Records FAQ

NAA follows the guidelines set forth in the FAI sporting codes as to what sort of accomplishments are recognized. In airplanes, for example, records can be set for distance, speed, altitude, time to climb, greatest payload, and efficiency. Distance and speed records can be set in one direction or out and back over a closed course. The listings of the specific records available can be found in the FAI sporting code section appropriate to each vehicle type.

Airplanes in FAI class C are typically classified in two ways: takeoff weight and engine type. This is so pilots flying airplanes of similar size and the same engine type compete against each other. The actual takeoff weight of the airplane during the attempt will determine its weight classification.

Weight classifications can be found in FAI sporting code Section 2 (Airplanes), paragraph 3.1.3. The type of engine on an airplane will determine its propulsion group – internal combustion engine, turboprop, jet engine, rocket, scramjet, or electric. Airplanes in class C are not categorized by the number of engines, nor by the number of pilots flying the airplane. A single engine piston airplane weighing 3,000 pounds flown by one person would be in the same class as a multi-engine piston airplane weighing 3,000 pounds flown by two people.

In order to attempt a record, an individual must be a member of NAA and possess a valid FAI sporting license. Current members of NAA air sport organizations are considered Air Sport Members of NAA and are not required to have separate membership in NAA itself. However, a sporting license is always required. Please check with NAA or the individual air sport organization for applicability.

An FAI Sporting License is a license which allows an individual to compete in sanctioned record attempts or air sport competitions. NAA has the authority to issue sporting licenses to U.S. citizens or to non-citizens who meet certain residency requirements. If you currently have or have previously had a Sporting License issued by another country, please let NAA know when you apply.

Please note:  Processing time for an FAI Sporting License is three (3) business days.  Applications submitted less than three (3) business days prior to the event may not be processed in time to allow you to participate.

Sporting Licenses are free to qualified NAA members (annual membership fee is $50.00). Members of NAA Air Sport Associations can obtain a Sporting License for $45.00. Sporting Licenses are issued for participation in one discipline only – airplanes, balloons, gliders, etc. If an individual wishes to participate in more than one discipline, additional sporting licenses must be obtained at a cost of $45.00 each.

Record attempts must be overseen by qualified, objective individuals without any perceived conflict of interest. NAA’s Contest & Records Board is comprised of individuals who specialize in observing record attempts. In some instances, ATC personnel may be used as observers. In any case, having an observer appointed to your record attempt should be one of the first steps of the process.

Both you and the observer must be familiar with the operation of any specialized equipment (e.g., GNSS flight recorder) that will be used to document your attempt. Practicing using the equipment before the big day is highly recommended.

Yes, even if a secure device such as a GNSS flight recorder is used during the record attempt, an official observer must be present. In addition to sealing and installing the recording device, the observer must certify other details of the flight independent of the recorded data. This includes (but is not limited to):  make, model, and serial number of the recording device; time that the recording device is turned on and off; aircraft make, model, and registration information; and takeoff and landing times. It may also be necessary for the observer to witness weighing of the aircraft to ensure that it is within limits of a particular record class.

In order for NAA to sanction a record attempt, a sanction application must be submitted, along with the appropriate fee. In most cases, sanctions approved by NAA give applicants exclusive rights to attempt the particular record in the United States during the sanction window (usually 90 days). Please note that other countries have this same sanctioning authority and may sanction a corresponding attempt elsewhere in the world without NAA’s knowledge. Sanction applications can be approved only for those holding appropriate ratings for the aircraft that will be used. Proof of competency, in the form of an FAA pilot certificate or air sport rating, is required. Student pilots are not eligible to set records.

The Soaring Society of America, the Academy of Model Aeronautics, and the United States Parachute Association, as NAA air sport organizations, have been given the authority to issue sanctions for record attempts in their particular discipline. Contestants in those disciplines should contact those groups directly.

Each aviation discipline has its own rules for record-setting activities. All contestants are required to read and study the FAI Sporting Code applicable to their particular discipline.

Records must be approved as U.S. National records before they can be considered for World record status. NAA uses the FAI criteria for certifying U.S. National records. Be advised that some records have a minimum performance or a minimum margin over the existing performance that must be achieved for a record to be accepted.

It is very important that you clear up any questions you may have by contacting NAA before starting the attempt. It is much better to understand the requirements for your record before it is flown, rather than afterwards, when the time, effort, and resources have already been expended.

Once your record has been successfully completed, you must submit your record claim to NAA within 72 hours via the “My Account” section on the NAA website. If a GNSS flight recorder was used to document the flight, a copy of the data file must also be submitted to NAA within 72 hours of the flight. This must be done directly by the official observer in order to maintain a secure chain of custody of the data file.

After your preliminary record claim has been received, NAA will notify FAI (if a continental and/or world record is being claimed) and send you an acknowledgment of receipt of your claim by email. FAI has strict time limits for the submission of record claims, so it is extremely important that NAA be notified promptly of your achievement. Late notification can invalidate the entire record attempt. Within 24 hours of submitting your preliminary record claim, you must telephone NAA to be sure your claim has been received.

For most records, there are standard forms to be used to document the flight. They can be found on the Records Downloads page of NAA’s website. It is then the responsibility of you and any observers to forward all supporting documentation for your claim to NAA within 30 days. All documentation should be original – photocopies or faxes of original documents are not acceptable. An original signature should appear on all documentation submitted by the observer.

Once NAA has received all supporting documentation, the record claim can be processed for certification. This usually takes 30-60 days. After the record has been certified by NAA, the documentation is sent to FAI in Lausanne, Switzerland for certification. FAI certification can take an additional 30-60 days, sometimes longer.

NAA issues certificates commemorating your achievement as a U.S. National record. FAI’s “Diplome de Record” are issued for those records certified as Continental or World records. Please see the information on NAA’s website for more details on these products.

As a record setter, you are eligible to have your record certificate presented at NAA’s record awards ceremony. The event is held annually, usually in the Washington, DC area. When your record is certified, NAA will inform you of the date of the next ceremony and offer you a chance to be a part of the program.

Copilots or other flight crewmembers can be listed on the record. They are required to be NAA members and hold an FAI sporting license (see question 3). However, their participation is not mandatory.

For the most current fee schedule, please see our page of Records Downloads. Contestants making attempts through the Soaring Society of America, the Academy of Model Aeronautics, and the United States Parachute Association should contact those organizations directly.