Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The following are Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the ARC Air Derby. Be sure to use the updated Rules as your main information source.
Participant/Team Requirements and Registration
1. What are the fees per team and when is this required?
The fee for a Team, which includes the pilot and copilot, is $200.00. Additional teammates are $50.00 each. You must have your Participant and Team registrations accepted and all fees paid by September 25th.
2. Do you have to have all registrations- person, team, and airplane to be accepted as a team?
Only the Participant and Team registrations must be completed and accepted to be one of the 99 Team entries allowed. Airplane must be registered by September 25th. If not, your Team could be removed from the 99 accepted Teams.
3. Can a person be part of multiple teams or enter multiple airplanes?
No. The Derby is limited to one Team per person and one airplane per Team.
4. Are male passengers/team members allowed if pilot and co-pilot are females?
Yes! The ARC Air Derby is now open to women and men! Either the pilot or copilot must be female.
5. Teams only, no solo, right?
Correct. A Team consists of a Pilot and Copilot.
6. Do Participants have to be 99s?
No. It would be great if you were, but it's not required.
7. I have BasicMed. What documents do you need since there's no BasicMed certificate?
Upload copies of your BasicMed form section 2 with your individual information, section 3 with your physician's signature, and your medical self-assessment course certificate.
8. Can Sport Pilots or pilots with other types of certificates participate in this event?
Yes! To register as Pilot, you must have a glider, sport or higher certificate plus 50 hours PIC in the category and class of the airplane flown, and a medical or BasicMed. If you want to be PIC during the event, you must have a medical or BasicMed. See the rules for other requirements, and remember, all aviation regulations must be followed, including currency requirements.
9. If you do not have the required 50 hours PIC, are there any specific requirements?
The person registering as Pilot must have 50 hours PIC. If any other team member will act as PIC during the Derby, whether registered as Copilot or teammate, they must have at least a student pilot certificate, a medical/BasicMed, and appropriate endorsements. For a student pilot to be PIC, they must be under the direct supervision of a CFI in the airplane. As noted in the previous question, all aviation regulations must be followed.
10. I'm a student pilot. Do I need both certificate and 50 hours PIC by registration date, or race date?
Requirements must be met by Registration Close, September 25th.
11. There was a mention of photos of the pilots, do those need to be together or individually?
Either, but we would prefer they be together. Recommendations for good photos are on the website. You must also submit a picture of the airplane you will be flying.
12. Can the photo be added after the registration but before the deadline?
Yes, as long as it is submitted before September 25th. However, your Team will not be eligible for acceptance and counted as one of the 99s entries allowed until all documents, photos and fees have been submitted.
13. When do you get confirmation that you are one of the 99 Teams allowed?
You should receive email confirmation when your Registration is accepted. Also, once your Team is accepted, it will appear on the Racer List on the website.
14. Can there be changes of Pilot/Co-pilot before the actual event? What if one of them should become ill?
No changes are allowed after September 25th. You have a 9-day window to fly your route, so hopefully, any issues with the Pilot or Co-pilot can be worked out during that time frame.
15. Can additional teammates be added later?
Team members can be added up until September 25th.
16. If I register but need to drop out, is my registration fee refunded?
There is no fee to register as a Participant. Fees just must be paid before the Team can be accepted. Once entry fees are paid, they are only refunded if a Team is not accepted or scratches prior to Registration Close. In that case, it is subject to a $25 processing fee.
17. Will you also have a website for pilots looking for team mates?
You can post on the Air Race Classic, Inc. Facebook page.
Airplane Requirements and Registration
18. Will the airplane registration be as in-depth as the regular race? Such as logbooks, etc.
No. All that is required are copies of your annual or condition inspection, current airplane registration, and liability insurance.
19. Does the liability insurance require that ARC be included?
Yes, Air Race Classic, Inc., must be listed as an additional insured.
20. Will your system be able to manage airplane registrations from non-US airplane? E.g. ZK-XXX format?
We think so, but if there is an issue, we will work with you on it.
21. What is the smallest size airplane can participate?
Any airplane under 12,500 lbs. that has the range to complete the 65 NM legs without stopping can participate.
22. Can experimentals enter? RVs for example?
Yes, as long as they meet the other airplane requirements in the rules.
23. Are experimentals only allowed for this derby/rally or will they be accepted in the ARC going forward?
We are not able to allow experimentals in the traditional race at this time.
24. Is the Derby required to be flown in a single-engine airplane?
No, as long as it is under 12,500 lbs.
25. If the airplane that is originally registered has a mechanical issue and cannot be used for the Derby, can a substitute airplane be used?
No. Airplane changes can only be made until September 25th.
26. Can we rent an airplane? Or should we have an airplane?
Renting is acceptable.
Creating a Route
27. Can several teams use the same route?
Yes! Have a personal challenge with your friends over a route. However, formation flying is not allowed.
28. Each leg must be 65 nm at a minimum or exact? It there a total distance required?
65 nm is the minimum leg length. There is no maximum leg or total distance requirement.
