The Promotion and Relegation System in RC Aerobatics (F3A)

2.1 F3A Promotion*

F3A Promotion is designed as a category specifically for young aerobatic pilots and represents the entry-level division within RC aerobatics. Even older, experienced pilots who, for personal reasons, no longer wish to devote the training time required for the FAI program will find the F3A Promotion category an interesting flying challenge.

There is no limit on the number of participants for the regional championships. They are open to all RC pilots (Swiss and foreign) who are members of an AeCS regional group.

For the Swiss Championships, 20 competitors are admitted (plus qualified foreign pilots).

Elite pilots may not participate in official F3A Promotion championships.

2.2 F3A Elite*

The F3A Elite consists of the 12 best Swiss RC aerobatic pilots (plus regularly qualified foreign pilots who are members of an AeCS flying group) and is considered the top division within the promotion system.

3.1 F3A Promotion

The aerobatics program and regulations for the F3A Promotion category are developed by the RC Commission, discussed with the groups in the regions (consultation), and subsequently approved by the MFK.

The program is revised every four years and introduced on a provisional basis one year in advance to allow for the gathering of experience before the final revision.

3.2 F3A Elite

The aerobatics program and the other regulations for the F3A-Elite category are continuously updated to reflect the latest international standards (Code Sportif). Deviations from the international regulations are permitted only if those regulations are still in provisional effect.

4.1 F3A Promotion

The 20 participants in the F3A Promotion Swiss Championship qualify at the regional championships, with the number of participants determined based on regional participation rates.

The pilots who place 1st through 3rd in the F3A Promotion Swiss Championship have qualified for the repechage.

4.2 F3A Elite

Pilots placing 1st through 9th in the Swiss Championship have qualified for the Elite division again for the coming year, provided they can also demonstrate participation in at least one international (FAI program) (rankings must be submitted to the regional RC representatives by December 31 at the latest).

Pilots ranked 10th through 12th must compete in the repechage next year alongside the pilots ranked 1st through 3rd in the F3A Promotion Swiss Championship.

5.1 The participants in the repechage consist of the pilots who placed 1st through 3rd in this year’s F3A Promotion Swiss Championship and those who placed 10th through 12th in last year’s Elite Swiss Championship.

5.2 The Qualifying Round is held on Saturday morning prior to the Elite Swiss Championship.

5.3 Pilots who placed 1st through 3rd in the F3A Promotion Swiss Championship must use the provided form to confirm whether they wish to be promoted to the Elite division or not.

For pilots who wish to remain in the lower division, the next-ranked pilot will automatically be promoted, and so on.

5.4 Each Elite pilot must confirm via a form whether they wish to continue competing in the Elite division the following year. If a pilot chooses not to remain in the Elite division, the pilots ranked 1st through 4th in the repechage will be promoted to the Elite division, and so on.

5.5 For the six participants (plus qualified foreign pilots), at least three heats must be flown, with the worst result being discarded.

5.6 The repechage will be conducted in accordance with international regulations.

5.7 The same judges must be used for the repechage as for the Swiss Championship immediately following it.

5.8 The top three finishers in the repechage have qualified for the Swiss Championship, which begins at noon on Saturday, while the remaining pilots will compete in the lower division (Cat. F3A-Promotion) the following year.

In order to provide training time for promotion candidates, the F3A Promotion Swiss Championship must be held at least three weeks before the Elite Swiss Championship and should take place between mid-August and mid-September.

The RC-FAKO is responsible for ensuring the smooth operation of the promotion and relegation system and for overseeing the work of the judges. Protests that cannot be resolved by the competition jury are referred to the MFK, and the RC-FAKO may be consulted as a technical authority.

*According to the MFK, the two categories would be named F3A-National (following the example of the excellent naming of the VM-National) and F3A-FAI.

Since F3A is, in and of itself, already FAI, the term “Elite” is used here again.