The World Solar Airship Race is a race for solar powered autonomous airships across the South Atlantic from South Africa to Brazil. The racers are student teams from universities from around the world. The Fédération Aéronautique International / World Air Sports Federation will observe and record the results. The first race will take place in December 2023.
The Regulations for the race have not been finalized yet. The final version will be available only after the test flight is completed. However, we already know what elements should be developed:
The purpose of the race
The World Solar Airship Race is made to stimulate research into, and
development of, sustainable air transport and is primarily a design
competition. The regulatory philosophy is to provide student teams with the parameters on which to
base the design, rather than specify exactly how to build a solar airship.
Science and technology evolve and to encourage the most innovative ideas, event
requirements also evolve. One important aspect of “sustainable” means the
competing airships must use hydrogen as a lifting gas. Compared to helium,
which today is seen as the only option for safety reasons, hydrogen is really
the only long term sustainable solution for an industry of notable scale.
Administration
How to sign up, deadlines, fees, organizing committee, correspondence and more
Airship design regulations
The size, safety design features, operational features including the ground control, the pre-flight tests, the cost and more
Participants
The FAI Sporting Code "Section
12 – Unmanned Aerial Vehicles" applies, for the
following classification:
The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, FAI - The World Air Sports Federation, was founded in 1905.
It is a non-governmental and non-profit making international organisation with the basic aim of furthering aeronautical and astronautical activities worldwide, ratifying world and continental records and coordinating the organisation of international competitions. It is recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
After a century of steady growth, FAI is now an organisation of more than 100 member countries, forming a strong network linking all those who participate in air sports worldwide. FAI activities include the establishment of rules for the control and certification of world aeronautical and astronautical records. FAI establishes regulations for air sporting events which are organised by member countries throughout the world.
WSAR 2024 Racing to the future - gently