Electric Airplane Race Formula
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THE FIRST ELECTRIC AIRPLANE RACE FORMULA Official Rules V.1.0 · February 2020 Sanctioned by Copyright by Air Race Events DMCC www.airracee.com INTRODUCTION 4 PART 1: ARE PROCEEDURAL RULES 5 1. RACE OFFICIALS 6 1.1 OPERATIONS DIRECTOR 1.2 TECHNICAL DIRECTOR 1.3 CHIEF JUDGE 1.4 CONTEST COMMITTEE 1.5 CHIEF STARTER 1.6 CHIEF PYLON JUDGE 1.7 CHIEF TIMER 1.8 CHIEF FINISH LINE JUDGE 1.9 CHIEF FINISH FLAGGER 1.10 PILOT COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON 2. PROGRAM AND CHARTS 8 3. GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS 9 3.1 ENTRY AND ELIGIBILITY 3.2 CONTEST NUMBERS 3.3 PILOT CERTIFICATION 3.4 AIRCRAFT ELIGIBILITY 3.5 REGISTRATION OF PILOTS AND OFFICIALS ON ARRIVAL 3.6 REGISTRATION AND INSPECTION OF AIRCRAFT ON ARRIVAL 3.7 BRIEFINGS 3.8 SAFETY 3.9 FLAGS AND SIGNALS 3.10 VIOLATION PROCEDURES/PROTESTS 3.11 PENALTIES 4. CONTEST, COURSE AND FLYING REGULATIONS PAGE 15 4.1 RECOMMENDED WORLD COURSE LAYOUT 4.2 AIRCRAFT QUALIFICATION FLIGHTS AND PROCEDURES 4.3 THE GRID 4.4 START PROCEDURES 4.5 WEATHER MINIMUMS 4.6 FLYING THE COURSE 4.7 FINISH OF A RACE 4.8 ALLOWABLE SUBSTITUTIONS 5. SCORING 20 5.1 BASIS OF CHAMPIONSHIP COMPETITION 5.2 POINTS SCORING 23 PART 2: ARE TECHNICAL RULES 22 1. MOTOR 2. INVERTER/CONTROLLER UNIT 3. BATTERY 4. PROPELLERS 5. WEIGHTS AND BALANCE 6. WINGS 7. LANDING GEAR 8. SAFETY EQUIPMENT 9. VISIBILITY 10. SAFETY STANDARDS 11. GENERAL DESIGN 12. FLIGHT PERFORMANCE 13. AIRPLANE TRACKING AND DATA ACQUISITION TABLE OF GRAPHS Figure 1 Typical 3.0g, 5.0 mile Race Course 15 Figure 2 Typical 3.5g, 5.0 mile Race Course 16 Figure 3 Example grid pattern for starting procedure. 17 Figure 4 Minimum visibility requirements 25 LOG OF AMENDMENTS 27 Air Race Events (“ARE”) is the organizer of “Air Race E,” the first-ever electric airplane race. It is a Formula Air Race using an electric formula. This electric formula, known simply as “Air Race E”, is adapted from the long-running sport known as formula one air racing. The rules to formula one air racing are written and governed by the International Formula One Air Racing Association (“IF1”) and additionally used, administered and sanctioned by the Formula Air Racing Association (“FARA”) and the Association des Pilotes d’Avions de Formules (“APAF”). Air Race E, as a new formula, is sanctioned directly by FARA, the governing body for Formula Air Races, with the collaboration of other associations. ARE would like to express its gratitude towards the International Formula One Association (IF1), which has developed the rules of the sport of formula one air racing upon which Air Race E is based. IF1 has developed the rules over many decades and full credit must be paid to IF1 for evolving a body of regulations that maintains both safety and competitiveness as priorities at all times. ARE uses the formula one air racing rules for its Air Race 1 events in cooperation with IF1, FARA and APAF. ARE therefore encapsulates the formula one air racing rules here within this document for ease of reference. Adjustments in wording may be used to make it easier to read. The rules are divided into two parts: “Part 1: ARE Procedural Rules” (for running the races) and “Part 2: ARE Technical Rules” (for building the aircraft). These rules are not subject to any by-laws of any sport association. This document is intended for the reference of potential team entrants to determine their interest before they start designing aircraft. The use, interpretation and applicability of any rule used for Air Race E is always at the complete discretion of ARE and subject to change at any time. Additional rules relating to adjudication systems, scrutineering methods and safety procedures, among other operational aspects, will be included in future versions of this document. Air Race E is open to any team and open to any powertrain from any manufacturer provided it complies with the specifications in this rules document. Air Race E is an open platform, not a single-spec competition, so we encourage all manufacturers to enter a team or join forces with an existing race team. Air Race Events DMCC (ARE) owns the copyright to any additional wording outside the original formula one rules and to all intellectual property related to Air Race E. Receipt of this document does not constitute an offer of any kind and does not imply that the recipient or its team will be allowed entry. More information can be found on the website www.airracee.com or by contacting ARE at [email protected]. 