Pulitzer Electric Aircraft Race

The SSL race is open to powered, crewed aerodynes with a zero-emission, fully electric propulsion system.

a.  Eligible aircraft must be an aerodyne with means of propulsion. Aircraft which meet this requirement include eCTOL and eSTOL fixed wing aeroplanes, electric rotorcraft or seaplanes, eVTOL powered lift vehicles,  and any other crewed Advanced Air Mobility platforms.

b.  Eligible aircraft must use a fully electric, zero-emission propulsion system as the sole means of propulsion.  Eligible systems include propeller(s) driven by an electric motor powered by an electrical storage or generating device such as batteries, solar collectors, fuel cells or similar system.  Onboard aircraft propulsion systems must not use hydrocarbon fuels and must be zero-emission.  (Water and other non-polluting substances are permissible.)

c.  Aircraft must be equipped with ADS-B out for flight following. Contestants must not opt out of public flight following by Flight Aware or other commercial flight tracking providers.

d.  Aircraft must have a valid standard airworthiness certificate or an experimental airworthiness certificate for the purpose of air racing with associated operating limitations compatible with the Pulitzer SSL race.

e.  Pilots must have a valid pilot license and medical certificate. 

f.  Pilots must have a valid FAI sporting license.

a.  Aerodyne: a heavier-than-air aircraft with a means of propulsion which derives its lift in flight mainly from aerodynamic forces.

b.  The SSL race: the electric aircraft single site legacy air race organized by the Advanced Air Mobility Institute including pre-race and post-race activities.

c.  Zero-Emission: refers to an engine, motor, process, or other energy source, that emits no waste products that pollute the environment or disrupt the climate.

d.  Start Time: the exact time during takeoff when all parts of the aircraft cease to be in contact with the Earth.

e.  Finish Time: the exact time during the final leg of a race heat when the aircraft crosses the Finish Line.

f.  Finish Line: a gateway with a width of 3000 feet centered on Start/Finish Point and perpendicular to the final leg of the course.

Start and Finish times:

i. Data from the self-contained GPS flight data recorders will be the primary means to determine Start Time and Finish Time.

ii.  If the GPS flight data recorder malfunctions, does not record or the data is corrupted, Start and Finish times will be determined by a race official or assigned visual observer using manual timing.

a.  Start Point/Finish Point: TBA

b.  Turn Point 1:  TBA

c.  Turn Point 2:  TBA

d.  Course:  For the purpose of measuring flight distance, the course is a direct triangular course between the Start Point/Finish Point and the two Turn Points with a distance of 30 nm.  The course may be flown clockwise or counterclockwise depending on the prevailing winds at the Start/Finish Point.  Contestants do not have to adhere precisely to the direct course but must pass to the outside of the Turn Points and Start/Finish Point (except during the start and crossing the Finish Point on the final lap when the Start/Finish Point may be overflown.)  Any additional distance flown during the actual flight will not be used in the calculation of the official race speed.

Contingencies: Pulitzer race officials may exercise control over race activities as necessary to ensure safety and accommodate unforeseen circumstances in the best interest of the race and contestant safety. (For example, race officials may issue weather holds, or extensions to the race window, etc.)  Race officials will communicate any contingency actions to the contestants as expeditiously as possible using the contact information provided at the race check-in.

a.  Registration: contestants must complete the registration process, submit all required forms and pay the SSL race registration fee during the open registration period.  Registration will be limited to the 24 total contestants.

b.  Contestant Check-in: Contestant check-in will be conducted at the Start Point.  Contestants must present the following information and documentation for review and verification:

 i.  pilot documents: pilot license, medical certificate, FAI sporting license

 ii.  aircraft documents: FAA aircraft registration, airworthiness certificate  (experimental airworthiness certificates must be for the purpose of air racing and include operating limitations compatible with the Pulitzer SSL race).

 iii.  contestant primary and secondary contact information.

c.  Aircraft Inspection: each aircraft participating in the Pulitzer SSL race will be inspected to verify the electric means of propulsion and the aircraft is equipped with functioning ADS-B out equipment.

d. Record setting during race: Pulitzer race contestants will not be granted a sanction by the NAA to attempt an aviation world record during the Race Window.

a.  Flight data recorder: Contestants will be required to carry and operate a GPS flight data recorder during each race.

 i.  a self-contained GPS flight data recorder will be provided for each contestant aircraft.

 ii.  the GPS data recorder must be operated continuously for at least 5 minutes before takeoff, during each lap of the race and for at least 5 minutes after landing.

b.  Starting procedures: 

 i.  Pulitzer race officials will assign contestants to SSL race heats.

 ii.  Starting positions will be randomly selected among the three contestants assigned to each heat.

 iii.  Contestants will make individual starts according to start position using standard non-towered air traffic control (ATC) procedures to announce taxi and takeoff intentions on CTAF. 

 iv.  Contestants will use an interval of one (1) minute (minimum) between takeoffs.

 v.  Takeoffs may commence after clearance to begin the race heat is received from race officials.

c.  Flight Conditions: Contestants must maintain Day VMC conditions.

i.  Each individual race consists of a takeoff, a lap of the triangular race course and crossing the Finish Line.  The course may be flown clockwise or counterclockwise based on the prevailing winds as determined by race officials.

ii.   Minimum altitude during a race is 1500 feet AG (except initial takeoff and climb).  Altitude may be reduced to 1000 feet AGL on the final leg when within 5 nm of the Finish Point.

iii.  Contestants will remain well clear of other contestant’s aircraft during race heats.  In general, 14 CFR Part 91 rules concerning operating near other aircraft and right-of-way rules (91.111 and 91.113) apply during the race.  During a counterclockwise race circuit, an overtaking aircraft may pass well clear to the left, if necessary, to avoid turning inside a Turn Point.

Formation Flight: Formation flight with Pulitzer Race support aircraft is permitted for flight following, safety chase, photography etc.  Close formation (“fingertip”) is not allowed so as to gain a drag reduction and/or speed advantage.  If close formation is performed for safety or photography purposes, the contestant aircraft must be the lead aircraft.

a.  Following each race heat, race officials will collect flight data recorders and analyze the recorded flight data to determine Start and Finish times and to ensure the course was properly flown.

b.  Calculation of Speed: Each contestant’s official speed for each heat will be calculated by dividing the course distance by the flight time (Finish Time minus Start Time) as recorded by race officials.

c.  Posting of race results: Official speeds will be posted following each heat. For the final Pulitzer Trophy race, the contestant with the fastest official speed will be declared the winner.  The winner will be announced once the race is complete, the official speeds have been calculated and verified, and all reviews and appeals have been resolved.

Reviews and Appeals: Contestants may request a review of data calculated by race officials or a race official’s application of the Pulitzer SSL race rules.  If a contestant is not satisfied with the explanation or decision by the race official, and the matter at dispute affects the outcome of a race, the contestant may appeal to a panel comprised of any three active members of the Board of Directors of the Advanced Air Mobility Institute who were not involved in the administration of the race.

Decisions of the Appeals Panel are final.

Safety: Flight and ground safety are paramount during all activities associated with the Pulitzer Race.  At its core this is a race, so healthy competition is expected and encouraged, but safety and good judgement must be the priority.  Ground and flight activities should be performed according to established procedures and within established or cleared envelopes for all aircraft.  Any incident, especially a preventable one, which detracts from the image of electric aviation as a safe, reliable and effective means of air transportation is counterproductive for the industry as a whole.