FÉDÉRATION AÉRONAUTIQUE INTERNATIONALE

FAI BALLOONING COMMISSION (CIA)

CIA NEWSLETTER
Autumn 1998

Table of Contents

1. President's Column by Jean-Claude Weber
2. CIA Conference 1999
3. 2nd World Air Games 2001
4. Annual Report to the FAI General Conference
5. News from FAI - October 1998
6. CIA Administration Account
7. Points for Action
8. Reminders
9. International Observer Registration Program Update
10. FAI Ballooning Commission Airsport Promotion Award
11. Championship Results (Sanctioned Events) 1999
12. 1998 CIA Approved Jurors List
13. FAI/CIA on the Internet
14. CIA Delegates and Alternate Delegates
15. 1999 Conference Registration Form
16. CIA Statistics and Annual Return

PRESIDENT'S COLUMN

by Jean-Claude Weber, CIA President

The summer months are gone around here, and we didn’t really have the weather generally associated with this period of year. Many of our events in the Northern hemisphere suffered from this, and I really sympathise with all competitors, officials and event organisers who went to great length to organise or participate in many an event, and found themselves terribly disappointed by this year’s awful met conditions (I know what I am talking about). Happily not all events were affected by the bad weather, and we saw some very fine events, record attempts and championships, all around the world. Congratulations to all participants, and many thanks to all who made this possible.

Since our last Newsletter many things have happened and, instead of the usual "political" considerations, I would like to give you a concise report of the major issues of the past six months, but also of what the future holds in store.

As you will see elsewhere in this Newsletter, we are now moving to Lausanne, Switzerland. The move is scheduled to take place in early December, but the Paris office will continue to function until 30 December 1998. All functions will be assumed by the Lausanne office with effect 1 January 1999. As the CIA decided in 1998 to have its 1999 Plenary meeting at the FAI HQ, the CIA meeting will therefore have to be held in Lausanne (3rd to 6th March) and not in Paris. The Swiss Balloon Federation and CIA delegate have agreed to give us a helping hand in making this "First" a very successful one. See page 4 for the meeting schedules and details

The FAI General Conference took place in Toulouse, France, from October 1-2. It was my duty to represent the CIA at this GC (see my report to the GC), with the help of Don Cameron who represented the CIA at the CASI meetings. Several topics are of concern to the CIA:

The 2nd World Air Games

The WAG's contract was signed in Toulouse and the Spanish organisers paid the first instalment. The CIA confirmed its wish not to have the AX World Championship during the WAG. The WAG co-ordination committee promised to have the final Air Sport Commission planning documents ready by the end of the year. The issue of the AA participation was not settled and we still have the option to require the organisers to organise an AA event. I made a strong point of the CIA's wish to organise the WAG aerostation events as true sporting event and not as "Promotion" events for the WAG. I also indicated that the CIA is working on a new competition format and selection process for the WAG.

CASI

The CIA's motion to give precedence to the S1 was rejected by a huge majority of the CASI members. In private discussions after the CASI meeting, many delegates indicated that they agreed with the basic aims of our motion, but that it was unacceptable as presented. A compromise wording prepared by CASI's GSA Revision WG was also rejected, although here we saw some abstentions in voting. At a private meeting with the FAI President, David Cole, Don and myself, the President agreed that the GS needed to be changed but he also refused to follow the CIA motion. The following day the FAI President then privately offered his help to settle the issue by supporting a request to radically change the GS. This request was then approved by CASI and we are now back on the drawing board with a plan to rewrite the Sporting Code General Section and to incorporate our views. At the General Conference, after I again made a strong point in favour of changing the GS and the Statutes in my report, the President again supported this and referred the issue also to the FAI Statutes Committee. Concluding, I feel that, although our motion failed, we achieved quite a lot thanks to Don Cameron who worked very hard to make our views known to CASI and GC. Finally, CASI elected Sandy Pimenoff (also President of CIAM) as their new President.

