INTERNATIONAL AERIAL COMBAT SPORT FEDERATION

EVENT SAFETY, INSURANCE AND VENUE STANDARDS

IACSF-STD-002 | Version 1.0 | Effective Season 2026

Document No.	IACSF-STD-002	Effective Date	January 1, 2026
Approved By	IACSF Board of Directors	Review Cycle	Annual
Administered By	Safety and Compliance Committee, IACSF

This document establishes the minimum standards for event safety, insurance coverage, and venue qualification applicable to all events seeking or holding IACSF sanctioning. Compliance is mandatory. Organizers may exceed these standards but may not waive or reduce them. The IACSF Safety and Compliance Committee shall maintain and periodically update this document.

REQUIREMENT. These standards apply to all sanctioned event tiers including Championships, League Rounds, Invitationals, Qualifying Events, and Exhibitions. Standards are cumulative: Championship-level events must meet all additional requirements designated for that tier.

PART I — SAFETY STANDARDS

1.1 Purpose and Scope

The safety of pilots, crew, officials, spectators, and the general public is the highest priority of the IACSF. These standards establish the minimum safety framework for all IACSF-sanctioned events. The IACSF Safety Manual provides detailed implementation procedures and should be read in conjunction with this document.

1.2 Event Safety Officer

1.2.1 Appointment and Qualifications

Every sanctioned event must designate a qualified Event Safety Officer (ESO) prior to receiving event sanctioning. The ESO must:

• Hold a current IACSF Safety Officer certification or a recognized equivalent (e.g., FAA Aviation Safety Inspector credentials, ASTM F38 UAS safety certification, or equivalent as determined by the Safety and Compliance Committee);

• Have no concurrent role as a competitor, team official, or judge at the same event;

• Be physically present on-site for the entirety of the event, including practice and inspection days;

• Have completed IACSF Safety Briefing for the current season within the preceding twelve (12) months.

1.2.2 Authority of the ESO

The ESO has full authority to:

• Order an immediate halt to any competitive activity upon identification of an imminent safety hazard;

• Remove any aircraft, pilot, crew member, or official from the event for safety non-compliance;

• Impose operational restrictions (altitude, flight corridor, timing intervals) beyond those specified in the competition program;

• Require re-inspection of any aircraft at any time during the event.

NOTE. Decisions of the ESO on safety matters are final and not subject to competitive protest. Administrative decisions of the ESO may be reviewed by the Event Director in consultation with the IACSF Commissioner.

1.3 Pre-Event Safety Requirements

1.3.1 Event Safety Plan

The Organizing Entity must submit a written Event Safety Plan to the IACSF Commissioner no later than forty-five (45) days before the event. The plan must include:

• Venue layout diagram with designated flight zones, spectator zones, exclusion zones, and emergency access routes;

• Aircraft technical inspection schedule and procedures, referencing IACSF Technical Code requirements;

• Pilot/operator pre-flight briefing agenda;

• Crowd and spectator management procedures, including barrier placement specifications;

• Emergency response plan (see Section 1.4);

• Adverse weather protocols and cancellation criteria;

• Communications plan (radio frequencies, chain of command, contact list).

1.3.2 Safety Briefing

A mandatory safety briefing must be held for all participants (pilots, crew chiefs, team officials) before the first competitive flight of each event day. Attendance must be documented. The briefing must cover: flight corridor limits, emergency procedures, prohibited maneuvers, course rules, and any venue-specific hazards.

1.3.3 Technical Inspection

All aircraft competing in a sanctioned event must pass a pre-event technical inspection conducted by a certified IACSF Technical Inspector. Inspection criteria are established in the IACSF Technical Code. Aircraft that fail inspection may not compete until deficiencies are corrected and a re-inspection is passed.

1.4 Emergency Response Requirements

1.4.1 Medical Personnel

Full-Scale Piloted Events	Minimum one (1) licensed Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Paramedic on-site for the duration of flight operations; trauma kit with AED required at flight line.
UAS / Drone Events	Minimum one (1) trained First Responder (CPR/AED/First Aid certified) on-site; full emergency medical response plan filed with local EMS.
Championship-Level (All Types)	Minimum one (1) Paramedic and one (1) EMT on-site; coordinated response plan with nearest Level I or II Trauma Center; standby ambulance at venue.

