Aerobatic contests are held by the British Aerobatic Association at the following levels -

POWER classes: Known or "Q" Free or Prog.1 Unknown Prog's 2&3 4m Freestyle Prog. 4 BAeA Apprentices BAeA Masters       Beginners       Standard       Intermediate       Advanced       Unlimited     GLIDER classes:                   Beginners             Sports             Intermediate             Advanced             Unlimited

Up to Intermediate level the formats generally follow those set by the international aerobatics governing and rule-setting body CIVA (the Commission Internationale du Voltige Ariénne), whilst for the Advanced power and Unlimited power and glider classes we follow CIVA guidelines as closely as possible to mimic the standards set at world class events. Figures flown are created from the relevant FAI Aresti rule book, to ensure adherence to the international CIVA standard for figure and sequence construction. The Apprentices and Masters classes are however a BAeA format having Aresti-like figures but with more of a free-style flavour, established to introduce power pilots to the quite different requirements of 4-minute 'Freestyle' flying.

The Judging process
Judging an aerobatic sequence involves assessing the flight path and attitude of the competing aircraft as it flies each figure, comparing what you see with the 'ideal' requirements of the rules to identify discrepancies or errors, applying the appropriate downgrades, and then giving each figure a final 'points score' from zero to ten in half-point steps. The process is essentially an error-spotting routine, the final judgement for each figure being based on 'badness' detected rather than goodness observed. An overall judgement is made of figure positioning during the sequence, and of 'harmony' as well in glider classes.

Penalties may also be applied for other major rule infringements, and if any part of a figure gets more than 90° away from the intended attitude or is simply judged to be entirely wrong it is awarded a 'Hard Zero'. The Chief Judge has the final say, after consultation with the other Judges, as to whether a figure should get a 'Confirmed Hard Zero' or not, and this will apply to all Judges grades.