FAI Membership

The GC decided that because CHINA, AUSTRALIA and RUSSIA were not "in good standing" with the FAI as far as their membership dues are concerned, they were to be considered non-voting members at this Conference. (Webmaster update Nov 17, 1998: Due to a delay in bank reporting the FAI was not advised prior to the General Conference that Austrialia had in fact paid their dues and continues to remain in good standing) These members now have until the end of this year to sort out their problems. If this is not achieved by then, in accordance with the Statutes and By-Laws, they are to be considered as not "in good standing" with respect to the Sporting Code and may no longer participate in any FAI or air sports activities.

Appeals Tribunal

An FAI Appeals Tribunal was to decide on the appeals filed by the Austrian NAC on behalf of competitor G. Stuerzlinger and concerning the AX Europeans in Sweden (president: David Cole, members: Don Cameron and Olivier Burghelle). The Tribunal, which in my view was very badly organised, decided to defer its decision because it lacked vital evidence from the event director and the Jury president, both absent.

During my stay in Toulouse I had the opportunity to discuss the 1998 42nd Gordon Bennett issue at length with the French NAC's President, Gerard Feldzer, and its Treasurer, Thierry Villey, who offered their apologies for any hardship that the competitors had to endure because of the event's cancellation. It was also agreed that the French NAC would honour its obligations and that the competitors' entry-fees would be reimbursed. The French NAC is now formally preparing its bid to organise the 42nd GB again in 1999, and they accepted the condition that if sanctioned, the CIA would then have to be more involved in controlling the "sporting" event organisation, and the selection of officials and sites. Quite exceptionally and because of this year's cancellation, the CIA Bureau has decided to allow all interested NACs to present bids for the organisation of the 42nd GB in 1999, and a letter in this respect has been sent to all delegates.

The GREAT BALLOON RACE, a very long distance - single flight - competition event project for aerostats in class A, with the ultimate goal of a RTW flight (to be held every four years and starting in 2001), was officially announced at the FAI General Conference in Toulouse. Since then, interest into this event has risen and the CIA Bureau (with the help of renowned experts) has now initiated a feasibility study to consider the very important sporting, commercial and financial interests. A concise Project Outline has been established for the event, planned as an FAI/CIA event where NACs must evidently participate but where, as opposed to our normal sanctioning process, the responsibility rests with the CIA (the legal responsibility rests with the FAI). Obviously, the CIA does not have the necessary resources to organise such an event, and therefore it is also obvious that an outside organising body (NAC, Balloon Federation or other entity) must be found and appointed by the CIA and be contracted to organise the event. With this proposed format the responsibility to raise the required funds evidently also rests with the CIA, and it is this issue that needs to be addressed as a top priority. The FAI/CIA have been approached by a US PR consultancy firm who have a keen interest to be exclusive partners in such an event. I have had some discussions with their representatives and FAI's Max Bishop, and I must admit that presently, although we have been presented with a draft agreement, I strongly resist the idea of entering any monopolistic partnership agreement without firm guarantees for the CIA in respect of the Project Outline document. What needs to be done now is to prepare an agreement satisfying our concerns and finding the right partners willing to take the risk and provide the funding. I am optimistic that with the help of our experts we can achieve these goals. I am convinced that this event is worth being organised and one that could in time acquire a status similar to the Gordon Bennett, or in yachting to the Whitbread. It would be a fantastic sporting event and a tool to promote ballooning and to create revenue for the CIA's many other projects.