1.4.2 Emergency Communication

The ESO must maintain continuous radio communication with the Event Director and all tower/flagging personnel during flight operations. Emergency frequencies must be posted at all marshal stations. At minimum, two independent communication systems (e.g., radio + cellular backup) must be operational throughout the event.

1.4.3 Incident Reporting

Any safety incident, accident, or near-miss at a sanctioned event must be reported to the IACSF Commissioner within twenty-four (24) hours of occurrence using the IACSF Incident Report Form. A full written investigation report must be submitted within fourteen (14) days. Failure to report constitutes grounds for sanction revocation.

1.5 Spectator Safety

Organizers are solely responsible for spectator safety within the event venue. The following standards are mandatory:

• A permanent physical barrier (minimum 4-foot height, continuous) must separate spectators from the designated flight zone and any hot pit areas;

• A minimum standoff distance of 500 feet (full-scale events) or 200 feet (UAS events) must be maintained between the nearest spectator position and the nearest point of the primary flight corridor;

• No spectator access to pits or flight line is permitted during active flight operations without IACSF-credentialed wristband;

• Loudspeaker announcements must inform spectators of safety procedures at the opening of each competition day;

• Evacuation routes must be clearly marked and unobstructed throughout the event.

REQUIREMENT. For events with expected attendance over 5,000 persons, the Organizing Entity must coordinate with local law enforcement and emergency services and provide written documentation of that coordination to the IACSF.

1.6 Pilot and Crew Safety

• All pilots of full-scale aircraft must hold current FAA Airman Certificates appropriate to the aircraft category and class, or equivalent national authority certification;

• All UAS operators must hold FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate or national equivalent;

• Pilots of full-scale aircraft must wear fire-resistant flight suits, helmets meeting applicable aviation standards, and appropriate restraint systems;

• Pit lane and flight line personnel must wear high-visibility vests and hearing protection during active flight operations;

• No person under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances may participate in any official capacity during flight operations.

PART II — INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS

2.1 General Requirements

All IACSF-sanctioned events must be covered by valid commercial general liability insurance meeting the minimum requirements set forth in this Part. Proof of insurance in the form of a current Certificate of Insurance (COI) must be submitted with the Sanctioning Application and must be on file with the IACSF Commissioner before any event promotion or registration may begin.

REQUIREMENT. The IACSF must be named as an Additional Insured on all policies meeting these requirements. COIs must show the IACSF by full legal name: "International Aerial Combat Sport Federation."

2.2 Minimum Coverage Requirements

UAS / Drone Events (All Tiers)	$1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate Coverage must include: premises liability, operations liability, products/completed operations, and personal/advertising injury.
Full-Scale Piloted Events (Non-Championship)	$5,000,000 per occurrence / $10,000,000 aggregate Must include aviation liability endorsement covering all aircraft types and categories in competition.
Full-Scale Piloted Championship Events	$10,000,000 per occurrence / $20,000,000 aggregate Must include aviation liability, spectator liability, and excess/umbrella layer as needed to meet per-occurrence limit.
Participant Accident Coverage	Minimum $100,000 accidental death & dismemberment per participant; $50,000 medical expense per participant per incident. All competing pilots and registered crew must be covered.
Property Damage	Minimum coverage equal to replacement value of venue and infrastructure used. Organizer is responsible for any deductible.

2.3 Policy Requirements

• Policies must be issued by a carrier licensed to do business in the jurisdiction of the event and rated A- VII or better by AM Best;

• Coverage must be effective from the first setup/practice day through completion of final post-event operations;

• The policy must not exclude aerial combat sport competition, racing, or related activities;

• Any policy exclusions must be disclosed to the IACSF Commissioner at the time of application;

• The IACSF reserves the right to reject any policy with exclusions it deems material to event operations.

