On 20 October, the IGC-approval documents for 11 types of IGC-approved GPS Flight Recorders were updated. In para (i-ii) on page 1 of these IGC-approval documents, notice is given of a reduction of IGC-approval level to take place on 1 January 2020. The affected FRs are old designs, one going back to 1996, and in some cases the FR manufacturer is no longer in business.

This is the final stage in a process that started in January 2019 with the report of the IGC GFA Committee for the IGC Plenary agenda, followed by a presentation to the Plenary and approval to proceed. More detailed proposals were made to the IGC Bureau and the IGC FR Technical Specification and Annex B to the Sporting Code (SC3B) were updated. Affected manufacturers were contacted (where they still exist) and given time to submit updates.

A similar process happened in 2012 in which 13 types of IGC-approved FR were affected. The general reason for such changes is that the complexity of modern computer technology and security systems is not compatible with retaining the highest levels of IGC-approval for Recorders with old design standards.

The types of recorder affected in January 2020 are as follows: Aircotec XC, Cambridge 302, DSX T-advisor/Tracer, EW microRecorder, Garrecht Volkslogger, IMI Erixx, NT Easy and Matchbox, Peschges VP8, Scheffel Themi, and Zander 941.

To put this in perspective, there are currently 63 main types of IGC-approved Flight Recorders, 72 when different models within types are added. The main table of all these Approvals, and individual IGC-approval documents, can 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 summary document 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",



You can also look down and click on:

Sporting Code Section 3 Gliding
then
Sporting Code Annex B (SC3B) - Equipment Requirements for Validation of Flights

or, for the FR Specification:

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



IGC-approval - GENERAL

IGC-approval follows test and evaluation by the IGC GNSS Flight Recorder Approval Committee (GFAC) in accordance with Annex B to the Sporting Code for gliding and the Technical Specification for IGC-approved GNSS Flight Recorders.

The Technical Specification is available through the igc-documents web site above

or

directly from the GFAC web site:
http://www.ukiws.demon.co.uk/GFAC/do..._spec_gnss.pdf

Programs that have been notified to IGC for the analysis of IGC files are listed on the GFAC web site under: "Analysis Programs for IGC Flight DataFiles"

Validation than an IGC file has the correct structure and that the file is the same as initially downloaded from the FR, is achieved either through the IGC Shell program, or through analysis programs such as SeeYou that include IGC Shell within their overall program and provide a file Validation facility in their menu.
IGC Shell may be downloaded he
www.ukiws.demon.co.uk/GFAC/downloads.htm
This downloads the file IGCDLL.zip, which when un-zipped, gives the free IGC Shell program. This web site also contains the latest FR Manufacturers’ Data Link Library (DLL) files that are used by IGC Shell and other programs to Validate the structure of an IGC file. The IGC file Validate check ensures that the IGC file came from a serviceable and secure FR, and the file is identical to when it was originally downloaded. This check is required before a flight performance recorded in the IGC file can be approved to the standards of IGC.

Finally, the Sporting Code for gliding (SC3) and its annexes A-D may be downloaded via: www.fai.org/igc-documents in which "Sporting Code - Section 3: Gliding" is at the top of the list


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