GENERAL RACE RULES

• All aircraft must pass a safety and airworthiness inspection. If aircrafts need repairing they will need to be inspected again after the repair. Aircraft should be repaired with equivalent parts that were originally used during check-in.

• The inspector has the final decision on whether an aircraft is accepted and/or requires changes or modifications in order to be approved for racing.

• All aircraft must have a failsafe, which will be checked in the safety inspection. It must be a power down, no pulse, where the aircraft will immediately cease flight by stopping all motors and operation if it loses radio transmitter signal.

• All aircraft will be flight tested before an event to determine aircraft flight airworthiness and pilots skill. 

• Events may opt to specify the use of a specific selection of Video Transmitters (Vtxs). Analog video transmitters are the standard use for most pilots. Digital may be allowed in cases but it is event specific.

• If the aircraft breaches the max ceiling height or goes out of bounds, a judge will indicate to the pilot the infraction.
   

CANOPY & LED LIGHTING ENCOURAGED

All aircraft are encouraged to feature a canopy and/or LEDs for the season, but are not required. No points will be awarded or deducted if you choose not to feature canopies or LEDs.

 

SEASON POINTS SYSTEM

 

The sum of points earned at a maximum of Four (4) out of five (5) rounds of a pilot's best points races for the season will count as their overall Season Points Total. 

The top four (4) overall Season Points Total holders for each chapter at the end of the last officially scheduled race before the X Class World Championship will be invited to compete in the X Class World Championship.*

At races X Class pilots will receive the following points distribution: 1st = 100 points, 2nd = 90 points, 3rd = 80 points, 4th = 70 points, 5th = 60 points, 6th = 50 points, 7th = 40 points, 8th = 30 points, 9th = 20 points, 10th+ = 10 points.

(*The number of pilots eligible for the championship may be increased if demand is higher than expected.)

 

GENERAL PILOTING RULES

• If there is a requirement that all model aviation pilots in a host country have a current license or organizational membership to the local body governing model aeronautics, then all pilots must meet that requirement in order to compete and all pilots must adhere to the rules and regulations of safe airframe operation and flight as defined by that body.

• All U.S. pilots must have a current AMA membership or country equivalent.

• All pilots must adhere to any applicable regulations by the relevant local authorities responsible for manned aircraft regulations.

• Unlawful flight at events, such as flights near locations where flying is prohibited or at a prohibited time, will result in a disqualification from the event.

• All pilots must attend a general safety briefing, allow a safety and airworthiness inspection on their aircraft and sign the appropriate waivers from the race organizer and venue.

• Pilots must not power up video transmitters unless they have been instructed to do so, (e.g., they are about to take part in a race). Powering up a video transmitter at all other times will result in disqualification from the event.

 

• TEAM REQUIREMENTS

• X Class is intended to be a team racing format. Currently one pilot is allowed to compete but teams are highly recommended.

• Teams should consist of at least two people; one pilot, one visual observer (VO / Spotter) and a team manager who will serve as primary point of contact for the team.

• The team manager may also serve as the VO or a Team Pilot.

• The team manager is wholly responsible for conveying communications from the race organizers to other members of his or her team.

• It is recommended for teams to include additional members such as a mechanic / pit help.

EMERGENCY OR FAIL-SAFE PROCEDURES

• Should a pilot lose control of their aircraft or lose video, the pilot & VO must attempt a safe landing, fly into a prescribed crash zone, cut throttle, have the VO take control LOS, or execute a fail-safe procedure in a safe area.

• Each spotter must assist their pilot in determining the location of their aircraft.

• Spotters must maintain visual line of sight of the corresponding pilots airframe at all times and must provide verbal directions or situational awareness details to the pilot.

CIRCUIT RACE RULES

• Circuit races are X Class races held at auto-racing venues as part of the race day program, or at other large spectator-facing venues such as during active sporting events. There will be public in the stands and motorsports or other activities occurring. These races come with additional rules and requirements.

• For Circuit races in the US, because we obtain night-flying waivers for Circuit races, all sticks-in-hand pilots participating in Circuit races must hold a FAA Part 107 sUAS operator's certification.  A licensed VO cannot serve as a pilots Part 107 proxy.

• All pilots must be certified by X Class in order to compete in Circuit races. Please contact us for more info on how to get certified.

• Pilots must keep their aircraft below the max height ceiling specified for the event, failure to maintain the height limit will result in disqualification and possible de-certification by X Class.

 

Correct as of Dec 6 2021