During the last few months the Bureau has finalised the FAI/CIA - Organiser Agreement, as required by FAI Statutes, By-Laws and the Sporting Code General Section (you can get a fairly good picture of what this is all about by reading the first page in the Sporting Code General Section, titled RIGHTS TO FAI INTERNATIONAL SPORTING EVENTS). It is the CIA’s responsibility to negotiate agreements of the transfer of all or parts of the rights to any FAI INTERNATIONAL SPORTING EVENT within the scope of our Sporting Code (except World Games Events), meaning all CAT I or CAT II events under Chapter 5 or 7 of Section One. So, basically the Agreements are necessary for the organisers if they wish to secure the associated and desired rights. But we can always choose to give our rights away with a very simple waiver and with no conditions attached. The options are there, up to the CIA and EPAS to negotiate conditions with the organisers. It is agreed that the CIA should handle the Agreement with great care and provide organisers with the right information, that is (basically) if "no formal transfer of rights has been established, FAI retains all rights to the event". The Organiser Agreement is also to be considered as a valuable tool to cover some issues not or not directly covered elsewhere. As we have seen this year, there is considerable criticism from all quarters regarding the organisation of our events. Because we endorse and approve our international Events by a CIA sanction, we must therefore be prepared to carry some of the associated responsibilities. Unfortunately, some of these responsibilities are not clearly outlined/defined in our Sporting Codes and therefore remain in a somewhat grey area when we deal with sanction applications. The Organiser Agreement now tries to also cover these grey areas and to correct the imbalance of responsibilities between organisers with virtually no responsibilities (or liabilities), and participants with a heavy load of all kind of clearly defined (Sporting Code) responsibilities. The plan is to have the ORGANISERS AGREEMENT ready for application asap and to transmit responsibility for the agreements to EPAS. Should EPAS then decide to subject a given event to the Agreement, then it should start immediate negotiations with the organisers. Should EPAS however decide not to subject a given event to the Agreement, then it should give the organisers the CIA WAIVER in this respect. Obviously, the scheme needs to be handled very carefully in the beginning and the CIA Bureau will stay involved at all times.

In accordance with last year's CIA's motions, the PR&DEV Subcommittee has been working on the re-orientation of its services, and a full and very impressive report (to be distributed with the Agenda) will inform you about the detailed work. However, and as preliminary information, you must know that I will propose to the Plenary to split the EPAS WG and the WAG WG off from the PR&DEV Subcommittee, and to make EPAS a Subcommittee and the WAG WG a Plenary WG. The reasons for this proposal are many, but the major one is that EPAS will have to deal more and more with the problems concerning prospecting, planning, negotiation, standards, control and evaluation, before, during and after our sanctioned events. There has been strong input from many quarters of the ballooning scene requesting more CIA involvement, initiative and responsibility in CIA sanctioned events, and I believe that a new mission profile of EPAS can take into account these legitimate requests. Also, the PR&DEV SC would then be freed to concentrate on its very real tasks of efficient Public Relations, LTA-Education and Media relations and developments, including Cyber-flying and Internet presence. In this respect, I would like to congratulate the LTA-Education WG members for their active and very successful participation in the 1998 International Ballooning Youth Camp, and their work on guide-lines for such events (to be presented to you during the CIA Plenary). For the problems at hand, there is no big fix. Trying to devise one is a distraction from doing the smaller, useful things that would actually improve things in the short and medium terms. Rather than raising false hopes with dramatic projects, responsible leadership from the CIA consists of making it plain that there can be no quick cure-all but that we should try to improve the system by taking a series of smaller, although perhaps duller steps. The Organiser Agreement and the re-orientation of EPAS are some of these smaller steps.

FAI is now set to have the WAG every four years and it is very likely that in the future this scheme will develop into a very important international airsports event. The WAGs are FAI organised events and consequently the responsibility for the respective airsport events rests with the FAI Airsports Commissions. Although the practical event organisation is contracted to an NAC, the ASCs are required to provide guidance and assistance, and to take responsibility for matters concerning the "sporting" issues of the event. In view of this, I believe that it is now necessary to have the WAG WG firmly established as a permanent WG with its own mission profile and directly responsible to the Plenary. In respect of the 2nd World Air Games the Plenary will be presented three new initiatives by the WAG WG and concerning

• a new competition format,
• a new selection process
• a new CIA events calendar taking into account the recurring WAGs and the CIA's refusal to give the CIA WAG events World Championship standard.

I believe that the proposed initiatives hold big potential and will make the CIA's WAG events very interesting for the participants, the public and the media; simply put: The Best. Full details will be provided with the CIA meeting agenda.

Concluding, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all the new faces in the Ballooning Commission and who, no doubt, will bring fresh ideas and new concepts to the CIA. I look forward to meeting and working with all of you in Lausanne, and in the mean time I wish you all the best and a very happy and peaceful holiday season.

CIA CONFERENCE 1999

Lausanne, Switzerland

AGENDA ITEMS

All items for inclusion in the agenda for the 1999 Plenary meeting must reach
the CIA President and the CIA Secretary
NOT LATER THAN 21ST DECEMBER 1998
These will then be included in the agenda which will be mailed in January 1999. Agenda items should include any supporting documentation, and a Position paper, all of which will be included with the agenda.

