CIAM Annual Plenary Meeting
The FAI Aeromodelling Commission (CIAM) held its Annual Plenary Meeting on 11 and 12 March 2004 at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland. Summary of the most important decisions :

Elections : Mr Sandy PIMENOFF (FIN) was re-elected as the CIAM President. Mr Pierre CHAUSSEBOURG (FRA), Dave BROWN (USA) and András REE (HUN) were re-elected as 1st, 2nd and 3rd Vice-Presidents. 

Future Competitions : The organisation of some 16 world and continental championships was awarded by the Delegates. The FAI Sporting Calendar for Aeromodelling has been updated accordingly. 

Awards : In recognition for his outstanding contribution to Aeromodelling and CIAM, the prestigious FAI Aeromodelling Gold Medal, was awarded to Mr. Tomas BARTOVSKY (CZE). In addition, CIAM Delegates awarded the Alphonse Penaud Diploma to Michael KROEGER (GER), the Antonov Diploma to Vladimir CIPCIC (SCG), the Frank Ehling Diploma to Andras SOSZTARICH (HUN) and the Andrei Tupolev Medal to Manabu HASHIMOTO (JPN).

Next Plenary Meeting : Lausanne, 18 and 19 March 2005

CIAM Flyer
The on-line magazine "CIAM Flyer" is part of CIAM Communication Strategy and forms an interesting introduction to the world of Aeromodelling. 

On behalf of CIAM Bureau, Mr Emil GIEZENDANNER (SUI), Chairman of the CIAM RC Electric (F5) Sub-committee and Editor of the Swiss Magazine "Modellflugsport", regularly publishes news and reports on the world of Aeromodelling : 

- On the Overview page, descriptions and pictures of the different Aeromodelling disciplines are available. 

- On the Young People's Page, 6 young model aircraft pilots explain how they learned to build and fly model aircraft.  

- Finally, the Teaching pages explain 7 basic rules for teaching model aircraft construction.

CIA Annual Plenary Meeting
The FAI Ballooning Commission (CIA) held its Annual Plenary Meeting on 11 and 12 March 2004 in Debrecen, Hungary. Summary of the most important decisions :

Elections : Mr Jean-Claude WEBER (LUX) was re-elected as the CIA President. Mr Hans AKERSTEDT (SWE), Mark SULLIVAN (USA) and Mathijs DE BRUIJN (NED) were re-elected as 1st, 2nd and 3rd Vice-Presidents. 

Future Competitions : Amongst other events, the 14th European Hot Air Ballooning Championship (2005) was awarded to Hungary (Debrecen) and the 17th World Hot Air Ballooning Championship (2006) to Japan (Motegi). The FAI Sporting Calendar for Ballooning has been updated accordingly.  

Awards : In recognition of their outstanding flights and contributions to ballooning, prestigious Montgolfier Diplomas were awarded to:
Troy Bradley (USA) for his 14-hour hot air ballon flight of 1 638 km, the furthest ever flown solo in such an aircraft;

- Coy FOSTER (USA) for his pressurized Gas Balloon flight that established new world records in the category (AS2) for distance (647 km), duration (12h 25 min) and altitude (2,111m);

- David HEMPELMAN-ADAMS (UK) for his transatlantic flight in an open basket suspended under a Rozier balloon; and 

- Mark WEST (USA) for his tireless work to advance the cause of ballooning through technological innovation, education of the young, and promotion of safety. 

Next Plenary Meeting : Lausanne, 11 and 12 March 2005

Next CIVA Meeting
The FAI Aerobatic Commission (CIVA) has announced that its next meeting will take place in the Headquarters of the Royal Aero Club of Spain, Cuatro Vientos Airport, Madrid (Spain), from 25 to 26 September 2004.

The invitation from the Royal Spanish Aeronautics Federation and the Royal Aero Club of Spain, as well as registration and hotel booking forms are available on request at FAI Office. Delegates are invited to proceed in accordance with the instructions given in these documents.
The agenda for the meeting will be distributed in due course.

Lausanne, 19 March 2004

IGC Annual Plenary Meeting
The FAI Gliding Commission (IGC) held its Annual Plenary Meeting on 27 and 28 February 2004 at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland. Summary of the most important decisions :

Elections : Mr Bob HENDERSON (NZL) was elected as the new IGC President, replacing Mr Tor JOHANNESSEN (NOR), who presided over the Commission for the last 6 years, and was unanimously elected President of Honour. Mr Eric MOZER (USA) was elected as 1st Vice-President, while Roland STUCK (FRA), Brian SPRECKLEY (GBR), Dick BRADLEY (RSA), Axel REICH (GER) and Vladimir FOLTIN (SLK) were elected Vice-Presidents; see the updated list of IGC Officials & Delegates.

