Warm Up Figures and Breaks

In Power sequences, before you fly into the box and do your Wing-Wags to indicate to the judges that you're about to commence your sequence, you are allowed to fly some "Warm-Up" figures. In fact it is very wise to pay careful attention to these as they are your final chance to check that your seat-belts are tight, the controls are working correctly, there are no loose objects in the cockpit, and also to get yourself mentally prepared to start flying the sequence.

At every Level from Club to Unlimited you are allowed to fly two Half-Rolls:

In Intermediate, Advanced and Unlimited Levels a wider range of options are available:

First - any number of the same two Half-Rolls:

 And also from 2022 onwards:

1. Stick Pull-Push
   Any number of stick pull-push movements are allowed, in erect or inverted flight, to momentarily stretch the seat-belts and enable you to ratchet them tighter -
   
   
   
   
2. Turns
   Any number of 90° to 360° Turns without rotations are allowed in erect or inverted flight -
   
   
   
   These are -
   a) Erect: Aresti 2.1.1.1, 2.2.1.1, 2.3.1.1 and 2.4.1.1
   b) Inverted: Aresti 2.1.1.2, 2.2.1.2, 2.3.1.2 and 2.4.1.2
   
   
3. Additional figures
   Up to three of the following fourteen figures are also allowed but may not be repeated -
   
   
   
   These are -
   a) Stall Turns: Aresti 5.2.1.1 - 1 to 4, without rotations, i.e. commencing upwards from an erect or inverted start, finishing erect or inverted
   b) Humpty Bumps: Aresti 8.4 rows 1 to 4, columns 1 and 2 without rotations, i.e. commencing upwards from an erect or inverted start, finishing erect or inverted
   c) Horizontal Eights: Aresti 7.8.4.1 and 7.8.1.1
   
   
4. And in Free Known or Programme-1 sequences
   In BAeA competitions you are also allowed to fly up to the first three figures (the allowance is five figures at CIVA internationals) from your sequence. These must be flown in the box in the correct order, i.e. just figure-1, figures 1 and 2, or figures 1, 2 and 3. Any other arrangement or order of these figures carries a penalty. Make sure that you fly them correctly too, as incorrectly flown figures can also get the Chief Judge reaching for the penalty form.
    

Time Limits and Breaks for Power Pilots

a) At Club and Sports levels:

There is no Time Limit for any sequence.

If necessary for any reason you are strongly encouraged to take a Break (three wing-rocks, get sorted out, three wing-rocks please) in your sequence to reposition the aeroplane and/or return to a safe height. No penalty will be applied, take as long as you need and always pay attention to safety.

b) For all Intermediate, Advanced and Unlimited programmes:

These programmes will not be timed except as required by CIVA Regulations for these levels.

When CIVA Regulations are being used the time you are allowed from take-off to complete your sequence is 12 minutes. If you are still flying the figures when this time limit is reached, the judges will stop marking your flight. All your Warm Up figures and your sequence must therefore be completed within this time.

If a Free Break is authorised by the CD or the CJ then you can take the Break between any two figures (three wing-rocks, get sorted out, three wing-rocks) to reposition the aeroplane and/or return to a safe height. The timing clock will be stopped from the final wing rock before and then after the Break, and there is no time limit on the Break itself.

If however a Break is taken to resolve the effects of an error it is not a Free Break, the clock will continue to run and, for the competitor, time may become very short ...

Breaks and Glider Pilots

In glider aerobatics there are NO interruptions or breaks with wing rocking before and after. Wing rocking indicates the conclusion of the programme. If a pilot is compelled to change their direction after a mistake or after an abandoned figure in order to resume the predetermined direction and has already received a Hard Zero mark for that figure, no penalty points for an insertion will be subtracted. This correction of direction or orientation must not be more than a heading change of 180 degrees or an attitude change of more than one half roll or half loop.