CONFERENCE DETAILS

DATES
3 & 4 March - Subcommittee and Working Group Meetings
5 & 6 March - Plenary Meeting

LOCATION
The Conference will take place at the:

• Hotel de la Paix,
  5 ave Benjamin Constant,
  CH 1003 Lausanne.
  Tel: +41 21 310 7171, Fax: +41 21 310 7172,
  Email: info@hoteldelapaix.int.ch
  The hotel is 3 minutes walk from the new FAI Office at 24 avenue Mon Repos.

ACCOMMODATION
1. Hotel de la Paix: CHF165 for a single room, and CHF 230 for a double, including full buffet breakfast, all taxes and service.

2. Hotel Elite, Avenue Sainte Luce 1, Lausanne.
Tel: +41 21 320 2361, Fax: +41 21 320 3963
CHF 110 for a single room.
A reasonable 3 star hotel within 7/8 minutes walk.

RESERVATIONS
Please make your own reservations by contacting the hotel of your choice direct at the addresses above.

ACCESS
By train direct from the airport at Geneva (35 minutes) or Zurich (2 hours 40 minutes).
By train from Paris on the TGV (3 hours 40 minutes)
The Hotel de la Paix is 10 - 12 minutes walk from the Station (uphill) or a 2 minute taxi ride.

PRELIMINARY TIMETABLE

2nd WORLD AIR GAMES 2001

The contract between FAI and the Spanish Air Sports Federation for the organisation of the 2nd World Air Games 2001 was signed on 1st October 1998 in Toulouse. Planning for the event can now go ahead.

The Games will take place in and around Seville, Andalusia, Spain. The CIA events will use an area immediately to the West of Seville, and will consists of a Hot Air Balloon Championships, a Hot Air Airship Championships, a Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, a Special Shapes Fiesta, and, hopefully, a Gas balloon Championships.

ANNUAL REPORT TO THE FAI GENERAL CONFERENCE

Toulouse/France, September 28, 1998

Shortly after the 1997 General Conference the CIA's then President, Jacques W. SOUKUP, informed the CIA delegates that due to a change of residence status he had resigned as the CIA's President. This came as a surprise to many, but to those knowing Jacques, it was a logical, final and well considered consequence in line with his beliefs and his respect for the FAI and the CIA. On behalf of the CIA, I want to take this opportunity to once again thank him for all he did for the FAI and CIA.

Our First Vice-President, Hans AKERSTEDT, stood in for Jacques SOUKUP until our Commission’s meeting in March, and he was a brilliant "acting" President, taking on his many new tasks and myriad responsibilities with a real diplomatic touch, in total fairness and serenity, and performing his duties to perfection. Our sincere feelings of gratitude go to Hans for having successfully steered the CIA through this difficult period.

As the CIA's newly elected President it is now my duty and pleasure to report to the General Conference on the past year's and the future developments in aerostation, and I am in the fortunate position to tell you that FAI's most venerable air sport and Commission are doing quite well in these respects. The CIA's Plenary meeting took place from March 4-7 in Venice, with the first two days dedicated to Subcommittee meetings. Due to lack of space I will limit my report to the major topics, but for those interested in the detailed reports, you will find all the relevant information in the meeting minutes which are of course also available on the CIA home page at the FAI web site. The CIA’s Subcommittees worked very hard and the Plenary adopted new proposals intended to increase the efficiency of the CIA’s assistance to event organisers and the competency of officials at CIA sanctioned events. These are ongoing projects and the first results look very promising.

Since the last General Conference we saw many well organised competitions and CIA sanctioned events all over the world, of which the AX World Championship in Saga/Japan, the AX European Championship in Katrineholm/Sweden, the BX World Championship in Gatineau/Canada, and the 42nd Coupe Gordon Bennett in Paris/France are only the most important to be named. But it is equally important to note that many of the smaller events took place in the "new" ballooning countries and it is one of the CIA’s top priorities to give these organisers as much help as possible by providing assistance in planning as well as in running these events. Preparations for the major 1999 events are on track and we are looking forward to again have very well organised competitions in the respective sub-classes.

