspace in which the aircraft must remain while performing a sequence. Its length and width are each 1000m (3,000feet). Its height varies based on whether FAI, national aero club or local rules apply to the competition. White ground markers at each corner of the box make it visible to the pilot from the air. For most categories, penalties are assessed for flight outside the aerobatic box.
The box has two axes, the identification of which is based on the location of the judges. The X-Axis (called the A-Axis by some aero clubs), runs across the line of sight of the judges. It is along this axis that most figures are usually flown. In some contests a center line is marked along the middle of the X-Axis.
The Y-Axis (called the B-Axis by some aero clubs) runs perpendicular to the X-Axis, toward and away from the judges. This axis is used for cross-box position correction. The official wind direction is always declared by contest officials to be along the X-Axis. This, however, does not always reflect reality, and generally during the course of a sequence the competitor will drift either toward or away from the judging line. The competitor can extend or shorten maneuvers flown along the Y-Axis to obtain the desired positioning.
The box floor is as high as 460m (1,510feet) above ground level (AGL) for Primary level competitors and as low as 100m (300feet) AGL for Unlimited level competitors. The box ceiling is as high as 1000m (3,000feet) above its floor. Before a category starts, a competitor will mark the box by flying along its boundaries at its floor. This allows the judges to visualize the box in the sky and prepares them to adjudge an aircraft flying below the box floor.
At a groundspeed of 300km/h the pilot has 12 seconds from entering the box on the one side before exiting the box on the other.
Each category within a competition may have between 3 and 9 grading judges, each of whom is accredited by the contest's sanctioning body. They are positioned between 150mand250mm (490feetand820feetm) back from the edge of the box, at the center of the X-Axis and facing that axis. Each grading judge is assisted by an assistant judge, who reads Aresti notation and verbalizes to the grading judge each figure to be flown, and if possible also a recorder (also called a writer or scribe), who records the judges marks and comments, commentary and ancillary information on a competitor's score sheet. For some flight programs, a single individual may serve concurrently as assistant judge and recorder.
A grading judge assesses the quality of each figure flown according to well-defined criteria and assigns it a numerical mark in steps of 0.5 between 0 and 10. Under FAI and some national aero clubs' rules, the judge may also assign a mark of "Hard Zero" to indicate that the wrong figure was flown, or a "Perception Zero" if a mandatory though subtle element of the figure is perceived to have been missing. At the conclusion of each flight, the grading judge assigns a Presentation or Positioning mark based on the competitor's placement of figures within the aerobatic box throughout the sequence. A grading judge also determines if the competitor has flown below the floor of the box or above its ceiling. Each grading judge is further charged with assessing whether a competitor is flying safely and advocating for the competitor's disqualification if not.
A chief judge oversees the operation of the judging line. He or she is often responsible for sequencing competitors into the aerobatic box, identifying and resolving judging and safety issues, reviewing the judges marking sheets, assessing penalties, monitoring the aerobatic box for traffic conflicts, conducting briefings for pilots and judging line personnel, and certifying scores. A chief judge is typically assisted by 2 or more individuals. In some competitions, a chief judge may concurrently serve as a grading judge.
Corner judges (also called boundary judges or line judges) may also be used and are positioned at the edge of the buffer zones, 50m (160feet) along each axis beyond marked corners of the aerobatic box. They monitor and record each excursion beyond the buffer zone; the competitor earns a penalty for each such excursion. Each corner judge guards 2 of the 4 lines that define the box. In most competitions, 2 corner judges are used, located at opposing corners. Two judges guard each line; they must agree that a competitor has crossed a boundary in order for the competitor earn a penalty. In FAI championships more accurate electronic feedback systems are required to provide a constant measurement of the aircraft position, and hence its excursions beyond the buffer zone if these occur; if such equipment is not available this task is confined to the judge's position grade.
