Helicopters

The FAI Rotorcraft Commission (CIG) is the International Air Sport Commission responsible, within FAI, for developing the Helicopter air sport events available for inclusion in the Event Program of the World Air Games, for preparing Competition Rules and selecting the Athletes invited to the World Air Games.

This section provides information and references on the Helicopter disciplines included in the Event Program of the World Air Games 2009.

The structure and content of this section will be regularly updated to reflect preparation work completed by the LOC and the Commission.

• CIG Information Bulletins
• Precisions Events
• Freestyle

CIG INFORMATION BULLETINS

Open

PRECISION EVENTS

In helicopter events, the crews, consisting of a pilot and a crewman, demonstrate their ability to coordinate their work to achieve accurate flying tasks, generally against the clock. Events included in the sports programme of the 2009 Games will be "Parallel Slalom" and "Parallel Fender".

In the challenging “Parallel Slalom” event, the crews pick up a bucket of water using a hand-held rope dangling from the helicopter. The pilot manoeuvres the bucket through a series of gates, requiring the helicopter to move forwards, backwards and sideways. The bucket is placed on a small target at the end of the course. Losing water and exceeding the allocated time result in heavy penalties.

Each "Precision" event takes place in a "box" in front of the public, thus giving spectators a clear view of the progress of each crew and task

FREESTYLE

While the "Precision" events require excellent crew cooperation to fly highly accurate tasks, the Freestyle event is flown by individual competitors. As in the "Search & Rescue" missions some of them fly in their professional life, pilots have to demonstrate their ability to fly their machines through their full flight envelope. The use of smoke and music forms an important part of the presentation, which is very attractive for the public and may be described as "helicopter aerobatics".