We also saw many new World records find their way into the history books and the trends indicate that our competitors do not seem to tire and continue to try to fly longer, higher and farther. Again, all the detailed information is available on the CIA homepage.

In this respect I would like to mention the remarkable performance achieved by US balloonist Steve Fossett, who in his pursuit to circumnavigate the globe in the southern hemisphere, solo in a Rozière Balloon, claims an absolute distance record with a performance of 22975 km. Unfortunately, in the last leg of his flight he was forced to ditch in the Pacific Ocean by very severe weather, and thanks to a remarkable effort by the SAR services of New-Zealand, Australia and France, he was promptly rescued and is now safely back home. But beware, this fantastic record is bound to be broken again very soon, as no less than 7 teams are preparing right now to launch in the race to be the first to fly non-stop around the world in a balloon. This will make for crowded skies around the globe, and in advance I would like to express our gratitude to all FAI members for any assistance they can provide to the challengers. I am sure that these record attempts will once again be followed by an interested public and media and thus will promote ballooning, air sports and the FAI.

In the past few years the CIA has succeeded in firmly establishing and consolidating aerostation as one of the pillars of international air sports. Thanks to the enthusiastic and unfailing contribution of all CIA members in creating universal and sound standards for our sport, the CIA is now in the enviable good position to take on such new challenges as

• air sport competition development (competition formats, scoring philosophy, selection process)
• advocacy of aerostation world-wide and particularly in "new" aerostation countries (airspace, licensing, environment, competition, records),
• youth education and participation,
• public appeal and relations, publicity,

and our Subcommittees are presently working on different projects (World Air Games, World Ranking System, Event Planning and Assistance, Public Relations) to be presented at our Plenary meeting in March 1999 in Lausanne.

FAI’s staff continues to provide very efficient and highly appreciated help in the day to day running of our Commission, and I would like to thank all involved for their always good-natured response to our sometimes exotic requests. To close my report, please allow me to voice a personal concern. We have seen that the FAI is capable to make good progress in many areas of direct interest to the Commissions, and I am very confident that we are on the right track and that the CIA can contribute a great deal to achieve the set goals. However, I feel that one important issue still needs to be taken on in the near future if we do not want to upset the delicate balance between the FAI Members and our active air sports-men and women: That is the updating of our Statutes, By-Laws and the General Section of the Sporting Code to a modern and meaningful instrument in the best interest of FAI and ALL the air sports. The CIA is very proud to be an important part of FAI and I can assure you that we want to keep it that way. But I am sure you all realise that we will have to face many new challenges in the coming years and that we need the right tools to be up to the task in a changing world, and on behalf of the CIA I thank you in advance for your support in this respect. Most of you have helped FAI to a glorious past, it is now our duty to help FAI to a bright future by giving its activities the means to at least reach out for that goal.

J.C. Weber, President
FAI Ballooning Commission

NEWS from FAI - October 1998

FAI MOVE
Planning for the FAI’s impending move to the Olympic capital, Lausanne Switzerland, continues smoothly. The FAI will be accommodated at 24 avenue Mon Repos, opposite the mansion where Baron de Coubertin, the father of the modern Olympic movement, lived after he moved the International Olympic Committee from Paris to Lausanne (Coubertin was a prominent member of the FAI’s founder organisation, the Aero Club of France).

The FAI’s move will take place during December, and all functions will be transferred from Paris by the end of that month. New telephone and fax numbers will be announced in November.

PLEASE USE THE PARIS ADDRESS FOR ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO FAI UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

NEW FAI OFFICERS
At the FAI 91st General conference Eilif Ness (Norway) was re-elected president for an unprecedented 5th one-year term.

The new 1st Vice President of FAI is Wolfgang Weinreich (Germany)

The new Treasurer General of FAI is Dr. Hanspeter Hirzel (Switzerland)

CIA ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNT

for the period from 1st January to 30 September 1998 IN SWISS FRANCS

TABLE OF DONATIONS

PAYMENTS TO FAI/CIA

All payments under $500, and ALL Donations, can be paid to the FAI/CIA by Credit Card using the approved form. All payments over $500, including ALL Sanction fees, should be paid by Bank Wire Transfer.

