ACES Regulations 2006

 

1 - General regulations

1.1 About ACES

Air Combat Elementary Support (ACES) is an international contact-network for R/C-pilots interested in R/C Air Combat. The organization is democratic and non-profit. Elections are made through voting, by concerned members.

1.1.1 Membership

Every person that is interested in R/C Air Combat may become a member of ACES. A member may be suspended if he abuses the ACES regulations, after several warnings from the ACES administrators. To become a member of ACES, contact your national contact.


 

1.1.2 Economy

Every country within ACES covers its own expenses. This includes all administration posts as IC, NC etc.


 

1.1.3 Language

The official language in ACES is English.


 

1.1.4 Copyright

The copyright of the ACES-regulations and of the R/C Air Combat rules belong to all members of ACES.

1.2 ACES network

 

 

The ACES network is built up by several contacts. Contacts operate at different levels according to the following figure (Dotted boxes are optional).

 

1.2.1. ACES country

All countries connected with national contacts (NCs) in ACES network, are countries of ACES organization.

 

1.2.2. ACES pilot

ACES pilot must be member of ACES country. Pilot counts, as having flown at least one sortie and the result is stored in Co_Re database. She, he may participate in vote and elections and may be included in calculations for IRC member electoral power.


 

 

1.2.3. International Coordinator

The 1st International Coordinator (1st IC) should coordinate ACES across the different countries. He should keep contact between countries, distribute international rules, and arrange international voting. He should also decide in conflicts concerning interpretation of international rules and regulations. The IC appoints also new NCs in new nations within ACES.


 

 

1.2.4. National Contact

The National Contact (NC) should co-ordinate ACES in his own country. He should distribute rules to the national members, arrange national voting and see to that the national ACES works smoothly. He should also decide in conflicts concerning interpretation of national rules and regulations. The NC is responsible for the national Air Combat Cup. The NC appoints his assistant, the 2nd NC and IRC member. He also appoints the national treasurer (if any), the national newsletter-editor (if any), and the person responsible for the national supply shop (if any). He also appoints GCs in new groups.


 

1.2.5. Group Contact

If ACES within a country becomes big, the National Contact can decide to divide it into two or more Groups. The Group Contact (GC) should co-ordinate ACES in his group (if any). The GC is responsible for the national Air Combat Cup in his part of the country. The GC appoints his assistant, the 2nd GC.

1.2.6. Squadron

A group of four or more members of ACES may form a Squadron (Sqn). The Squadron has no organizational role.

 

1.2.7. International Rule Committee (IRC)

IRC is a team of representatives of ACES countries. Every NC appoints one representative (NC or another person) for IRC. IRC accepts or deny international rules and regulations change proposals. Electoral power of IRC members is relative - each IRC member can have between one to five votes. The number of votes depends on number of country’s pilots by formula: electoral power of IRC member = 1 vote + 1 additional vote for every 10 pilots, but maximum 5 votes. Electoral power of IRC members is calculated every year.

 


 

1.3 Rules, voting and elections

Air Combat rules are decided and distributed by ACES. Rules change according to voting.

1.3.1 Proposals for rule change

Every member can propose for rule change. A proposal is not considered, unless it has three named supporters that are all members of ACES. A proposal is made to the NC and to the national vote. A proposal should be written in English, and be ready to be distributed to the other countries within ACES.


 

1.3.2.1. International elections for 1st IC

The 1st IC (First International Coordinator) is elected every second year by all pilots of ACES. At the request of any ACES nation, an annual voting on the 1st IC may be performed. The NCs sends candidate-names for the post as 1st IC to the 1st IC. In the international vote the 1st IC then sends out candidate names for the post as 1st IC, to all of the NCs

 

1.3.2.2. International elections for 2nd IC

The 2nd IC (Second International Coordinator) is elected every second year by all pilots of ACES, but not in the same year than the 1st IC, to provide continuity. The NCs sends candidate-names for the post as 2nd IC to the 1st IC. In the international vote the 1st IC then sends out candidate names for the post as 2nd IC, to all of the NCs

 

1.3.2.3. International vote for rules and regulations change

Every second year an international vote is made. The IRC receives international proposals for change of rules and regulations from 1st IC. Then IRC members must decide which proposals are acceptable. They are responsible for transparency and consistency of new set of rules and regulations as a whole. The decisions are the result of discussions and elections between IRC members.  When finished, IRC sends the results of decisions to the 1st IC. In case of serious disagreements, where decisions between IRC members are not possible, 1st IC may arrange general elections between all ACES pilots.

