General: Home
Updated 16 Jun 2004

Welcome to Richard Meredith-Hardy's GNSS Flight recorder site.

The purpose of this site is to publish information regarding GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) flight recorders suitable for Microlight championships and records.

At present there are still no 'CIMA approved' flight recorders but via a special dinspensation by the international Jury, FR's were used as "primary" evidence for the first time at WMC 2003 in the PPG, PL1 & PL2 classes. The recorders were all MLR SP 24XC flight recorders very generously loaned to the organizers by the French federation; FFPlUM. It was a great success; see the reliability analysis.

The MLR SP24XC is nearly approved (April 2004) to the CIMA standard for the use of GNSS Flight Recorders (FR's) in Microlight Championships and Records; Annex 6 to Section 10. It will hopefully be fully approved before the European Championships in Portugal, but even if it isn't then it is almost certain they will be used by special dispensation by all classes in the Championship. For more details and the flight recorder software see CIMA approved manufacturers.
 
FAI Section 10, Annex 6

• Describes the different kinds of GPS receiver/recorders which can be used to provide valid flight evidence in Microlight championships and records.
• Describes the terms of reference for a CIMA sub-committee; the Flight Recorder Approval Committee (FRAC) and describes the sort of work it should do.
• Describes the hardware and software requirements for CIMA approved Flight recorders (FR's) which may be used in some records and are the only ones which may be used in championships.

FRAC is now actively engaged in the approval of flight recorders. If you are a manufacturer and would like to have your Flight Recorder approved to the CIMA standard, please get in touch with any member of FRAC:

• Richard Meredith-Hardy (GBR, Chairman) Contact
• Joel Amiable (FRA) joel_amiable@yahoo.fr
• Jose-Luis Esteban (ESP) jotaele@ipsa.es
• David Hempy (USA) hempy@ket.org

Articles will be posted from time to time on this site concerning FR's and their use in Microlights. Comment is invited.