Athletes

Free software for IGC-approved GNSS flight recorders

The IGC Shell program is available at no charge and is for electronic Validation of the integrity and structure of an IGC-format flight data file, a requirement before the flight data may be used in the overall Validation of a flight performance to the standards of IGC. For some Flight Recorders, IGC Shell is also used for downloading the file from the Recorder to a PC and for others the conversion of a binary format to the ASCII IGC data file format.

The IGC Shell program was produced by GFA Committee member Marc Ramsey. It works through MS Windows and technical details are in Appendix 3 of the Technical Specification for IGC-approved GNSS flight recorders, available through these web pages. The program is available below together with a demonstration FR manufacturer's Data Link Library (DLL) file that provides Validation (and if applicable, the download function).

This page also provides links to the latest manufacturers' Dynamic Link Library (DLL) files that work with the IGC Shell program when the appropriate DLL file is in the same directory as the Shell program.

Where an FR manufacturer has not provided a DLL file to work with the IGC Shell program, the earlier DATA-XXX.exe, VALI-XXX.exe and CONV-XXX.exe program files are listed below, where XXX is the IGC three-letter code for the FRR manufacturer concerned.

Flight Recorders

IGC Shell program for Validation of IGC files, plus FR Manufacturer DLL files for use with the Shell program (IGC Shell is also for downloading IGC files from some types of FR)

IGC-approved Flight Recorders - Approval Documents

IGC-approved Flight Recorders - Technical Specification

IGC Position Recorders for Silver & Gold badge flights

FR Manufacturer exe files where DLL not supplied (for IGC file Validation and downloading from the FR)

IGC-Approved Flight Recorders

Each type of IGC Flight Recorder has an IGC-approval document that gives details of the Recorder, its hardware, internal and external software and what devices can be connected to it such as displays. Each document has a standard format, a main body followed by Annex A for pilots and owners, then Annex B for Official Observers and National Airsport Control (NAC) organisations such as the National Gliding body. Pilots and owners of IGC FRs are advised to copy the relevant IGC-approval document and read it closely before using the FR for a flight that requires official Validation.

There are three IGC-approval levels for Flight Recorders (see Annex B to the Sporting Code for Gliding (SC3B), para 4.1.1. Briefly these are (1) All Flights (including World Records); (2) All IGC Badge and Distance Diploma Flights (excluding Records); and (3) Badge flights up to and including Diamonds.

The Technical Specification for IGC-approved Flight Recorders requires a pressure altitude sensor in addition to a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver. A Pilot Event (PEV) system allows pilots to mark particular times during a flight, such when inside a Turn Point Observation Zone (TP OZ), and the Pilot Event is followed by a series of fixes at a small time interval, commonly 30 fixes at one second intervals. A longer fix interval can be set before flight for cruising flight between Turn Points, so that the IGC file is not too large for a very long flight. The pressure altitude system in an IGC-approved FR is a barograph in its own right, and is subject to normal barograph rules (such as on accuracy and calibration).

Flight data in the form of fixes and other data is stored in the FR memory, and after flight is downloaded from the FR either to a PC, memory card (typically an SD card) or USB memory stick (depending on the characteristics of the Recorder).

For download to a PC and electronic Validation of the structure of the IGC file, free files are available through this web site. The MS Windows-based IGC Shell Program works with each manufacturer's DLL file. Where FR manufacturers have not produced DLL files, the previous generation of EXE files are used. These are DATA-XXX.EXE, CONV-XXX.EXE and VALI-XXX-EXE where XXX is the FR manufacturer's three letter code tht is allocated by IGC.. The DATA file is for downloading from the FR to a PC, CONV for converting binary files (where produced by a particular FR type) and VALI for electronic Validation of the structure of the IGC file and checking that it has originated correctly from an IGC-approved type of FR.

The IGC GNSS FR Approval Committee (GFAC) tests FRs and issues IGC-approval documents on behalf of IGC.

IGC-approved Flight Recorders - Approval Documents

IGC-approval Documents for all IGC-approved Flight Recorders

IGC-approved Flight Recorders - Technical Specification

IGC FR Specification AL4a dated 10 April 2016 (13.07 kB)	11 April 2016
IGC FR Specification complete - with AL4a dated 10 April 2016 (805.26 kB)	11 April 2016

Events Calendar

Every year, over 30 world or continental championships are listed on the FAI Sporting Calendar, and many other sporting events such as Grand Prix, Cups and miscellaneous international competitions are organized in accordance with FAI Sporting Codes.
Use the event search function to find more information about an event, see the results or read the news articles related to it.

The 60th Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett 2016

The 60th Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett will take place from 15 – 24 September 2016 in Gladbeck, Germany, the epicentre of global gasballooning activities which will therefore provide for sure perfect conditions.

France takes the gold at the Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett 2017

The winners of the 61st Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett 2017 said they were “overjoyed” to be awarded their FAI gold medals at a ceremony in Fribourg, Switzerland on Saturday 16 September 2017.

The 61st Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett Gas Ballon Race launched tonight

This evening 21 gas balloons from 13 countries launched from Gruyères airfield (Switzerland) that sits below the famous chateau for the 61st Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett Race. Over the next few days the teams will aim to fly as far as possible, measured in a straight line from the launch field to the landing site. Meteorological experts are forecasting that the balloons will follow a north-eastern route.

Follow the race live at: gordonbennett.aero/livetracking

Athletes

Free software for IGC-approved GNSS flight recorders

IGC-Approved Flight Recorders

Events Calendar

The 60th Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett 2016

France takes the gold at the Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett 2017

The 61st Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett Gas Ballon Race launched tonight

France takes the gold at the Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett 2017

The 61st Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett Gas Ballon Race launched tonight

France takes the gold at the Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett 2017

The 61st Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett Gas Ballon Race launched tonight

France takes the gold at the Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett 2017

The 61st Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett Gas Ballon Race launched tonight

France takes the gold at the Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett 2017

The 61st Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett Gas Ballon Race launched tonight

Air sports

Technical expertise

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