29. Can we use navaids or airports as waypoints?
Yes, any point can be used as a waypoint as long as it is identified on the Derby Flight Plan using lat/long coordinates. The Derby Flight Plan has a column labeled Point Name where you'll list an airport identifier, navaid name, or user if it's user-created. There's another column for the lat/longs. The waypoints need to use the decimal degree format DD.ddddd to at least 2 decimal places.
30. Why was a Must Land airport added?
To add a little complexity to the time estimations.
31. Does the Must Land airport have to be the last airport?
No, in fact, it cannot be your last airport. It must be one at the end of first through fourth legs.
32. Is the time of a leg at takeoff and landing?
Neither. You will fly over a waypoint defined by a lat/long to start/end your time for each leg except the must LAND airport. In that case, you will cross the lat/long you've set at a midpoint of the runway to end your time from the previous leg and again on takeoff to start your time for the next leg. All others will be at waypoints away from the airport. You should not start and end your route at an airport. It's better to choose a waypoint nearby.
33. What determines the Must Land airport?
Your Team can choose any airport at the end of either the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th leg, just not the first/last route waypoint. You may want to choose an airport suitable for a fuel stop and/or lunch.
34. Do you also use a waypoint at the last place you land to end your route?
That's not a requirement, but it is recommended. Remember, you must start and stop your route at the same waypoint. It will be easier to estimate your time and ensure crossing that waypoint if you use a waypoint away from the airport you take off from. You will take off and fly to that waypoint to start your time, then at the end of your route, you will cross that same waypoint to end the last leg of your route before you land. That way any traffic pattern issues at your home airport will not affect your time.
35. Waypoints are all off airport or on the airport?
Read the rules carefully; they explain. You must land at one airport (LAND), and the waypoint for that airport will be located at the midpoint of the runway so you will cross it when you land and again when you take off. For all other optional landing airports (STOPs), the waypoint should be away from the airport, a safe distance from the traffic pattern but no farther than 15 nm. You'll cross that waypoint before you land and again after you take off.
36. Can you explain the land airport requirement for helicopters? Are you required to land on the runway?
Helicopters are not permitted.
37. Terrain in the West is a greater factor. How many turns are allowed per leg?
Only one turn is allowed per leg to avoid terrain or airspace.
38. It may be hard to fly 5 legs if terrain dictates that you can only fly out and back. If one flies 2 ½ legs out and 2 ½ legs back, would the turn be considered "due to terrain?"
The turn could be considered due to terrain depending on the circumstances, but the route should not be directly out and back. A return leg cannot be on top of an outbound leg. There must be some variation. Explain the circumstances when you submit your route for initial review.
39. The revised rules added "unique" to the rule that says, "The route must consist of five unique legs." I read this to mean that legs cannot cross one another, as they would then share a common cross point. Is that correct?
The intent of that rule is so no two legs will be on top of each other. In other words, no out and backs are allowed. It's okay for legs to cross, but there should be some lateral space between the crossing point and the end/start waypoints of either leg. Legs should be easily identified as being two completely separate legs.
40. Where should I plan the route? I am from heartland Florida chapter.
Routes may be planned anywhere airspace, terrain, and regulations allow. If you don't live in an area where you can meet those requirements and the Derby rules, plan your route away from your home base if that's a possibility for you.
Derby Flight Plan
41. Where can I find the Derby Flight Plan?
When it's available, you can find it on the Racers page at https://derby.airraceclassic.org/racers-only.htm Click on Racers in the sidebar menu on your Account Dashboard when you first log in.
42. For an optional STOP airport, where on the flight plan should I list the airport where we'll be landing?
Include a note with the intended STOP airport identifier in the email when you submit your final flight plan right before you fly. The lat/long of the waypoint you'll cross before landing will be listed on the flight plan and you will put "STOP" in the column labeled Details.
43. Can you send more than one route for review?
No, only one route will be accepted for review. The review is only to make sure there are no major errors in lat/longs; it is not an approval or guarantee that the route meets the requirements in the rules. Changes can be made after the review, but Teams are ultimately responsible for ensuring their proposed route meets the requirements.
44. How many decimal places must be included in the lat/longs on the flight plan?
At least 2 places right of the decimal point must be included. If your application includes 3 places, include all 3. ForeFlight displays 2 places when viewing the route on the chart, but 3 in the NavLog. They are easier to read if you print out the NavLog.
45. When does a Team submit their final flight plan with time estimates?
Email them to flightdata@airraceclassic.org the day of your flight before you fly.
Flying Your Derby Route
46. What if the PIC is ill on the scheduled day of flight?
You have a 14-day window to fly the Derby. Hopefully, you can find another day to fly. No Team changes are allowed after September 25th.
47. Is the throttle still required to be full for the entirety of the Derby?
The ARC Air Derby is not a race like the traditional Air Race Classic, and there are no handicaps to try to beat. You can fly with whatever throttle setting you wish, and it can be varied as you fly.
48. So, you don't have to use the airplane's 65% or 75% cruise speed?
You can use whatever power setting gives the best performance for your airplane or the power setting you plan to fly your route to best meet your time estimate.