Please use the following bank routing information when you wire funds to FAI for the CIA account: International Money Transfer Order or SWIFT Transfer with the following remarks.

• SWIFT CODE: COUTCHZZ, Federation Aeronautique Internationale
  Bank A/C No: Z425737AA (US$), Z425737AB (CHF) or Z425737AC (FRF)
  Bank: COUTTS BANK & Co AG
  Talstrasse 69 Postfach
  CH-8022 ZURICH, SWITZERLAND

Mark: Without charge for the beneficiary, and state what payment is for.

POINTS FOR ACTION

From the CIA PLENARY MEETING, Venice, Italy, March 1998

(Numbers refer to CIA Plenary Minutes)

18. JURY BOARD

Open book Test 4, questions 19 – 25 will be sent to Senior level jurors who will be required to answer.

A Jury Refresher Test Paper will be distributed with the 1998 Jury Newsletter for Training Purposes.

A CIA JURY CASE HISTORY HANDBOOK shall be produced by the Jury Board for distribution to all approved jurors for self-study. The Handbook will contain

• sample Jury Presidents Reports and protest documentation from past events.
• The material will be selected by the Jury Board for the education value.

Jury Handbook. Recommended changes

• Add following sentence to Chapter 2 – Appointment
• ‘Acceptance of Jury appointment means that failure to attend may result in requests by Organisers for compensation of extra costs incurred.’
• Change following sentence in introduction
• ‘In addition, he must make sure that Jury members have a sufficient knowledge of the English Language, as Juror interpreters are not allowed at FAI CIA Category One Sporting Events.’

The Jury Board Newsletter 4/98 will be published in June 20.

20. OBSERVER SUBCOMMITTEE

Observer Registration Procedures. That the following documents be made available on the Internet as CIA INFORMATION DOCUMENTS:

• International Observer Registration: Handbook
• International Observer Registration: Application Form
• International Observer Registration: Proficiency Evaluation
• Unusual and Unusual Intersections
• Uniform Observer Report Sheet and Supplementary Report Sheet

The Observer Subcommittee will report progress at the 1999 Plenary. Information about the procedures will be disseminated via Delegates, Chief Observers, the CIA Newsletter and the Internet.

That the word ‘will’ in the third paragraph of the Introduction to the International Observer Registration Handbook would be changed to ‘may’.

21. PR AND DEVELOPMENT SUBCOMMITTEE

That the SC should purchase a further 100 CIA Patches (for inclusion in the Sanction Package).

The current World Air Games WG should continue its existence for the next 12 months, and the PR and Development Subcommittee should prepare a detailed proposal for the 1999 Plenary regarding the future of the WG

22. RECORDS REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE

Hans Akerstedt (SWE) reported that he had completed a draft of ‘Notable Flights’ to be distributed with the CIA Newsletter.

23. RULES SUBCOMMITTEE

The RSC recommends to the CIA Plenary that the Scoring Working Group summary be approved as submitted (Appendix 6, attachment 4) with the following amendment: change 3 a) to read ‘Pass Jury Exams Test 1 and Test 4’

24. SAFETY SUBCOMMITTEE

That 5.11.3 or 7.16.3.3 of the ‘Safety Officer Handbook’ be consolidated and included in Section C, under Event Responsibilities, and to become Paragraph 6, Page 6. The wording shall be: ‘The Safety Officer shall submit his report, within 28 days of the conclusion of the event, to the Event Director and a copy to the Chairman of the Safety Subcommittee. (See Apendix 1)'

Don Cameron (GBR) proposed that ‘That the Safety Subcommittee and the Rules Subcommittee make a study to define the mandatory section of the Safety Handbook during the coming 12 months. The Netherlands seconded the motion.

26. WORLD AIR GAMES

‘That the Plenary delegate to the Bureau, (to be advised by the World Air Games WG) authority to indicate to FAI the CIA preferences in respect of the 2001 World Air Games.’

34. EVENT PLANNING ADVISORY SERVICE

That the PR and Development Subcommittee review the sanction process (including the cost of sanctions) as outlined in the proposal (B1 – 4).

That the Rules Subcommittee and Scoring Working group develop, with the required technical expertise, a comprehensive scoring programme as outlined in the proposal (B5, C and Appendix A).