4 PART 1 1 1.1 OPERATIONS DIRECTOR May be appointed by Air Race Events (ARE) or, at the discretion of ARE, may be appointed by FARA or by a membership vote as indicated in the ARE rules and is responsible for organizing, overseeing, and designating operations personnel. He is responsible for all ARE ground movements and air operations at race sites. He cannot be a competing ARE owner or pilot. 1.1.1 Duties of the Operations Director 1.1.1.1 He shall be the ARE representative at races including FAA, promoter, and Contest Committee liaison. 1.1.1.2 He shall be responsible for providing and installing, if required, pylons, flags and radios for communication between the Start line, Chief Judge, Home pylon and other key areas. 1.1.1.3 He shall ensure that all aircraft and pilots are properly inspected and certified prior to aircraft qualification. 1.1.1.4 He is responsible for race makeup (pairings) and grid arrangement. He may change grid assignments in the event of pilot or aircraft safety issues. 1.1.1.5 He is responsible for pilot certification at races in conjunction with the Pilot Committee Chairperson or his designee(s). He has the power to withdraw a racing pilot license for unsafe activities. (See Procedure Rule 3.8.3) 1.1.1.6 He has the power to withdraw ARE from races if unsafe conditions exist. 1.2 TECHNICAL DIRECTOR May be appointed by ARE or, at the discretion of ARE, may be appointed by FARA or by a membership vote as indicated in the ARE rules and is responsible for organizing, overseeing, and designating technical inspectors and inspections. He cannot be a competing formula one owner or pilot. 1.2.1 Duties of the Technical Director 1.2.1.1 The Technical Director shall procure, store and provide Technical inspection equipment as required to properly inspect aircraft. 1.2.1.2 The Technical Director's staff shall inspect all aircraft on arrival at the ARE event. The Technical Director's staff will carry out all inspections in accordance with the ARE Technical Inspection Handbook. 1.2.1.3 On the basis of this inspection the Technical Director is empowered to require the competing aircraft to be returned to conformity with the ARE Technical Rules prior to official practice and qualification. If the discrepancies cannot be corrected, the Technical Director is empowered to refer them to the Contest Committee where they will be dealt with as a Protest. 1.2.1.4 At the conclusion of the racing, the Technical Director's staff will carry out such checks as they see fit in accordance with the ARE Technical Inspection Handbook. Any discrepancies found will be automatically referred to the Contest Committee where they will be dealt with as a Protest. 1.3 CHIEF JUDGE Presides over Contest Committee and has primary responsibility for all officiating functions and officiating personnel that are required. 6 1 1.4 CONTEST COMMITTEE Chief Judge and 2 or more contest judges appointed by promoter or Executive Committee. Judges must have no business or personal relationships with competing owners or pilots. Has ultimate authority over all racing events. Not responsible for organization or execution of race, but acts in judicial capacity to settle protests, determine penalties, authorize deviations from rules, amend competition, and enforce rules of FAA waivers. 1.4.1 Meetings of the Contest Committee 1.4.1.1 The Chief Judge shall call a meeting of the Contest Committee no later than one (1) hour after termination of the day's racing. 1.4.1.2 The Contest Committee shall hear both sides of the matter of any formal protest, apply correctly the relevant regulations and the rules for the event and decide by vote. 1.4.1.3 Protests against a decision of the Chief Judge require a 2/3 majority to succeed. 1.4.1.4 If a Contest Committee meeting has to be held in the unavoidable absence of any of its members, the necessary quorum will be 2/3 of its total members. 1.5 CHIEF STARTER Appointed by promoter or Chief Judge and is responsible for supervising his assistants and initiating a safe start in accordance with the rules. 1.6 CHIEF PYLON JUDGE Appointed by promoter or Chief Judge and is responsible for supervising all pylon judges in the performance of their assigned duties. 1.7 CHIEF TIMER Appointed by promoter or Chief Judge and is responsible for supervising timers and scorers in the performance of their assigned duties. He shall procure, store and provide timing equipment as required to properly time qualification and races. 1.8 CHIEF FINISH LINE JUDGE Appointed by promoter or Chief Judge and is responsible for supervising all finish flaggers in the performance of their assigned duties. 1.9 CHIEF FINISH FLAGGER Appointed by promoter or Chief Judge and is responsible for supervising other finish flaggers in the performance of their assigned duties.