Women pilots from across the globe are gearing up for the 48th-annual Air Race Classic (ARC), set to take place June 17-20.

Registration for the race, which opened earlier this month, remains available until 11:59 p.m. ET on March 31, but spots are limited to 60 teams.

The race will begin at the H. L. "Sonny" Callahan Airport in Fairhope and spans a 2,426-statute-mile route across nine states, concluding at Felts Field in Spokane, Washington.

Teams consist of at least two female pilots flying normally aspirated, piston-powered planes under daylight visual flight conditions. Pilots must hold at least a private pilot certificate and have a minimum of 100 hours as pilot-in-command. One team member must have at least 500 hours or a current instrument rating, and additional female teammates with a student pilot certificate are also welcome.

The ARC uses a handicap system to create a level playing field, allowing slower planes to compete on equal terms with faster aircraft. Teams race against their own best time, strategizing based on weather and wind to beat their handicap by the largest margin. Final standings won't be determined until the last plane crosses the finish line, and the final arrival could even win.

Intermediate stops along the course include airports in Starkville, Mississippi; Harrison, Arkansas; McPherson, Kansas; Sterling, Colorado; Gillette, Wyoming; Rock Springs, Wyoming; Jerome, Idaho; and La Grande, Oregon. At each location, teams perform high-speed flybys and may stop for fuel, rest or tactical planning.

This year's race marks the 96th anniversary of the 1929 Women's Air Derby, also known as the "Powder Puff Derby," in which Amelia Earhart and 19 other trailblazing female pilots competed from Santa Monica, California, to Cleveland, Ohio. The ARC, the oldest race of its kind, continues to honor that legacy, promoting women's contributions to aviation and fostering camaraderie among female pilots.

"The ARC Board of Directors and volunteers have been hard at work preparing for our 48th race," Air Race Classic President Donna Harris said in a news release. "We look forward to celebrating the 96th anniversary of the Women's Air Derby as we welcome back veteran racers and meet new competitors at our Start in Fairhope, Alabama."

The ARC is limited to 55 competition teams and five non-competition teams. Once these slots are filled, additional qualified teams will be waitlisted until the March 31 deadline. Should a registered team withdraw before May 15, the next waitlisted team will be invited to join.

For those interested in learning more or entering the competition, step-by-step registration guidance is available at www.airraceclassic.org.

Air Race Classic Inc., an all-volunteer nonprofit organization, is dedicated to encouraging and educating female pilots, increasing public awareness of general aviation and preserving the legacy of pioneering women in aviation. Follow the Air Race Classic on Facebook or Instagram at @airraceclassicinc.