EW models A-D - US CLAIMS ON HOLD

The following security checking message prompts SSA to place on hold
any/all current FAI Badge claims for distance based on EW Flight
Recorder models A through D, using position data provided by certain
Garmin GPS units:

"[Filename]
"Validation check passed, data indicated as correct.
"The following fixes are not recorded as being relative to the WGS84
geodetic datum. Care should be taken that these fixes are not used to
validate the flight."

"[#] fixes from [date & time] to [date & time] UTC inclusive." *

*in the case prompting this "hold," no fixes were recorded other than
those reported unusable for flight validation.


PILOTS AFFECTED: applicants for any FAI badge distance or goal flight,
when the above message is received during security checking.

THE PROBLEM: as of an unknown date, the Garmin E-Trex GPS unit no
longer records the datum in use. The same may be true of other Garmin
GPS units listed in the IGC Approval Document for EW Flight Recorder
models A through D. Without datum information from the Garmin, the EW
security check fails.

CURRENT STATUS: Garmin, EW and IGC have been alerted to the problem.
Resolution appears to require their concerted and cooperative efforts.

PILOT ACTION: Users of EW Flight Recorder models A through D can
perform a security check on a recent data file to determine whether
they're affected by this problem.

(Go to http://www.fai.org/gliding/gnss/freeware.asp and download
BOTH the IGC Shell "zip" file AND the EW Avionics DLL; for B & D
models, download the "Windows program" as well. Install all these
programs in the same directory. Create a desk-top shortcut to the IGC
SHELL program and follow the simple instructions for securirty
checking - it's basically a matter of point-and-click.)

IF YOUR RECENT BADGE FLIGHT YIELDS AN ERROR MESSAGE AS ABOVE: you may
submit the data file for FAI badge review, but realize processing will
be delayed until the security message issue is resolved. Please
include a current e-mail address with your application so we can keep
you up to date.

IF YOU RECEIVE NO SUCH MESSAGE: please submit your badge application
as usual.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE E-MAIL .