---

REMINDERS

1998 JUROR LIST

The 1998 list of approved Jurors is included with this news letter. Please use this list when making nominations for Juries for 1999 Sanctioned Events

CIA STATISTICS

Members are reminded of their obligation under Chapter 8 of the CIA Internal Regulations to make an annual return of their national Statistics. A form for this purpose is attached, and should be returned to the CIA Secretary by 31st January 1999

AWARDS GIVEN THROUGH THE CIA

Full details of all FAI/CIA awards available to CIA Members are to be found in the CIA Internal Regulations. Nominations should be submitted to the FAI Office to arrive not later than 31st December 1998 (please use the PARIS address).

10.1 THE FAI AIRSPORT MEDAL

10.2 THE DE LA VAULX MEDALS

10.3 THE SANTOS-DUMONT GOLD AIRSHIP MEDALS

10.4 THE FAI MONTGOLFIER DIPLOMAS (Hot Air, Gas, Rozier, Service to the Sport)

10.5 FAI DIPLOMA FOR OUTSTANDING AIRMANSHIP

13 THE CIA INTERNATIONAL BALLOON AND AIRSHIP HALL OF FAME

EVENTS OPEN FOR SANCTION APPLICATION

(WORLD AND CONTINENTAL)

* Calendar may possibly have to be changed due to World Air Games

International Observer Registration Program Update

by Ron Wiseman, Chairman, CIA Observer Subcommittee

At the present time, there are 19 observers who have attained the status of a "Registered Observer" -- and are currently listed in good standing in the Registry of International Observers. In addition, two observers are in the process of having their application reviewed for acceptance, while another four to five observers are in the process of submitting their applications.

This Registry may be used by organizers of CIA First Category Sporting Events as a prime source for selecting excellent observers to staff the event. Also organizers of any CIA Premier Sporting Event may choose to access this Registry for their event.

The program, as explained in the last ‘CIA Newsletter’, consists of two criteria that must be completed successfully by an observer to qualify for registration: a subjective assessment and an objective assessment. The subjective assessment is a positive recommendation from the Chief Observer in the nation where the observer lives. The objective assessment is a demonstration of a higher level of proficiency in observing by successfully completing an open book proficiency evaluation or by providing a record of successful observing in First Category events and major regional / national or international events over the last four years.

There are three documents that cover this program: the ‘Handbook’ which explains the program fully, the ‘Application Form’ to be used for making application, and the ‘Proficiency Evaluation’ which is the recommended way to demonstrate a proficiency in observing. The most current version of the these documents is available on the internet at the CIA web-site: <http://www.fai.org/ballooning>. Advise any interested observer to obtain the documents from there if they have access to the internet. If they don’t have access, have the observer contact the Chief Observer of the nation.

These observers, who are now known to have a higher level of proficiency in observing and exhibit the positive aspects of observer traits and behaviors, have qualified for the Registry of International Observers:

More information can be obtained from the Registrar of the International Observer Registration program:

FAI Ballooning Commission Airsport Promotion Award

Many airsport awards recognize flying skills and achievements while a few others are given out to individuals who contribute significantly to the organization, usually in leadership roles. There are other areas of airsport organizations which are valuable in the overall scheme but are difficult to quantify and even more difficult to recognize appropriately. One of these is promotion of airsports, which is a diverse area and includes encouraging airsport growth, competition, participation and public attendance at events. It is an area important to well being and growth of each sport.

In an effort to recognize and encourage individuals, organizations and countries that promote ballooning the FAI Ballooning Commission (CIA) is creating a new award. The CIA Airsport Promotion Award will focus on acknowledging efforts to create material, publish or broadcast it. There are a number of categories in which the entries can be submitted and there are no age limits.

The details are listed below and it is emphasized that the efforts and materials can be in various mediums but must be submitted through the national ballooning federation to the CIA Public Relations Chairman well before the annual CIA meeting. The winners will be selected at the CIA annual meeting.

Award Objectives:

• To recognize individuals, organizations and countries that have created material to promote ballooning.
• To inform others about promotional material, ideas and efforts that have been used successfully.
• To encourage new initiatives promoting ballooning.

