Polar Circumnavigation Speed Record versus Polar Circumnavigation Diploma:

 

The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), based in Lausanne, Switzerland, has maintained aviation records since 1904. FAI issues both circumnavigation speed records and circumnavigation diplomas. Requirements for the diplomas differ significantly from those for the speed records, creating confusion. For example, the speed record for a Polar Circumnavigation requires the aircraft to fly around the world and “shall pass through both geographic poles.” It also requires that “Crossing of the equator from North to South shall be separated from the crossing of the equator from South to North by 120-180 degrees of longitude.”

 

The Circumnavigation Diploma has different requirements. It states, “The flight must have been made to a control point north of 75º North latitude and a control point South of 75º South latitude.” Furthermore, “The crossing of the equator from North to South must be separated from the crossing of the equator from South to North by 90-180 degrees of longitude.” These are two very different requirements. The Polar Diploma requirements allow for a one-year completion period for the circumnavigation. This makes it possible to complete the northern portion in the summer of the Northern Hemisphere and the opposite summer in the Southern Hemisphere.

 

While the Polar Circumnavigation Diploma requirements are far less demanding than the speed record requirements, as of this writing, only six pilots have received the Polar Diploma. There were two crew members per plane, so only three aircraft — a PC-12 and two TBMs — have ever met the diploma requirements.