ARC Air Derby Qualifications

Every female pilot should have the chance to fly in an Air Race Classic event at least once in her flying career! Qualifications to enter ensure that the ARC Air Derby maintains a high level of safety and promotes education and sharpening of pilot skills.

99 Teams will be accepted to compete. Additional qualified Teams will be waitlisted, up to September 25th. Until September 30th, if an accepted Team withdraws, the next waitlisted Team will be selected in order of acceptance.

The pages to the right will guide you step-by-step through the qualification and registration process.

The ARC invites pilots from all over the globe to experience the ARC Air Derby.  Contestants my be male or female, but the pilot or co-pilot must be female. For full details, download the 2026 ARC Air Derby Rules & Procedures E-01b Derby Rules .

Contestant / Team Qualifications

Each Team consists of two or more pilots. Pilots of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels have competed – and won – the ARC Air Derby! For the ARC Air Derby, the basic qualifications for who is registering as pilot of a Team are:

• Glider, Sport or higher airman certificate;
• Minimum 50 hours PIC (pilot in command) logged in the category and class of airplane being flown in the Derby;
• Valid medical credentials appropriate to the certificate held.

The basic qualifications for the copilot and additional teammates are:

• Student pilot or higher airman's certificate;
• If the copilot or teammate will act as PIC during the Derby, they must have the required ratings and endorsements for the airplane flown or be under the direct supervision of a certified flight instructor in the airplane. 

Please note that if a contestant is under the age of 18 at the time of registration, a completed  C-02c Release of Liability Parental Consent Derby must be uploaded during the contestant registration process. Contestants over the age 18 must upload  C-02b Release of Liability Derby.

Airplane Basic Qualifications

The ARC Air Derby is open to a wide variety of general aviation airplanes under 12,500 lbs - including motorized glider, experimental, light sport, and turbo-charged airplanes. Entries have ranged from Cessnas and Pipers to an RV-12, Citabria, Waco biplane, Seneca, and everything in between. Fast and slow, old and new, basic and complex, all different types have competed and done well. Your airplane must just have the range to complete the minimum leg lengths required to create your Derby route.