Categories

Entries can be made in the following categories:

• Education
• Promotion
• Training
• Historical

The material can be in print, television video, motion pictures, audio or computer based.

Evaluation Criteria

• The main theme should be to promote ballooning or flying airships as participation activities.
• May promote a ballooning event, but not necessarily emphasizing sponsors.
• Should not promote a specific manufacturer or sales agent.
• May highlight a ballooning adventure, record or competition.
• High quality of production, writing and photography.
• Should be new and innovative material on ballooning or airships
• Should be understood by non-balloonists and media.
• Material should be available for purchase, rental or free access.
• Provisions will be made to make presentations or displays at the CIA annual conference.

Limitations·

• Maximum of 2 entries per country in each category.
• Material should be created or have become available within the calendar year of entry.
• Entries may be made by individuals, companies, or organizers through their national ballooning federation to the CIA Public Relations Subcommittee Chairman.
• Material should be in the evaluation committees hands by December 31st of the calendar year of entry.

Awards

The final selection will be made at the CIA annual conference with the and awards presented for:

• First overall - Medal plus FAI certificate of merit recognizing first place
• Second overall - Medal plus FAI certificate of merit recognizing second place
• Top two in each category will receive FAI certificates of merit
• Top ten selections will be recognized on the FAI/CIA Web site.

Three Person Evaluation Team - nominated by PR & Dev Subcommittee

The evaluation team will consist of at least one member of the PRC and two other balloonists with some knowledge in Public Relations. All members of the team must be at the CIA annual conference.

CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS (SANCTIONED EVENTS) 1998

42nd Coupe Gordon Bennett - Event cancelled

1998 CIA Approved Jurors List

FAI/CIA ON THE INTERNET

The principal Internet address for the FAI/CIA are:

• FAI - http://www.fai.org
• CIA - http://www.fai.org/ballooning

The FAI Airsport Magazine can be found at: http://airsports.fai.org

The FAI also have a ballooning email information page. To subscribe send an email to:
cia-info-l@fai.org and type SUBSCRIBE in the 'Subject' box.

CIA DELEGATES AND ALTERNATE DELEGATES

As approved at the 1998 FAI General Confence

CONTRIBUTIONS WELCOME

The CIA Newsletter is published twice yearly by the CIA Secretary on behalf of the CIA Bureau. It is the only WRITTEN document to be distributed to ALL concerned with the CIA. It is open for the distribution of any suitable articles or material to everybody listed in the CIA Directory, and contributions are welcome. The next edition will be mailed in June 1999, and the deadline for submissions is 31st May 1999.

All information is believed to be correct at the time of publication, but no responsibility can be taken for any errors, omissions etc.

NEIL ROBERTSON, CIA SECRETARY, COMBE HAY MANOR, BATH BA2 7EG, ENGLAND
Tel: +44 1225 840655, Fax: +44 1225 837212,
email: Neil.Robertson@dial.pipex.com

1999 CIA CONFERENCE,
LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND,
3rd TO 6th MARCH 1999

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FORM

Please copy and distribute this form as required

Date of arrival in Lausanne: ________________________________

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR CONFERENCE PLANNING THAT THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS IS KNOWN IN ADVANCE, SO PLEASE HELP BY COMPLETING THIS FORM IN GOOD TIME AND RETURNING IT TO:

Neil Robertson, CIA Secretary, Combe Hay Manor, BATH BA2 7EG, England.
Tel: +44 1225 840655, Fax: +44 1225 837212,
email: Neil.Robertson@dial.pipex.com

CIA STATISTICS AND ANNUAL RETURN

FOR THE YEAR TO 31ST DECEMBER 1998

Country ____________________

Date and name of next year’s NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS in :

Names of BALLOONING PUBLICATIONS: _____________________________, _____________________________

Future BALLOON MEETS:

NOTES - Please add any other relevant information and points of interest on the reverse of this form

This is a true and accurate summary of the statistics for our country as at __________________

Submitted by _______________________________________ CIA Delegate

Please return to:

Neil Robertson, CIA Secretary, Combe Hay Manor, BATH BA2 7EG, England.

Fax: +44 1225 837212, Email: Neil.Robertson@dial.pipex.com

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