How to Register

Follow this step-by-step process to enter your Team in the 2026 ARC Air Derby.

When you're ready to register, log in and link to 2026 Derby Registration from your Account Dashboard. If you're already logged in, click on Account in the top right corner of any page to go to your Account Dashboard.

Registration opens on September 1st.

1. Read the Rules

The ARC Air Derby Rules describe qualifications for Teams and airplanes. You can download a copy of the 2026 ARC Air Derby Rules and Procedures E-01b Derby Rules .

Registration is open to pilots of all ages and backgrounds who meet the licensing requirements and flight experience described in the Rules.

Airplanes under 12,500 lbs., including motorized glider, light sport, experimental, and turbo-charged, that have the range to complete the minimum leg lengths may be flown in the ARC Air Derby. The airplane must have a current annual or condition inspection and current registration.  Additional details are described in the Rules.

Knowing and following the Rules is an important part of a fun and safe ARC Air Derby experience.

2. Review the Forms

Review the information that you will need to provide in order for your entry to be accepted. There are 3 different forms:

• Contestant Registration - one per Team member
• Team Registration - one for the entire Team
• Airplane Registration - one for the airplane you will fly

FULL registration and payment must be submitted for all Team members.

Experienced Contestants: Many things have changed this year. Please follow the links to review the information needed to complete the three registration forms. This will help avoid surprises and delays with your registration.

3. Establish your Team

Find your ARC Air Derby partners! There must be at least 2 pilots, of which one is female, on a Team. Decide who will be pilot and who will be copilot – although you are free to switch seats during the Derby itself. Having a third (or fourth) teammate adds to the fun.

4. Log in

Log In to the Air Race Classic website. Unfortunately, you must sign in to the standard ARC site before you can access the Derby site.  If you see a 404 page, click on the "log-in" button on the upper right corner.  After you have signed into your ARC account, then select the Derby icon on the upper ribbon and you can continue with the Derby registration. Each member of the Team must have their own account and login. If you don't have an account with a username and password, the Log In page has links for you to create one.

Experienced Contestants:  Since you participated in the past, an account was set up for you in our database. A welcome email sent when you established your account included a one-time link for you to set your password. If you did not receive this email, or cannot access your account, please DO NOT create a new account! Instead, send an email to ARC Entry Administration, who will assist you in accessing your account.

5. Enter, Review, and Submit Your Contestant Registration

Registration opens on September 1st, 2026. Even if you're not sure you want to fly this year, you should complete a Derby registration.  There's no cost or obligation, and when you do decide you want to fly the Derby, you're ready to go.  Only participants who have completed a Derby registration by the registration deadline may be included on an ARC Air Derby Team. When registration is open, your account dashboard will include an option for you to register.

Make sure each Team member completes their own Contestant Registration form. Fill in all required fields, and upload documents (copy of driver's license or passport, medical, and pilot certificate) as required. You may save your registration as often as you would like. When ready, click on the "Review" button on the dashboard, which will check your registration for completeness and reasonability. If there are errors, you can re-edit the registration. There may be warning messages, which you can choose to fix now or defer to later. Once the review passes all error checks, agree to the terms and "Submit" the Contestant Registration. The Contestant Registration will still be available for viewing, but will be frozen for changes.

Entry Administration will review your Contestant Registration and required documents. She will let you know if more information is required. If your registration passes this initial review, she will change the status of your Contestant Registration to "Accepted" and email you with specific guidance on next steps.

Contestant and Team Registration forms must be completed no later than Friday, September 25th 06:00 PM EDT. If you have questions, please contact ARC Entry Administration.

6. Enter, Review, and Submit Your Team Registration

First, all members of your Team must have had their Contestant Registration "Accepted". Then, a member of the Team (usually the pilot) completes the Team Registration form and uploads the Team photo. You can save and re-edit the form as often as you like. When you are ready, click the "Review/Pay" button on the dashboard, which will check the Team information for completeness. Again, if there are errors, you can re-edit the Team Registration. When the review passes, you will be able to pay the entry fees, agree to terms and "Submit" the Team Registration. The Team Registration will be available for viewing, but frozen for changes until Entry Administration reviews the information and documents, and updates the status to "Accepted".

The FULL entry fee for each Team is $200.00 (includes pilot and copilot). Registration for each additional Team member is $50.00.

Team Registrations must be submitted no later than Friday, September 25th 06:00 PM EDT.

7. Receive Acceptance of Registration

Entry Administration will review your Team Registration, and will send an email if there are any questions. If everything is complete (registration forms, uploaded documents, picture, payment received), each Team member will receive an email confirming that the Team entry has been accepted, and that they have been granted access to the Contestant section of the website.

8. Enter, Review, and Submit your Airplane Registration

Any member of the Team can enter the airplane information on the Airplane Registration form, but no later than Saturday, September 26th 06:00 PM EDT. Make sure you fill in all required fields, and upload your documents as required. Just like the Contestant Registration form, you will be able to save the airplane information as often as you like. When ready, click on "Review," which will perform further error and reasonability checking. When the form passes the "Review" step, click on "Submit" to send to airplane and credentials review. If you have questions, please contact the ARC Airplane Division.

9. Access the Contestant Section

The Contestant Section of the website contains further instructions and a wealth of information for Teams that have been accepted into the Derby. The direct link is in your Derby Dashboard, and at the bottom right corner of every page on the website.  Each member of the Team should access this area frequently, reading the important updates during the months and weeks leading up to your Derby flight. There you will find:

• Mandatory training requirements
• Certificate of Insurance (K-02b) instructions
• eDerby electronic newsletters as they are published, with pre-Derby preparation information and requirements
• List of contestants

Questions?

If you have questions, email ARC Entry Administration, and she will answer promptly.