(1) The IGC Sporting Code Annex B (SC3B) on equipment required for flight Validation was updated on 5 September with Amendment 13 and will take effect, as is usual for Sporting Code updates, on 1 October.

(2) Amendment List 5 to the Technical Specification for IGC-approved Flight Recorders was also updated on 5 September.

One effect of this year’s updates is to make changes to IGC-approval levels for particular types of Flight Recorders more flexible. This was part of the agenda to the 2019 IGC Plenary and approved by the Plenary itself. The result is that old designs of recorders that are currently at IGC-approval Level 1 and eligible to be used for World Records, will no longer be able retain Level 1indefinately if their security and other systems are well below current standards. Typically these are designs that go back over 10 years, some even before year 2000. IGC-approvals for such recorders can now be changed to place them at IGC Level 2 for all badges and distance diplomas. Recorder manufacturers will be notified by GFAC of any such change, and given the opportunity to upgrade.

The latest versions of SC3B and the FR Technical Specification may be downloaded from either the GFAC or FAI/IGC web sites, see below, together with other information on IGC-approved Flight Recorders.


Ian Strachan
Chairman, IGC GNSS Flight Recorder Approval Committee (GFAC)

www.ukiws.demon.co.uk/GFAC

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There are now 63 main types of IGC-approved Flight Recorders from 20 different manufacturers. When different models within types are added, the total rises to 72.

If you own, or fly with, one of these recorders, it is recommended that you download its latest IGC-approval document from one of the web sites given below, and note any changes that may affect how you operate it.

A table of all IGC-approved FRs with links to Approval Documents is the first item on the web site before the set of Approval documents for each type of recorder. This includes the following:

(1) a table of all types of IGC-approved Flight Recorders in alphabetical order of manufacturer name, with links to their IGC-approval documents in the right hand column under "Date of Latest Document".

(2) a table of Manufacturers of IGC-approved Flight Recorders, in alphabetical order of name.

(3) a diary of all IGC-approval activity from the first IGC-approvals in 1996 to the present day, most recent events first.

(4) a history of GNSS Flight Recording in IGC together with pictures of some early Recorders.

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For the GFAC web site,
see: www.ukiws.demon.co.uk/GFAC

the complete table can be viewed directly at:
www.ukiws.demon.co.uk/GFAC/igc_approved_frs.pdf

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Navigating the IGC web site:

go to: www.fai.org/igc-documents

Scroll down and click "Flight Recorders",

look down and click on:

Sporting Code Section 3 Gliding
then
Annex B - Equipment Requirements for Validation of Flights 2019

or, for the FR Specification:

Flight Recorders,
then
IGC-approved Flight Recorders - Technical Specification