Future Competitions : New competition venues were selected. The FAI Sporting Calendar for Gliding has been updated accordingly (13th FAI European Gliding Championship 2005 / 4th FAI World Club Class Gliding Championship 2006 / 5th FAI World Class World Gliding Championship 2006).

World Class : All pilots competing at a World Class Championship fly the same type of aircraft, the PW5. The concept of this light-weight glider developed in Poland was originally inspired by the "Olympia", a glider specially developed for the Olympic Games in Helsinki (1940); unfortunately, the Second World War broke out and the Games were cancelled.

Awards : IGC's top award, the prestigious Lilienthal Medal, was awarded to the father of the World Class Glider, Prof. Piero MORELLI (ITA), who has made an outstanding life-time's contribution to technical soaring. Prof. Peter RYDER (GER), IGC President of Honour, and Mr Tapio SAVOLAINEN (FIN) were awarded the Pirat Gehriger Diploma.

Next Plenary Meeting : Lausanne, 4 and 5 March 2005

IGC Ranking List
Prepared by a number of hard working volunteers over a three-year period, the IGC Ranking List was introduced in 2003 and forms a small part of IGC's strategy to make competitive gliding events more widespread and accessible.

The most important objectives of the IGC Official Ranking System are :

- to represent as accurately as possible the relative performance of gliding competitors from their results in national and international competitions,
- to promote gliding competition by improving their attractiveness and contact between media and the Gliding Community,
- to create a focus for promotion of competitive gliding,
- to promote the development of a high quality international competition structure.

The IGC Ranking List has two components :
- The Pilot's Rating is the result of his/her performance at IGC-sanctioned competitions,
- The Competition Rating depends on the type of competition, the quality of the pilots and the number of competition days.

All IGC Category 1 events (i.e. World and Continental Championships) are automatically included in the Ranking List, while the results of other international or national competitions may also be included under certain conditions.
For further information : About the IGC Ranking System

The updated IGC Ranking List recently published reflects the latest results from the Australian and South African Nationals. The winner of the Australian 15m class in 2004 was Michael SOMMER, who jumped 61 places as a result of his excellent performance. The biggest place gain was Harry WONDERGEM, who gained 588 places, rising to 447 in the Ranking List. In March, Keith NICHOLSON will add a facility to directly compare pilots' performances.

CIVL Officials
In the FAI-News # 05/04, we reported on the CIVL Plenary Meeting held recently in Croatia. In the second paragragh "Elections", we unfortunately omitted to mention Mr Jim ZEISET (USA), who was also elected as a CIVL Vice-President. We apologize for this omission and congratulate Mr Zeiset on his election. (See the updated list of CIVL Officials)

New World Record Claims

FAI has received the following World Record Claim :

Class C - Aeroplanes / Claim number : 8754
Sub-class : C-1 (Landplanes)
Group 3 : turbo-jet
Type of record : Speed over a Commercial Air Route
Course/location : Hong Kong (China) - Singapore (Singapore)
Performance : 837 km/h
Pilot : William R. WALLACE (USA)
Aircraft : Boeing 747-400 / Airline : United Airlines
Date: 29.02.2004
Current record : 793.15 km/h (09.03.2001 - William A. DIAS, USA)

The details shown above are provisional. When all the evidence required has been received and checked, the exact figures will be established and the record ratified (if appropriate).

For further information on World Records,
please consult the latest news, including all claims pending ratification, at :
- General Aviation World Records

Lausanne, 5 March 2004

CIVL Annual Plenary Meeting
The FAI Hang Gliding & Paragliding Commission (CIVL) held its Annual Plenary Meeting from 20 to 22 February 2004 in Opatija, Croatia. Summary of the most important decisions :

Elections : CIVL President Olivier BURGHELLE was reelected for a further one-year period. CIVL Vice-Presidents are John ALDRIDGE (GBR), Flip KOETSIER (NED), Scott TORKELSEN (DEN) and Jim ZEISET (USA); see the updated list of CIVL Officials & Delegates. 

Future Competitions : CIVL Delegates awarded the organization of several new competitions. The FAI Sporting Calendar for Hang Gliding and Paragliding has been updated accordingly.

