Link to International Judging School Virtual Series

2023 International Judging School Virtual Seminar

2021 International Judging School Virtual Seminar

Online Judging Video Series

1) Learning Aresti - Jerry Hailey - Considered the international language of aerobatics, knowing and understanding Aresti is a vital part of any aerobatics pilot’s knowledge base. While perhaps visually intimidating at first, the Aresti language is relatively simple once you understand a few basic principles. The Learning Aresti presentation details the line, loop, and roll symbology required to become proficient at de-coding even the most complex of aerobatic sequences.

2) Official Flights - Jerry Hailey - There are several procedural aspects involved in competing in an IMAC contest that are of significant importance. Official Flights covers all the intricacies of the contest day that are not directly related to aerobatics maneuvers yet are every bit as important as the flown figures.

3) Mental Attitude - Steve Sides - Knowing the rules is a large part of the judging process, but equally important is carrying the right mindset to the judge’s station. Mental Attitude addresses the common pitfalls of the judging practice and will help you make sure you provide the high level judging experience you expect yourself.

4) Flight Path, Aircraft Attitude, Wind Correction - Jerry Hailey - One of the cornerstones of Scale aerobatics flight, Flight Path outlines the crucial concept of wind-corrected flight, when it is and is not required, and describes the differences between aircraft attitude, heading, and flight path.

5) Basic Components of Aerobatics - Jerry Hailey - Judging aerobatics figures consists of a few basic but crucially important key aspects. Basic Components of Aerobatics teaches the foundational elements that must be mastered before moving on to the judging criteria associated with the specific Aresti families.

6) Family 1 - Lines and Angles - Steve Sides - Family 1 includes some of the most common figures flown in Scale Aerobatics. Family 1 - Lines and Angles details the specific judging criteria for all maneuvers within Family 1, but also introduces key skills and concepts that will be applied through many of the other Aresti families.

7) Family 2 - Turns and Rolling Turns - Steve Sides - Family 2 figures are both some of the most challenging to fly and judge. Family 2 - Turns and Rolling Turns details the unique criteria for judging these seemingly simple yet complex figures.

8) Family 3 - Combination of Lines - Steve Sides - Though similar in appearance to Family 1, Family 3 figures all have some unique and specific criteria that differentiate them from Family 1. Family 3 - Combinations of Lines and Angles highlights the specific criteria and limitations for these figures.

9) Family 5 - Stall Turns (Hammerheads) - Steve Sides - One of the few maneuvers that appears in virtually every sequence, Hammerheads are a staple of aerobatics flight. Family 5 - Stall Turns (Hammerheads) covers the intricate and specific criteria required to accurately judge these sometimes very complex figures.

10) Family 6 - Tail Slides - Steve Sides - Found only in Unlimited sequences, Tailslides are simple in nature yet daunting in flight. Family 6 - Tailslides teaches the specific criteria for judging these figures as well as the common mistakes and ways in which pilots attempt to sell them.

11) Family 7 - Loops and Eights Part 1 - Steve Sides - One of the largest families found in Aresti, Family 7 includes a variety of whole, part, and hesitation loops. Family 7 - Loops and Eights part 1 covers the criteria for judging full, 3/4, and ½ loops.

12) Family 7 - Loops and Eights Part 2 - Steve Sides - One of the largest families found in Aresti, Family 7 includes a variety of whole, part, and hesitation loops. Family 7 - Loops and Eights part 2 covers the criteria for judging horizontal and vertical 8, and horizontal and vertical S figures.

13) Family 8 - Combination of Lines, Loops and Rolls - Steve Sides - Building on many of the aspects of Family 7, Family 8 shares a number of features found in Family 7, but introduces a series of looping figures that are combined with lines. Family 8 - Combinations of Lines and Loops details the specific criteria for this family and how these figures differ from those found in Family 7.

14) Family 9 - Rotational Elements - Jerry Hailey - Family 9 have several unique characteristics, chief among them that these figures must always be added to figures from other families. Family 9 - Rotational Elements explains in detail the specifics of judging rotational elements: rolls, point rolls, snap rolls, and spins.

José Luis Aresti Aguirre (1917-2003) is a true legend in the world of aerobatics.
Born in Bilbao, Spain, Aresti became a flyer in the 1930s in time to get involved in the Civil War where he served as a pilot for the Republican Government; he was assigned the Polikarpov 1-16 Rata low-wing monoplane and within six months he found himself flying demonstrations for his military chiefs. After the war, Aresti became a test pilot for the Air Ministry Flight Test Centre in Madrid and founded several civilian pilot training schools in Spain while flying air shows around Europe.
An outstanding pilot who was able to fly any type of aircraft, Aresti had trained more than 2000 pilots 1971. He acted as President of the International Jury at various World Aerobatic Championships and was elected President of the Spanish Aeronautical Federation in 1966 and President of the FAI Aerobatics Commission (CIVA) in 1967. He was awarded many prestigious distinctions such as the Spanish Sports Merit Gold Medal, the FAI Gold Air Medal and the Leon Biancotto Aerobatics Diploma.
Aresti was also the creator and author of the “Aresti Aerocryptographic System”, still in use today in all aerobatic competitions, which allowed the agreement on the criteria at an international level among all pilots and judges of the aerobatic world. This work was the result of many years of aeronautical experience and hard work.
The Aresti Cup, donated by José Luis Aresti to the FAI in the 1960's, was created and given to the FAI with the purpose of being a symbol representing and consolidating the sportiveness and friendship of all pilots around the world. It is presented to the World Aerobatic Champion.