Sport Aerobatics

President's Page - September 2000
by Doug McConnell   

IAC Affiliated with EAA, USAF, NAA, CIVA and FAI

All IACers a aware,  by virtue of the annual membership process, that they are also members of EAA. Members also are quite aware of our affiliation with the U.S. Aerobatic Foundation, the autonomous 501(c)3 corporation that serves as manager and funding organizer for our U.S. teams. But IAC's other national and international affiliations are not as well understood.  IAC established an affiliation with the NAA (the National Aeronautic Association) back in the early '70s. The NAA is the National Aero Club of the United States and the nation's oldest aviation organization. NAA has also been (since 1905) the United States representative to the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI), the 93-country organization that oversees all aviation and space records established worldwide.

It is our letter of agreement with the NAA that permits IAC to represent the United States at meetings of FAI's Commission Internationale de Voltige Aerierine (CIVA). This commission, with FAI authority for aerobatics, meets once a year to review and refine rules for world, international, and continental championships.


While CIVA regulations and sections of the FAI sporting code are applicable to the above types of competitions, they do not extend down to contests held within the United States if not of that type. Thus all of our local and regional contests, the IAC Championships and the U.S. Nationals, are held strictly in accordance with IAC "Official Contest Rules." CIVA has also allowed, at least for now, the FAI continental Championships of The Americas (COTA) to be held with IAC rules. As a matter of policy, however, the IAC Board of Directors (through the Rules Committee) makes every effort to ensure standardization from the world level down to the local level where it is appropriate and beneficial.


Such standardization is limited, for the most part, to judging, size of the acrobatic zone, and the acrobatic catalog of figures. Recently, as a way to help our team pilots gain experience flying world Knowns, IAC has also adopted the FAI "Q" program (used in world competition as a short qualification flight) and added additional figures at the end of it to make it useful as a full competition flight in the United States. This practice depends on IAC analysis of the published "Q" and is ultimately determined by the IAC Board of Directors based on what is in the best interest of IAC members.


The NAA is broad based in its membership, consisting of more than 100 member organizations serving (collectively) more than 400,000 individuals, of whom 25O,000 are active aviators. Other air sports organizations that belong to NAA are the Academy of Model Aeronautics, Balloon Federation of America, Helicopter Club of America, Soaring Society of America, U.S. Parachuting Association, U.S. Hang Gliding Association, and U.S. Ultralight Association.  Learn more about the NAA by checking their website at www.naa-usa.org.


For the past three years, these air sport organizations have joined together in an exciting and educational annual winter expo and convention. With such diversity, there has been appeal for everyone! IAC joined the convention in Knoxville, Tennessee, in1999 and Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 2000, adding activities of our own, including seminars on judging, advanced judging skills, pilot tips for scoring well, safety, and flight training. We also arranged an IAC Chapter Presidents' breakfast, acrobatic glider breakfast, all-member reception and dinner, and IAC awards ceremonies. Each air sports expo has attracted hundreds of aviation enthusiasts to see neat stuff, ask questions, and "feel the iron"...although it's "feel the wicker" in the case of hot-air balloons!


The next exciting NAA air sports convention and expo will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana, February 5 - 10, 2001. The IAC will also hold its official annual meeting at that time, electing and installing new officers and directors, reporting on financial results, and voting on any bylaw amendments. Be sure to mark your calendar now for this great Indianapolis NAA expo and IAC winter convention. You'll find helpful seminars, learn a lot, see old friends, and have a great time. See you in Indy! 

EAA Aviation Center
P.O. Box 3086
Oshkosh, WI 54903-3086

    www.iac.org 
Phone: 920.426.4800
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