2.4 Cancellation and Changes

The Organizing Entity must notify the IACSF immediately and in no case later than five (5) business days upon any cancellation, material change, or lapse of insurance coverage. Sanctioning shall be automatically suspended upon lapse of coverage and will not be reinstated until compliant coverage is restored and verified.

2.5 Participant Waivers

All competing pilots, crew members, and registered event volunteers must execute the IACSF Participant Agreement prior to participation. The Participant Agreement constitutes an informed assumption of risk and release of liability as permitted by applicable law. Organizers must retain signed Participant Agreements for a minimum of seven (7) years and produce them upon IACSF request.

NOTE. The Participant Agreement does not substitute for the insurance requirements in Section 2.2. Both are independently required.

PART III — VENUE STANDARDS

3.1 Venue Qualification

A venue must meet all applicable standards in this Part prior to use in a sanctioned event. The IACSF Safety and Compliance Committee may conduct a venue inspection prior to granting sanctioning. Repeat-use venues approved in prior seasons must be re-confirmed annually. The IACSF may maintain a registry of pre-approved venues.

3.2 Airspace and Regulatory Requirements

FAA Airspace Authorization	Valid FAA Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA), Letter of Authorization (LOA), or LAANC authorization must be obtained for all flight operations. Copy must be on file with IACSF before event promotion begins.
Airspace Classification	Events may be conducted in Class B, C, D, E, or G airspace subject to applicable FAA authorization. NOTAM must be filed for all sanctioned events.
Temporary Flight Restriction	For Championship-level and major events, Organizers should coordinate TFR issuance with the FAA at least 60 days prior.
UAS-Specific Requirements	All UAS operations must comply with 14 CFR Part 107 or applicable exemption. Remote ID compliance required for all competing UAS.
International Events	Events outside the United States must comply with the airspace authority regulations of the host country. IACSF Commissioner must review and approve regulatory compliance plan.

3.3 Physical Venue Requirements

3.3.1 Full-Scale Piloted Venues

• Hard-surface runway of minimum 3,000 feet in length and 75 feet in width, or grass strip of 4,000 feet meeting FAA Advisory Circular 150/5370 surface conditions;

• Clearly defined course boundaries visible from cockpit altitudes at course speeds;

• Designated Hot Pit area with fuel containment, fire suppression equipment, and minimum 50-foot separation from spectator areas;

• ARFF (Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting) equipment or coordination with local airport ARFF services for event duration;

• Obstruction-free overrun areas at runway ends of minimum 500 feet;

• Adequate taxiways for aircraft staging and separation from spectator areas.

3.3.2 UAS / Drone Venues

• Defined course boundary perimeter clearly marked with physical fencing or flagging;

• Minimum 200-foot standoff from course boundary to spectator areas;

• Designated pilot/operator station area behind spectator barrier;

• RF (radio frequency) coordination plan to minimize signal interference between teams;

• If indoors: venue must meet structural load and clearance requirements for intended aircraft; fire suppression system must be operational.

3.3.3 Alternative Methods of Compliance

Recognizing that aerial combat sport is an emerging discipline and that venue configurations vary widely, an Organizing Entity may propose an Alternative Method of Compliance (AMOC) in lieu of one or more specific requirements in Sections 3.3.1 or 3.3.2, provided the alternative achieves an equivalent or greater level of safety.

Submission Requirements

An AMOC request must be submitted in writing to the IACSF Safety and Compliance Committee at least sixty (60) days before the Sanctioning Application deadline. The request must include:

• The specific standard(s) from which relief is sought, identified by section number;

• A detailed description of the proposed alternative method, including any supporting technical data, engineering analysis, or precedent from comparable aviation or motorsport events;

• A risk analysis demonstrating that the proposed method provides safety outcomes equivalent to, or better than, the stated standard;

• Any conditions or limitations that would apply to the alternative method; and

• Contact information for the qualified professional or subject-matter expert who prepared or reviewed the proposal.

