Current areas of ICT Committee Focus
The key topics under review include the following -

• Flight Recording Systems. Several systems are known to be available to pilots where the fitting of an electronic recording box to the aircraft enables a detailed recording to be made of the flight path, attitude and velocity throughout an aerobatic performance. Software is available from these resources that enable the user to transfer the flight file into a computer and review every element in detail. Systems currently include:
  • ACROWRX - USA. A purpose-built aerobatic tracking platform that blends high-accuracy GPS/IMU data acquisition and pilot-friendly analytics into a single, dependable system, giving competitors, judges, and teams instant, trustworthy insight into every maneuver. Its multi-camera playback makes debriefs intuitive, while advanced flight-parameter overlays (attitude, G-load, heading, and precise figure timing) and automated sequence scoring dramatically improve debriefing quality.
  • GyroFX - GBR. Whether you are a pilot who flies aerobatics for fun or a serious competitor, GyroFX will help to improve your flying. Simply load the data from a small, low-cost Flight Recorder into GyroFX and it will display your flight in a 3D viewer. A flight can be viewed in slow motion from any angle and the powerful angle and wind drift analysis tools allow quick and easy analysis of manoeuvres.  Aresti classification can be applied to the figures in a sequence and a comprehensive scoring system allows flights to be scored.
  • Flight Recording System (FRS) - ITA. We design and manufacture both hardware and software dedicated flight data recorders specifically for aerobatic aircraft and training operations. Our focus is not only on recording flights, but on turning flight data into a practical tool for pilot improvement, judging support, safety monitoring, and post-flight technical analysis.
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• Flight Simulators: The availability of practical and affordable aerobatic flight simulators is growing, providing users with a immersive view of a virtual flight and the aircraft location throughout over a realistic presentation of the chosen local area. While currently at an early stage of development and relatively expensive, the potential use of such systems for "practice" at aerobatic competitions clearly raises uncomfortable questions regarding their acceptability as this is currently a forbidden area.
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• Video Recordings of competition Flights: While it has long been standard practice at CIVA aerobatic championships to make video recordings throughout each performance, these have been primarily to enable review of factual elements at post-flight Chief Judge briefings for Hard Zero evaluations. More recently the growth of online streaming and its value in media terms has become increasingly relevant, and CIVA regulations have adapted to accommodate this option. The clarity and stability of such recordings however has often been inadequate, the relatively tight zoom and steady picture framing necessary providing major technical challenges to video equipment operators. The committee will where possible provide practical advice to CIVA and event organisers to achieve valid improvements.
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• Maintenance of key software: Around the world, aerobatic sequence design depends heavily upon the OpenAero software introduced by Ringo Massa (NED) some years ago, and most competition scorers outside the US / IAC group use the data management and results creation system known as ACRO (Aerobatic Contest Results Organiser) from Nick Buckenham (GBR). At IAC events the JaSPer (Java Scoring Program) software written by Bob Buckley (USA) predominates, though it is rarely employed elsewhere. Arrangements are established to ensure that continued access to the underlying code of OpenAero and ACRO is ensured for CIVA and thus all other users.
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• Judge Data Recording and Process Management: Since the very beginning of aerobatic competitions the grades or marks awarded to every element of flight performances have almost always been recorded on paper sheets, then used via simple hand-calculations to create each pilot's overall score or more often transferred by hand into a computer for automated handling. Historically the pen-and-paper process has been the natural solution for this requirement, leading however to repetitive and time-consuming data handling - an obvious drawback. The ease with which numeric and textual data can now be swiftly recorded using electronic hardware and rapidly transmitted for final assessment is well established, though operation of suitably programmed tablets in the fast-moving high-pressure aerobatic sequence judging environment requires very careful consideration. Several such systems have been operated over the years with varying degrees of success. The ICTC is tasked with monitoring all such possibilities, to report potential solutions where appropriate.
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• Information Websites, Social Media streams and Software: The following online resources are operated by the commission -
  • CIVA News: Provides a comprehensive and regularly updated central repository of regulations, documents and many other aspects of FAI aerobatic championships, together with information regarding current CIVA Officers and their roles.
  • CIVA Results: Here we provide access to fully detailed official / final results from all CIVA aerobatic championships since 2008, when the ACRO contest data management and scoring programme was approved by CIVA. This website also provides yearly updates of the Judge Performance Records used by the CIVA Judging Committee during their annual selection of judging panels for championships.
  • Facebook - CIVA News: An open resource that enables aerobatic enthusiasts to post photographs, comments and updates on every aspect of preparation and training for and proceedings at championships.
  • Instagram - CIVA News: Another open resource providing a comprehensive array of photographic and video aerobatic material, uploaded by pilots, teams and other individuals drawn from worldwide events and locations.
  • OpenAero Aerobatic Sequence Design software: OpenAero is aerobatic sequence design software that runs inside your web browser. This makes it available on practically any computer, tablet and even smartphone. The latest version of the software is always presented when you are online, and will be installed automatically.
  • ACRO Contest Management and Results software: An extremely comprehensive computer programme that provides swift and simple management of event organisation and competitors performance data for aerobatic competition scorers. The software is free to download and works in any Windows computer, or in Mac/Apple devices when appropriate translating code (Parallels, Crossover etc.) has been installed. Updates are automatically offered when available after the initial installation.