Background:
For the 2023 WAAC in Las Vegas selection criteria for an advanced qualified Team Canada was voted on by the membership at a general meeting. At the time there were more people wanting to be on the team than there were spots available. The general feeling amongst the membership was also that to be on the team, a competitor needed to have proven that they had a level of competency in the sport commensurate with the world standard for advanced aerobatic competition. Several different processes were submitted to be considered and voted on by the members. This process involved team members paying for judges to fly across Canada and to pay for their expenses while at the two contests. Competitors also were required to be at one of the two contests sometimes at great expense.
After surveying the chapters, the Board of Directors of Aerobatics Canada has determined that currently there are not eight qualified individuals interested in being on an unlimited team to compete at the WAC in Batavia, New York in 2026. (CIVA allows 10 on a team, but the host may limit a team to 8 due to time and resources for the competition)
With just 4 competitors certain that they want to participate with another 3 saying maybe; 2 Canadian citizens resident in the US interested in participating on the Canadian team; and no one willing to step forward at this time to organize a costly and possibly unnecessary selection process, the Board of Directors is recommending the following process for choosing the unlimited team for 2026.
Requirements:
- Must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident
- Must be an Aerobatics Canada member in good standing
- Must be the holder of a valid FAI sporting licence
- Must meet the standard of performance outlined below
- Must be a resident of Canada except if after the 2025 contest season is finished and there are still vacant positions on the team, then considerations will be given by the Board of Directors to the most qualified Canadian citizens with foreign residency who meet the standard of performance.
Standard of Performance:
The minimum level of competence required by any pilot to be considered for selection to the Canadian Aerobatic Unlimited Team 2026 shall be the demonstrated ability to perform successfully and safely under competition conditions the following programs:
- Unlimited IAC known or CIVA free known for 2025 (at any contest)
- Unlimited IAC unknown or CIVA free unknown for 2025 (at any contest)
- Be an active competitor in the unlimited category in at least one of the 3 years leading up to the WAC.
Successful performance of a program shall be deemed to mean:
- Completion of the full unlimited contest program in accordance with IAC, CIVA or Aerobatics Canada rules in the 3 years leading up to WAC.
- No violations of the deadline or low-low assessments
- No figure flown in an unsafe or dangerous manner
- The overall score of the combined programs must be at least 60%
