IGC File Name Decoding Made Easy

I had a pile of log files of my flights this summer. I typically
transfer files from my flight recorder to my PC via my IPAQ's removable
compact flash (CF) card.

Unfortunately, the IPAQ had the wrong date (year, time, everything) so
it was a little difficult figuring out which log file was which based
on the date stamp of the file.

However, there is a way out of this dilemma. The IGC file is named by
the flight recorder in such a way that it "encodes" the date when the
flight was made along with other information.

Below is your personal decoder ring for IGC file names.

Enjoy, John
email: johnatderosaweb.com

================================================== =====

YMDCXXXF.IGC
||||\ /|
|||| | |
|||| | +--- F=Flight # of day 1-9 then A-Z (35 flights max)
|||| +----- XXX=Serial number of logger (3 alpha-numberic digits)
|||+------- C=Manufacturer of logger (see note below)
||+-------- D=Day of month (see note below)
|+--------- M=Month of year (see note below)
+---------- Y=Last digit of year

Example
=======
5AGC3WK1.IGC

October, 16, 2005
Cambridge recorder serial number 3WK
Flight #1

Numbering Breakdown
===================
Month of year
-------------
1 = January
2 = February
3 = March
4 = April
5 = May
6 = June
7 = July
8 = August
9 = September
A = October
B = November
C = December

Day of Month
------------
1 = 1
2 = 2
3 = 3
4 = 4
5 = 5
6 = 6
7 = 7
8 = 8
9 = 9
A = 10
B = 11
C = 12
D = 13
E = 14
F = 15
G = 16
H = 17
I = 18
J = 19
K = 20
L = 21
M = 22
N = 23
O = 24
P = 25
Q = 26
R = 27
S = 28
T = 29
U = 30
V = 31

Manufacturer of Data logger
---------------------------
A = Garrecht
C = Cambridge
E = EW Avionics
F = Filser
L = LX Navigation
S = Streamline data instruments
W = Westerboer
X = All other manufacturers

Full technical specs for the IGC files can be found at:
http://www.fai.org/gliding/gnss/tech_spec_gnss.pdf