New World Championship : the 1st FAI World Hang Gliding and Paragliding Aerobatics Championship will be held in 2006 at Villeneuve (SUI).

Next Plenary Meeting : Guatemala, 18 to 20 February 2005 
 

Naming of FAI Competitions
Following the introduction of the new FAI Strategic Plan, the Executive Board launched in May 2003 a project aimed to "study and evaluate the possibility of including the name of FAI and/or a sponsor's name in the designation of international competitions".

Developed in close cooperation with the FAI Air Sport Commissions, this project has been finalized with the publication of a document entitled "Naming of Competitions - Policy for Air Sport Commissions and Competitions Organisers". The main objectives of this new Policy are to standardize the structure of the names given to FAI-sanctioned Competitions, to guarantee that those Competitions are properly branded, and to allow Title Sponsors to appear in the names of Competitions.
Introduced as per 19 February 2004, the new Policy is fully applicable to new Competitions entered in the FAI Sporting Calendar. 
In order that Competitions held in 2005 (the year of FAI Centenary) and beyond appear under the same image, the Organizers whose Competitions have already been entered in the FAI Sporting Calendar 2005 or 2006 are therefore warmly encouraged to adapt the name of their competitions to the new Policy. Should such a change not be possible, in particular for financial reasons, Competition Organizers are invited to contact FAI at +41.(0)21.345.10.70 or using the website contact form.
Adapting the names of competitions taking place in 2004 is not compulsory, but would be highly appreciated.

FAI Sponsorship Strategy
FAI has signed an agreement with the Vert-Pomme S.A. Communication Agency and Sports Marketing Consultants Adrenalink Management. This agreement is aimed at developing a new communication, sponsorship and partnership strategy, allowing sponsors and partners to be associated with the events celebrating the Centenary of FAI in 2005.

FAI Circumnavigator Badge
The Circumnavigator Badge serves to recognize the significant achievements of pilots of powered aircraft making around the World flights. The badge is available with one to four diamonds as follows : Eastbound, Westbound, Polar, Nonstop.

FAI maintains chronological lists, based on the completion date of the flight, of all Badge Holders of each diamond. Please follow the links below to consult those lists :

- List of Eastbound Circumnavigator Badge Holders
- List of Westbound Circumnavigator Badge Holders
- List of Polar Circumnavigator Badge Holders (no holder yet)
- List of Nonstop Circumnavigator Badge Holders (no holder yet)

The rules governing FAI Circumnavigator Badges can be found in Chapter 9 of Section 2 of the FAI Sporting Code.

Pilots who achieved a flight around the World, but who have not yet applied for the FAI Circumnavigation Badge, are kindly invited to submit their Application Form to the FAI Member which issued their FAI Sporting License.

New World Records Claims
FAI has received the following World Record Claims :

Class B - Airships / Claim number : 8731
Size category : BX-04 (Hot-Air Airships : 1 600 to 3 000 m³) 
General Category 
Type of record : Duration 
Course/location : Dmitrov (Russia) 
Performance : 6 hours 4 min 
Pilot : Nikolay GALKIN (Russia) 
Airship : Kubicek AV-1
Date: 20.02.2004
Current record : 5h 6mn 42s (25.01.1992 - Guy MOYANO, Luxemburg)

Class C - Aeroplanes / Claim numbers : 8732 and 8733
Sub-classes : C-1 (Landplanes) and C-1e (Landplanes : take-off weight 3 000 to 6 000 kg)
Group 3 : turbo-jet
Type of records : Speed over a recognised course 
Course/location : Seattle, WA (USA) - Islamabad (Pakistan) 
Performance : 745 km/h 
Pilot : Michael J. MILLER (USA) 
Aircraft : Boeing 777
Date: 14.02.2004
Current records : new

Class E - Rotorcraft / Claim number : 8737
Sub-class : E-3a (Autogyros - Take-off weight less than 500 kg) 
Group 1 : piston engine - General Category 
Type of record : Distance without landing 
Course/location : Little Rock, AR (USA) - Hickory, NC (USA) 
Performance : 993 km 
Pilot : Andrew C. KEECH (USA)
Date: 22.02.2004
Current record : 941.25 km (24.02.2003 - Barry JONES, UK)

The details shown above are provisional. When all the evidence required has been received and checked, the exact figures will be established and the record ratified (if appropriate).

For further information on World Records,
please consult the latest news, including all claims pending ratification, at :
- Rotorcraft World Records 
- General Aviation World Records
- Airships World Records

Lausanne, 1 March 2004