Phillip Gragg Appointed Vice President of IAC
On Thursday, June 5th, 2025 the Board of Directors appointed Phillip Gragg as the Vice President of the IAC. The seat was left vacant when the previous Vice President, Rob Holland, passed away in April 2025.
2026 IAC Rules Change Proposals Due July 1, 2025
The deadline for IAC rules change proposals is July 1, as noted in Section 1 of the IAC Contest Rules. To submit a rules change proposal, start by going to the form submission option on the website. (A member login is required.) Next, fill out the form, and when it is complete, click "Submit".
If there are issues with submission of the website form but the form and answers are saved, they can instead be submitted over email to ruleschair@iac.org.
2025 IAC Board Election: Voting OPEN now – July 20
On May 15, 2025 the online member ballot opened for the 2025 IAC board of directors election. Members may access the ballot here (login required). Candidates up for election along with their bios and photos can be viewed here.
Aerobatic Community Mourns Rob Holland, Beloved Airshow Pilot
It is with shock and very heavy hearts that the IAC expresses its deepest condolences to the friends, family, and aerobatic community who loved airshow pilot Rob Holland, who passed away on Thursday, April 24, 2025. Holland was flying his MXS-RH aircraft at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia when an unknown issue occurred and the aircraft crashed. FAA and NTSB investigations are ongoing, and the cause of the accident has not been determined.
International Aerobatic Club U.S. Nationals Rescheduled
The International Aerobatic Club (IAC) is announcing a schedule adjustment for the 2025 U.S. National Aerobatic Championships. Originally planned for September 21-26, 2025, the event will now take place from September 28 to October 3, 2025.
See more details: https://www.iac.org/nationals
Become an IAC Aerobatic Judge!
Every year IAC chapters host a number of judges schools and the IAC hosts an online school as well. Check out the schedule to see if there is a judges school near you!
https://www.iac.org/judges-school-calendar
Check out the IAC's 2025 Contest Calendar
The IAC sanctions 35 to 40 contests per year. These are hosted by individual IAC chapters. From California to Maine and north to Canada you can find all the details here: https://www.iac.org/contests
IAC Achievement Award Program
AEROBATICS IS A SPORT driven by passion, skill, and hard work. Many members love the sport even if they don’t compete. The IAC has set up ways to celebrate everyone’s achievements in aerobatics, not just those who compete.
A big part involves the IAC Achievement Awards: Smooth and Stars awards. These awards are for pilots who demonstrate the skill, challenge, and dedication to aerobatics, whether in competition or just for the love of flying. See program details here: https://www.iac.org/legacy/achievement-awards
About the IAC
While we are known mostly as the "competition aerobatics" people, the IAC was organized in 1970 for all forms of aerobatic flight. Our articles state that we have organized for educational, scientific, and charitable purposes related to aerobatics: we 1) cooperate and assist governmental agencies in the development of programs relating to aerobatic activities, 2) encourage, aid, and engage in research and education for the improvement of aviation safety through a better understanding of the art of aerobatics, and 3) promote and encourage aerobatic education and competition on a national and international level.
The IAC has a commitment to safety and excellence in every aspect of our sport with fair play and sportsmanship at the forefront of our endeavors.
Although often referred to as a "division" or "community" of the Experimental Aircraft Association, Inc. (EAA), the IAC is an independent non-profit organization. All IAC members are also EAA members. Membership in EAA is open to all who are interested in aviation.
The IAC offers sanction for regional competitions, provides judge training and certification, stewards the contest rule book, and hosts the US National Aerobatic Championships. Our rule book is maintained to provide a fair competition environment for aerobatic pilots of all skill levels and aerobatic aircraft of all types.
On an international level, the IAC is a member of the National Aeronautic Association and is responsible for the administration, management, and promotion of the sport of aerobatics in the United States under the applicable regulations of the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI), headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland. The FAI is the world governing body for all sport aviation competition and record attempts. The IAC represents the United States at meetings of the FAI Aerobatic Commission (CIVA) which establishes rules worldwide for aerobatic competitions. The IAC is responsible, through our agreement with the NAA, for fielding teams to represent the United States in international aerobatic competition.
The IAC is led by a Board of Directors including four officers (President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary) and 11 Directors, including representatives from EAA and NAA.