 

1.3.2.4. National elections for 1st NC

The 1st NC (First National Contact) is elected every year by all pilots of ACES in the particular country.

 

1.3.2.5. National elections for 1st GCs

The 1st GC (First Group Contact) is elected every year by all pilots of ACES in the particular region.

 

1.3.2.6. National vote for rules and regulations change

The year before the international vote, a national vote is held. The national vote is held every second year, in years where no international vote is held. The NC sends proposals, which get majority in the national vote to the 1st IC.

 

1.3.2.7. Extra vote and elections

The IC may call for an extra vote if the IC finds it necessary due to special situations. In case an elected candidate does not fulfill his duties, the higher administrator within ACES may call for a new election to the post. The higher administrator may also appoint a new administrator to take care of the post until the election can be made.


 

1.3.3 Count of votes

Every given vote counts as one vote in the international vote. If a tie should occur, the result is judged as not in favor of the proposal.


 

1.3.4 Distribution of rules

After the annual vote, the IC writes a new English set of rules, and distributes it to the NCs. The new set of rules is not used until one year after it was written. This means a vote held in year X, has an impact on rules of year X+2. The new regulations are used the next year however, meaning it is used in year X+1 according to the example above. The NC may either translate the new rules into his national language, or keep the rules in English. He should distribute the new rules to the national members.


 

1.3.5 International and national rules

Every country has a veto on rules, in such way that they may change their national rules according to national voting for rules change. Rules may also vary across different nations due to safety-concerns. At international competitions, the international rules are used.


 

1.4 Air Combat Cup

Competitions within any region, each year, may be gathered in a cup. Competitions within the cup must have been announced to the members of ACES within the region at least one month before the competition is due.

1.4.1 Scoring in a cup

The total cup-score of a pilot is counted as the sum of the X best rounds flown by the pilot, in the contests that are part of the cup. The number X is decided on per cup-basis.


 

1.4.2 Competition

As competition counts any organized competition held according to the national or international Air Combat rules, with at least two competitors. The competition must also have been sanctioned by the National Contact.


 

1.4.3 Championships

As a national championship counts one single contest held at most once a year in a country. As an international championship counts a contest that covers several countries at most once a year in a specified area, and this contest must have contestants from at least two of the different countries.


 

1.4.4 Competition points

The total score of the competitor counts as his result from the competition.

1.5. Eurocup

Every ACES country may arrange one Eurocup contest within national cup per year. Country with more than nine (9) contests per year, may arrange one additional Eurocup contest. The total cup score of a pilot in Eurocup is counted as the sum of the six best rounds – but not more than three rounds in the same country.

1.6. WASG

One contest per year is declared as World Aircombat Scale Games. This contest is not part of any other contest system. Arranging group defines the number of rounds but it must be more than three. The winner of WASG contest is nominated as World Aircombat Champion of the year.


 

 

 

 

2 - Optional regulations


 

2.1 About optional regulations

These rules are optional, which means that any one member of ACES may or may not wish to use all or part of these regulations. Within these rules are some military insignias, such as ranks, order ribbons etc. Remember that these insignias are just a decoration, and by no means gives the bearer the right to command any other member of ACES.

2.1.1 National Supply shop

The decorations and awards mentioned here can be sold by the national ACES supply shop. Different countries may have different decorations, and may choose not to use some of the decorations.

2.2 General definitions

2.2.1 Sortie

Having flown a sortie counts as having received at least one whole (1.0) flight-time point in a competition flight.

2.2.2 Kill

A kill is defined as the result when two or more A/C collides during a fight. If all of the A/C involved in a collision crash then all pilots involved in the collision gets half a (0,5) kill. If one or more A/C involved in a collision crash, and one or more A/C are able to continue to fly, then the pilot(s) who continue to fly gets a

(1) kill. In this case, the pilot(s) that crash gets no kill. “Continue to fly“ is defined as being airborne at least the 15 seconds immediately following the collision.

2.2.3 Administrator

An administrator is a person who is either an International Coordinator, a 2nd International Coordinator, a National Contact, a 2nd National Contact, a Group Contact, a 2nd Group Contact, a treasurer, a newsletter-editor, IRC member, Co_Re administrator or responsible for the national supply shop.

2.3 Special decorations

2.3.1 Fighter wing

You may wear the fighter wing as soon as you have made a sortie during a competition.

