Follow along with a new world record in the making as Stefan Mueller and Mark Zajfert attempt to land in the most countries within one week on a single-engine light business jet. Details of the requirements for this new world record are below.
Good luck and clear skies!
Guinness Record:
Most countries visited by a single-engine light business jet in one week
Record Definition
- This record is for the most countries visited by a single-engine light business jet in one week.
- This record is to be attempted by an individual or a team of up to four pilots.
- This record is measured by the total number of sovereign countries landed and taken off from within the dedicated timeframe.
- For the purposes of this record, a light business jet is a jet aircraft designed for transporting small groups of people.
Rules for "Most countries visited by a single-engine light business jet in one week":
- Countries acceptable for this record are the Member States and Permanent Observer States of the United Nations (UN).
- The time begins when the plane takes off for the first time.
- All team members must be present in the aircraft for each leg of the flight.
- The type of aircraft, the flight number, and registration must be submitted.
- All airports used must have a runway at least 300 m in length.
- Disused airports or airfields are not permitted. All must be on the current aviation chart or a current recognized aviation publication.
- Permission to land must be obtained from each airport prior to the record attempt going ahead, proof of which must be submitted.
- For a country to be counted as visited, the pilot must land at an airport and bring the plane to a complete stop before continuing. Touch-and-go landings are not permitted.
- A photograph is to be taken on the ground level at each airfield, with a recognizable feature of that airfield in view.
- A copy of the flight plan must be submitted.
- A detailed logbook must be maintained. For each stop, this must include the country, name of town and airport, time of landing and departure, and must be signed off by an airport official at each airport.
- Where it is not possible to have an airport official sign at the time, the claimant must obtain a letter on headed paper by the airport that confirms the date and time of takeoff and landing.
- Each country counts only once, i.e., if the claimant lands twice in the same country, it is only counted once.
- Only countries visited in the given time will count towards the total.
Rules for 'most in a week' records:
- The attempt must take place in a public place or in a venue open to public inspection.
- The event is continuous. The clock does not stop. One week means a complete 7-day cycle, including rest breaks. For example, if the event starts at 12 noon on Monday, it must finish at 12 noon the following Monday.
- Participants may take a pause or break during the attempt, but the clock will not stop under any circumstance.
- A loud start and finish signal recognized by all participants must be used.
- A logbook must be kept detailing the completed activity in the week time frame. Entries must be made at least every hour to document what has been achieved during the preceding hour.
- No person under the age of 16 may attempt this record. Persons aged between 16 and 18 must be in possession of a document signed by their parent or legal guardian, giving them permission to compete. This must be added to the logbook and witnessed before the attempt has started.
- The attempt must be overseen by two independent witnesses at all times.
Required evidence:
- One cover letter explaining the context of the record attempt including the date, time, and exact location of the record attempt, chosen witnesses, and record attempt measurement. Full details of the person(s)/organization attempting the record, including details on the preparation for the attempt.
- Two independent witness statements confirming that the rules above have been adhered to and explicitly stating the number of times the activity has been performed.
- A detailed logbook containing all required information about when and where each of the activities took place.
- Photographic evidence the attempt taking place, capturing the details provided by the independent witnesses.
- Video evidence of the entire record attempt, from start to finish.