Deadline judges may be positioned along a deadline, if one has been established by the contest's sanctioning body. They monitor and record each infringement of the deadline. The competitor earns a penalty for each such infringement, that penalty being more severe than an excursion out of the aerobatic box.
Here is a précis of the principal "faults" that you should look for and the number of marks to deduct whilst you are applying standard CIVA rules of critique to sequence programmes at all levels.
| Horizontal start & finish lines | Deduction | |
|---|---|---|
| Off axis left or right n-deg | 1 point/5 deg | |
| Climbing or diving n-deg | 1 point/5 deg | |
| One wing low n-deg | 1 point/5 deg | |
| No distinct line drawn | 1 point each | |
| Flying in wrong direction on the "A" axis | Mark = Hard Zero (HZ) |
| Horizontal 45's & verticals | Deduction | |
|---|---|---|
| Climbing or diving n-deg (before or after roll) | 1 point/5 deg | |
| Steep or shallow n-deg (before or after roll) | 1 point/5 deg | |
| Positive or negative n-deg (before or after roll) | 1 point/5 deg | |
| No line drawn before or after roll | 1 point each | |
| Longer or shorter line before or after roll | 1 to 3 points |
| Turns | Deduction | |
|---|---|---|
| Rolling entry or exit (i.e. a "co-ordinated" turn) | 1 to 2 points | |
| Bank angle too shallow (less than 60 deg) | 1 point/5 deg | |
| Bank angle varied | 1 point/variation |
| Rolling turns | Deduction | |
|---|---|---|
| Roll rate varied | 1 point/variation | |
| Roll stopped or turn and then restarted | 2 points | |
| Not an even integration of rolls at end | 1 point/5 deg | |
| Not enough / too many rolls or a flick-roll seen | Mark = hard zero |
| Both types | Deduction | |
|---|---|---|
| Turn rate or radius varied | 1 point/variation | |
| Climbing or diving in turn | 1 point/5 deg |
| All figures | Deduction | |
|---|---|---|
| Smaller or larger 2nd etc. corner | 1 to 3 points | |
| Longer or shorter 2nd etc. line | 1 to 3 points |
| Up/down lines | Deduction | |
|---|---|---|
| Up/down-line pos/neg/left/right n-deg (before or after roll) | 1 point/5 deg | |
| Short, long or no line drawn up/down (before or after roll) | 1 to 3 points |
| The turn | Deduction | |
|---|---|---|
| Turn-around too wide (pivot beyond wingtip) | 1 point/wing length | |
| Rolled or pitched n-deg in turn-around | 1 point/5 deg | |
| Exit pull or push radius smaller or larger | 1 to 3 points |
| Up/down lines | Deduction | |
|---|---|---|
| Up/down-line pos/neg/left/right n-deg (before or after roll) | 1 point/5 deg (was 2 per 5 - beware!) | |
| Short, long or no line drawn up/down (before or after roll) | 1-3 points |
| The slide | Deduction | |
|---|---|---|
| No slide seen | Mark = Perception Zero (PZ) | |
| Yawed or rolled n-deg in slide | 1 point/5 deg | |
| Exit pull/push radius smaller or larger | 1 to 3 points | |
| Pitched the wrong way (wheels up or down) | Mark = Hard Zero (HZ) |
| Half & full loops | Deduction | |
|---|---|---|
| Large or small radius at top or in 1st/2nd etc. quarter | 1 to 3 points | |
| Line drawn between roll and looping segment | 2 points | |
| Roll not central in looping segment | 1 to 3 points | |
| Off axis during looping segment | 1 point/5 deg | |
| Higher or lower exit | 1 to 3 points |
| Eights | Deduction | |
|---|---|---|
| Smaller or larger 2nd half | 1 to 3 points | |
| Lower or higher 2nd half (horizontal) | 1 to 3 points |
| With corners | Deduction | |
|---|---|---|
| Longer or shorter 2nd etc. line length | 1 to 3 points | |
