Effective with the revised Sporting Code released in October, the FAI
has opened the possibility for simple, limited-functionality GPS units
to be used for providing the position evidence required to
substantiate badge claims up to Gold distance. Originally
anticipated to be used as a means to allow Commercial Off The Shelf
(COTS) GPS units to be used by glider pilots, the recent rules updates
will also permit some purpose-built gliding recorders to be approved.

As of now, the FAI is leaving it up to individual countries to approve
the recorders that will be allowed under this new category. However,
the approvals must follow the FAI guidelines, which include certain
requirements that not all COTS units can meet.

The SSA’s FAI Badge and Record Committee is looking for a few
volunteers to join a COTS GPS Working Group which will:


- Review the requirements laid out by the FAI.
- Create a general approach and plan for approving COTS units
for use in the United States.
- Identify a limited list of COTS units for testing and
validation.
- Create specific approval documents for those units which
are deemed acceptable.
- Maintain and update the list of approved units on a
periodic basis.

Ideal candidates are pilots and crew who have experience in:

- Badge and record procedures, including a detailed
understanding of the Sporting Code and associated documents,
especially the Technical Specifications for GNSS Flight Recorders
- Using COTS GPS units for flight documentation.
- Working with the raw data used to build IGC format log
files.

If you are interested, please send a mail to SSACOTS-
or go directly to the Yahoo Group site
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SSACOTS/ and click on the link to join.

Erik Mann
Chairmain, SSA FAI Badge and Record Committee