The 43^rd Annual Air Race Classic - Fly from Jackson TN (US) to Welland ON (CA)!

Planning for the Air Race Classic is fun and exciting, and the 2019 race will take you south nearly to the Gulf of Mexico and north to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan before crossing the border to fly across the province of Ontario in Canada. The race route changes each year, and this year we depart from Jackson, TN. Racers have four days – daytime VFR only – to complete timing flybys/stops at each En Route Stop before landing at the Terminus in Welland, ON. This is your opportunity to fly internationally!

The Air Race Classic is the epicenter of women’s air racing. Race teams consist of 2-3 women pilots who have ranged in age from 17 to 90 years old in past races. These women come from all walks of life. Join us to meet these racers in 2019 – race, volunteer, come out to cheer them on across the route!

General Info - Racers and Airplanes

The basic racer qualifications to act as pilot or copilot of a team are private or higher airman's certificate with a rating for the class airplane to be flown. Each must have a minimum 100 hours PIC (Pilot In Command) logged by race start, a current medical certificate, proof of required flight review or added rating. The pilot or copilot must have a minimum of 500 hours PIC or a current instrument rating. A third crewmember may join the team, and she must be at least a student pilot and have logged at least five hours of flight time.

Competition Class airplanes must be certificated with normally aspirated engines (100-600 hp) rated for continuous operation at full power. Airplanes that don’t meet these requirements may be flown in the Non-Competition Class.

Visit the ARC web site for details on "How To Register" and to read the 2019 ARC Rules & Procedures..

Interested in Reserving a Race Number?

Do you have a favorite number? Would you like to reserve a number for the 2019 race? For the next FIVE years? Requests are considered on a first-come, first-serve basis. Visit the ARC web site to learn more about how to Purchase a Race Number. Reservations for the 2019 ARC numbers will open on 11/23/2019 at 12:01 am Eastern time.

Important Planning Dates

• Jan 2 (noon, EST) – Racer Registration opens
• Mar 31 (11:59 pm, EST) – Racer Registration closes
• Apr 15 (check date, add time) – Airplane registration closes
• Jun 15 (noon, CDT) – Racer arrival at the Start
• Jun 18 (8:00 am CDT) to 21 (5:00 pm EDT) – race dates

Entries are limited to 60 Teams. Step-by-step guides through the qualification and registration processes are available on the Air Race Classic website.

Flying Canada

The AOPA website is a great source of  information on what you need to know when flying to Canada and then returning to the US. AOPA published a PDF Guide and a YouTube video outlining the requirements. Transport Canada is the FAA-equivalent Canadian organization that you will want to become more familiar with as you prepare for flying in Canada. Transport Canada offers a web page on “Flying to Canada: What Pilots Should Know.” For now, review this information to begin to learn about the process. The Air Race Classic will be publishing checklists and tips for navigating this process over the next several weeks. Stay tuned.

Getting Started

• Passports – If you don’t have a passport, get one soon. If you have one, be sure that it is good for 6 months AFTER the race. If it expires before December 15, 2019, renew it. This may take several weeks to complete, so start early. You will obtain or renew a passport through the U.S. Postal Service.
• Credit cards – Mastercard and Visa are the most widely used credit cards in Canada; Discover, AMEX, and debit cards are much more limited, if used at all. Be sure to check your cards to determine if you will be charged “foreign transaction fees.” You may want to consider getting another credit card that does not charge these fees.
• Cell phones/internet - Using your phone in Canada for calls, texts, or data may lead to data roaming fees that can add up in a hurry. Some providers have special plans for short international trips. Contact your provider, ask about international rates, and don’t forget to learn how to activate international roaming on your phone.

Stay tuned for more tips on the 2019 ARC and FLYING CANADA in future eFlyby issues…