| Larger or smaller 2nd etc. corner | 1 to 3 points | |
| Up/down-line pos/neg/left/right n-deg | 1 point/5 deg | |
| 1st/2nd etc. 45 steep or shallow | 1 point/5 deg | |
| Horizontal segment off axis left/right/up/down | 1 point/5 deg |
| Humpty bumps | Deduction | |
|---|---|---|
| Up/down-line pos/neg/left/right n-deg (before or after roll) | 1 point/5 deg | |
| Rolled or yawed in half-loop | 1 point/5 deg | |
| Larger or smaller 2nd quarter loop in half-loop | 1 to 3 points | |
| Push instead of pull, or pull instead of push | Mark = hard zero |
| Slow rolls | Deduction | |
|---|---|---|
| Rolled n-deg short or too far | 1 point/5 deg | |
| Roll barrelled (pitched and/or yawed whilst rolling) | 1 point/5 deg | |
| Roll rate varied | 1 point/variation | |
| Axis changed left/right/up/down n-deg during/after roll | 1 point/5deg | |
| Hesitation at random point | 2 points | |
| Wrong type of roll substituted | Mark = Hard Zero (HZ) |
| Hesitation rolls | Deduction | |
|---|---|---|
| Climbed or sank in knife | 1 to 2 points | |
| Slower or faster 2nd etc. half/quarter/eighth | 1 to 3 points | |
| Under/over rotated 1st/2nd etc. half/quarter/eighth | 1 point/5 deg | |
| Hesitation missed (wrong type of roll substituted) | Mark = Hard Zero (HZ) |
| Flick rolls | Deduction | |
|---|---|---|
| Part flicked and part aileron'd roll | 2 to 5 points | |
| Not flicked (no stall seen) | Mark = Perception Zero (PZ) | |
| Positive instead of negative, or neg instead of pos | Mark = Hard Zero (HZ) |
| Combinations of rolls | Deduction | |
|---|---|---|
| Any line between two rolls | At least 2 points | |
| Significant(?) line between rolls | Mark = Hard Zero (HZ) | |
| Same direction when opposite required (or vice versa) | Mark = Hard Zero (HZ) | |
| Wrong number of rolls where linked | Mark = Hard Zero (HZ) |
| Rolls immediately prior to or just after looping | Deduction | |
|---|---|---|
| Any line between stopping loop/roll and starting roll/loop | At least 2 points | |
| Roll starts before loop finishes | 1 point/5 deg (from required line) | |
| Significant line between rolls | Mark = Hard Zero (HZ) |
| Spin entry | Deduction | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry not stalled, and/or "rolled" in – not spinning | Mark = Perception Zero (PZ) | |
| Flicked entry (too fast) | Mark = Perception Zero (PZ) |
| Spin exit | Deduction | |
|---|---|---|
| Spin rotation short or too far n-deg | 1 point/5 deg | |
| Line after was positive or negative n-deg | 1 point/5 deg | |
| No line drawn after | Mark = Hard Zero (HZ) |
Several of the aforementioned concepts are shown in the 1980 film Cloud Dancer, whose technical advisor and chief pilot was the former world champion aerobatic pilot Tom Poberezny.[3]
The FAI is the international governing body for all airborne sports. Its Commission Internationale de Voltige Aerienne (CIVA) governs competition aerobatics.[1] While FAI itself oversees international competitions, it recognizes national aero clubs to regulate competition aerobatics locally. A national aero club often delegates this responsibility to an affiliate organization focused on aerobatics.
In the U.S., the International Aerobatic Club (IAC) is the National Aeronautic Association's delegate for aerobatics. In the UK, the Royal Aero Club designates the British Aerobatic Association (BAeA) to fill this role. In South Africa the FAI appoints the Aeroclub of South Africa which in turn appoints the Sport Aerobatic Club of South Africa to manage all aerobatic events.[4] [5]