Review and Approval

The Safety and Compliance Committee shall review each AMOC request and issue a written determination within thirty (30) days. The Committee may: approve the AMOC as submitted; approve with additional conditions; request supplemental information (which tolls the review period); or deny the request with written explanation. An approved AMOC applies solely to the event and venue for which it was requested and must be re-submitted for each subsequent season unless designated as a standing approval by the Committee.

WARNING. AMOC approval does not override FAA regulatory requirements, local authority requirements, or insurance policy conditions. Organizers remain solely responsible for ensuring all applicable regulatory obligations are met independently of the AMOC process.

3.4 Infrastructure Requirements

Emergency Vehicle Access	Paved or all-weather surface emergency vehicle access must be maintained to the flight line and all spectator areas throughout the event. No unauthorized vehicles may block access routes.
Utilities	Reliable electrical power supply for timing, communications, and medical equipment. Backup generator required for Championship events.
Restroom Facilities	Code-compliant restroom facilities must be available for participants, officials, and spectators. ADA-accessible facilities required.
Communications Infrastructure	Landline or cellular coverage adequate for emergency 911 access throughout venue. If cellular coverage is insufficient, organizer must provide alternative (e.g., satellite phone, two-way radio linked to local dispatch).
Lighting (Evening Events)	Runway/course lighting meeting applicable FAA standards or equivalent if evening or low-visibility operations are planned.
Fueling	Approved fuel storage with containment, grounding, and fire extinguisher within 30 feet. Hot fueling prohibited without ESO authorization.

3.5 Environmental and Community Requirements

• Organizers must obtain all required environmental permits, noise variances, and local government approvals before event promotion begins;

• Events must comply with all applicable local noise ordinances; curfew times must be communicated to all participants in advance;

• Aircraft engine run-up operations should be limited to designated hours and areas where practical;

• Organizers are responsible for proper disposal of all fuel, oil, and chemical waste generated during the event;

• Post-event site restoration to pre-event condition is the responsibility of the Organizing Entity.

3.6 Venue Disqualification

The IACSF Commissioner may disqualify a venue and revoke sanctioning for any event to be held at that venue if:

• Required airspace authorizations are not obtained or expire prior to the event;

• Physical venue conditions are found to be materially inconsistent with the approved safety plan;

• The venue operator withdraws consent or authorization for event use;

• A prior event at the venue resulted in serious injury, property damage, or regulatory action that has not been satisfactorily resolved;

• Local government or authority prohibits the event on public safety grounds.

PART IV — COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT

4.1 IACSF Right of Inspection

The IACSF Commissioner or designated Safety and Compliance Committee representative may inspect any sanctioned event at any time without prior notice. Organizers and participants must cooperate with inspections. Obstruction of an IACSF inspection constitutes grounds for immediate sanction suspension.

4.2 Non-Compliance Consequences

Minor Non-Compliance (Correctable on-site)	Warning issued; deficiency must be corrected before flight operations resume. Noted in post-event compliance report.
Significant Non-Compliance (Safety risk present)	Flight operations halted until deficiency is corrected and verified by ESO. Event may be delayed or shortened.
Material Non-Compliance (Imminent hazard or insurance lapse)	Sanctioning immediately revoked; event must cease. Organizer bears all costs and participant consequences.
Repeated Non-Compliance	Organizer may be banned from applying for sanctioning for up to three (3) years. Referral to Judicial and Disciplinary Committee.

4.3 Post-Event Reporting

Within thirty (30) days of the conclusion of each sanctioned event, the Organizing Entity must submit to the IACSF Commissioner a Post-Event Safety Report including: summary of safety briefings conducted, technical inspection results, any incidents or near-misses, spectator attendance records, and any deviations from the approved safety plan with explanation.

4.4 Annual Standards Review

These standards shall be reviewed by the Safety and Compliance Committee no less than annually, prior to the start of each competitive season. Proposed amendments shall be submitted to the Board for approval. Approved amendments take effect at the start of the following competitive season unless the Board designates an earlier effective date in response to an urgent safety matter.

END OF DOCUMENT — IACSF-STD-002

Questions regarding these standards should be directed to the IACSF Safety and Compliance Committee via the Commissioner’s office.