49. Do all legs have to be completed in one day?
Yes. If you are unable to complete it in one day, the legs that you do complete will still be scored, but you will not receive a total route score. When you submit your track files, make a note that you were unable to complete your route.
50. Does the day the route is to be flown have to be pre-chosen?
No. Just remember to submit your flight plan with time estimations on the day you fly before you take off.
51. When does the timing start/end? When the airplane departs/lands?
All times start and end at a lat/long, whether on the ground at the LAND airport or while flying the route. The route time starts when you cross your first waypoint at the beginning of your route and ends when you cross that same waypoint at the end of your route. Optional STOP airports must have waypoints away from the airport that are crossed before you land and again after you take off. In the event that you do not fly directly over the waypoint, but within the ½ mile requirement, the time will be taken at the perpendicular point on the route.
52. Can you fly your route several times before you decide on parameters to use such as time between airports?
On the day of your Derby flight, you may only fly your route one time, and you must submit your flight plan with time estimates before you fly.
53. Can we stop for fuel after crossing any of the waypoints or only at the LAND airport?
Fueling can take place at either LAND or STOP airports. Just be sure the landing is on your flight plan before submitting it and starting your Derby flight.
54. Straight-in pattern entries aren't allowed?
That's correct. You must fly at least part of the traffic pattern. If you are using a towered airport as your required LAND airport, you must follow the tower's instructions, but we recommend that you not use a towered airport so you have better control of your time.
55. What if we have to change altitude and direction for traffic or weather?
A change of altitude will not affect your score, but changing direction will since only one turn is allowed per leg and that turn must be on your flight plan before you fly. You should try to pick a day, or time of day, to fly with minimal chance for weather deviations. If you must deviate for safety, do so, but that leg may not be scored and you may not receive an overall score. Please list any deviations from the lateral flight path in the email with the flight tracks. The Scorer will look at the reasons and make a recommendation to the Judge. The Judge's determination will be final.
56. Is there a fixed altitude we have to fly?
No. You choose the appropriate VFR altitude for the airspace, terrain, and conditions, and/or the airplane performance you desire to best meet your estimated time. Just be sure to follow all regulations regarding altitudes.
57. Does a whole leg have to be flown at a pre-selected altitude or is change of altitude is allowed?
There are no altitude requirements for the Derby other than aviation regulations. Changes in altitude mid-leg are allowed and may be desired to meet your estimated times, as long as you follow regulations and fly safely.
Tracking and Scoring
58. Why is Foreflight preferred? Won't Garmin Pilot give the required info?
We have done testing with ForeFlight, and ForeFlight is commonly used. It easily produces the files we are using for scoring this event. If other applications or technologies can produce the required track log file formats, they can be used. Refer to your user manual or online guidance. If you need help, contact timing.scoring@airraceclassic.org. ForeFlight Web will be the preferred method for sending the required files. If you cannot use ForeFlight/Foreflight Web, please contact timing.scoring@airraceclassic.org for coordination. The team's score may not be to the same level of accuracy using other methods.
59. ForeFlight is not available in New Zealand or Australia yet. We do have AirNavPro or OzRunways or AvPlan.
As long as those applications have the capability to track your flight and produce .csv, .kml or .gpx file downloads, they will work. Check their documentation and if you need help, contact timing.scoring@airraceclassic.org
60. Does Bad Elf have those files (.csv and .kml)?
No. BadElfs produce only .gpx files. Some Stratus boxes have the capability. Research whatever flight tracking technology you use and then contact timing.scoring@airraceclassic.org if you still need help.
61. I do not understand the terminology KML.
KML stands for Keyhole Markup Language. It is a computer language used to display geographic data in an Earth browser such as Google Earth.
62. Is the score overall or the accumulation of each leg?
The final score is the sum total of the percentage errors of the 5 legs.
63. Will there be penalties for extra turns, for example? Or is that a disqualification leg?
No score will be given for legs that don't meet the specifications in the rules, including those with more than one turn, or turns that were not identified on the flight plan. If any leg is not scored, there will not be an overall score. Good legs will still be scored and eligible for leg prizes.
64. Do we also have to estimate our refueling time?
No. If fueling at the required LAND airport, your time stops when you land and cross the waypoint on the runway and restarts when you cross that same waypoint on takeoff. If fueling at an optional STOP airport, your time stops when you cross the waypoint near the airport before you land and restarts when you cross that same waypoint after takeoff. In both cases, the time in between does not count.
Other
65. Do you need volunteers?
Since we don't have any designated stops for the Derby, we don't need volunteers, but you are welcome to volunteer for future races. The race route for 2027 will be posted on the home page of the ARC website soon. If you live near one of those locations or have some other expertise that might be helpful for our organization, click on the Get Involved tab on top of any page on our website and then, How to Volunteer. If you're logged in, you can complete the form and submit it. If you don't have an account yet, follow the instructions on that page to create one, then go back to that page to complete the volunteer interest form.
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