2.3.2 Badges

Within ACES, there are different badges for the different levels within the organization. The following badges might exist: ACES, National ACES, Group and Squadron. In addition one may use national flag badges to show which country one belongs to, and in which countries one has competed. Badges can also be made to show which orders one has received, for instance an ACE-badge, etc.

2.3.3 Medals

Three medals exist, based on how many sorties the pilot has flown: Bronze Star (50 sorties), Silver Star (100 sorties) and Gold Star (200 sorties). In addition medals can be used as an award to a national champion, a cup-winner etc.

2.4 Order ribbons

The size of the order ribbons are 10x35mm. They should be placed at a maximum of four in a row, and in the order stated below.

2.4.1 Honored Air Combatant (HAC)

One member that has done extra valuable duties for ACES, are elected by all the members of ACES every year, to receive this order.

2.4.2 Best Air Combatant (BAC)

The pilot that wins the national cup, every year in each country, is awarded as “Best Air Combatant of <nation> <year>“.


 

2.4.3 Air Combat Expert (ACE)

A pilot who has gathered five or more kills is awarded as ACE.


 

2.4.4 Top Shot (TS)

The award “Top shot“ is given to any pilot who has achieved at least an average of 1.25 cuts per fight in a single contest. The average is counted across every possible number of fights, including the finals, even though the pilot may not have qualified to the finals.


 

2.4.5 Fighter Designer (FD)

To receive Fighter Designer, a member must design a fighter according to R/C Air Combat rules, and send a full-size plan of the design to the National Contact for evaluation. The fighter must also have flown at least one sortie, and the design must not be a copy of another design.


 

2.4.6 Air Combat Test pilot (ACT)

A pilot who has flown at least a sortie each with at least ten
different types of A/C, receives the award Air Combat Test pilot.
An A/C-type is defined as “Spitfire“, “FW190“, etc. Subtypes,
like “FW190A“ and ”FW190D-9“, do not count.
A pilot who has flown at least 50 sorties, receives the award Air
Combat Veteran.

 


 

 

2.4.8 ACES Administrator

An administrator that has worked for ACES for at least one whole year, receives this order.


 

2.4.9 Best Aircombat Squadron (BAS)

This award is given to the squadron in every country, that has gathered most points in sanctioned events during the year, in contests across the world. A pilot must fight for the same squadron the whole year, and a list of the squadron members must be supplied to the NC at the beginning of every season. The award is given as: Best squadron of <nation> <year>.


 

2.4.10 Aircombat International Champion (AIC)

A pilot who has won an international championship, receives this award.

2.4.11 Aircombat National Champion (ANC)

A pilot who has won a national championship, receives this award.

2.4.12 Aircombat Competition Champion (ACC)

 

A pilot who has won an aircombat competition, receives this award.

2.4.13 Aircombat International championship (AI)

Is given to a member who has competed in an aircombat international championship.

2.4.14 Aircombat National championship (AW)

Is given to a member who has competed in an aircombat national championship.

2.4.15 Aircombat Competition (AC)

Is given to a member who has competed in an aircombat competition.

2.4.16 Nations

Are given to a member according to which countries he has competed in.

2.5 Ranks

A member of ACES receives ranks according to the following rules.

2.5.1 Rank regulations

A new member of ACES has no rank (Pt.=Private). After having competed in a competition or after becoming an administrator, the member receives the rank of Corporal (Cpl.). After that, the member is promoted as soon as he has flown 25 sorties. After another 25 sorties, he is promoted again. From there on, he is promoted for every 50 sorties he flies. An administrator is in addition promoted for every whole year he has worked as an administrator.

2.5.2 Rank patches

The rank patches should look like the following figures. Note: In the “# Star General“, the # can be replaced by any number of stars from 1 and upwards. A “1 Star General“ is of course the lowest (but above an ordinary General).

2.6 Placement of decorations

The following recommendations apply on where to put the different decorations.

2.6.1 The fighterwing

The fighterwing should be placed at the left side of your flight-suit. The fighterwing may also be placed at the front of your cap.

2.6.2 The order-ribbons

The order ribbons should be placed at the left side of your flight-suit, beneath the fighterwing (if any).

2.6.3 Rank Patches

Rank patches should be placed on the shoulders of your flight-suit. They may also be placed at the front of your cap.

 

2.6.4 Medals

Medals should be placed at the right side of your flight-suit.

2.6.5 Badges

Badges may be placed anywhere at your flight-suit or at your cap. The normal placement though, is at the arms of your flight -suit, with the highest-level badges at the highest.