Competition aerobatics is an Air sports in which ground-based referee rate the skill of pilots performing aerobatics 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). 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 their 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.In some competitions, scores from the Known Program are used for qualifying purposes only and do not count to determine the final standings.
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.
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 above ground level (AGL) for Primary level competitors and as low as AGL for Unlimited level competitors. The box ceiling is as high as 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 the pilot has 12 seconds from entering the box on the one side before exiting the box on the other.
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, 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.
1 point/5 deg |
1 point/5 deg |
1 point/5 deg |
1 point each |
Mark = Hard Zero (HZ) |
1 point/5 deg |
1 point/5 deg |
1 point/5 deg |
1 point each |
1 to 3 points |
1 to 2 points |
1 point/5 deg |
1 point/variation |
1 point/variation |
2 points |
1 point/5 deg |
Mark = hard zero |
1 point/variation |
1 point/5 deg |
1 point/5 deg |
1 to 3 points |
1 to 3 points |
1 point/5 deg |
1 to 3 points |
1 point/wing length |
1 point/5 deg |
1 to 3 points |
1 point/5 deg (was 2 per 5 - beware!) |
1-3 points |
Mark = Perception Zero (PZ) |
1 point/5 deg |
1 to 3 points |
Mark = Hard Zero (HZ) |
1 to 3 points |
2 points |
1 to 3 points |
1 point/5 deg |
1 to 3 points |
1 to 3 points |
1 to 3 points |
1 to 3 points |
1 to 3 points |
1 point/5 deg |
1 point/5 deg |
1 point/5 deg |
1 point/5 deg |
1 point/5 deg |
1 to 3 points |
Mark = hard zero |
1 point/5 deg |
1 point/5 deg |
1 point/variation |
1 point/5deg |
2 points |
Mark = Hard Zero (HZ) |
1 to 2 points |
1 to 3 points |
1 point/5 deg |
Mark = Hard Zero (HZ) |
2 to 5 points |
Mark = Perception Zero (PZ) |
Mark = Hard Zero (HZ) |
At least 2 points |
Mark = Hard Zero (HZ) |
Mark = Hard Zero (HZ) |
Mark = Hard Zero (HZ) |
At least 2 points |
1 point/5 deg (from required line) |
Mark = Hard Zero (HZ) |
Mark = Perception Zero (PZ) |
Mark = Perception Zero (PZ) |
1 point/5 deg |
1 point/5 deg |
Mark = Hard Zero (HZ) |
In the U.S., the International Aerobatic Club (IAC) is the National Aeronautic Association's delegate for aerobatics. In the United Kingdom, 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.
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