FÉDÉRATION AÉRONAUTIQUE INTERNATIONALE

FAI BALLOONING COMMISSION (CIA)

Autumn 1999

Table of Contents

1. Presidents Column
2. CIA Conference 2000
3. Annual Report to the FAI General Conference
4. What is Happening in the Event Planning and Advisory Services (EPAS)
5. FAI Ballooning Commission Question and Answer Sessions
6. CIA Donations Scheme
7. Reminders
8. CIA Administration Account
9. Points for Action from the CIA Plenary Meeting, Lausanne, Switzerland, March 1999
10. International Observer Registration Program Update
11. What's Wrong with the CIA Sporting Badges
12. 1999 CIA Approved Jurors List
13. FAI Members, CIA Delegates and Alternate Delegates - As approved at the 1999 FAI General Conference
14. Championship Results - Category 1 Sanctioned Events 1999
15. Contributions Welcome
16. CIA Conference, Thessaloniki, Greece - Conference Registration Form  -- 
17. CIA Statistics and Annual Return

FORMS FOR DOWNLOADING (MS Word format)

1. Download  - CIA Conference, Thessaloniki, Greece Registration Form 
2. Download - CIA Conference Thessaloniki Greece - Accommodation Booking form for the Conference Hotel
3. Download - CIA Statistics and Annual Return Form
4. FAI Ballooning Commission Sporting Badge Forms

• Download Sporting Badge Forms MS Word File (299K)
• Download Sporting Badge Forms self extracting MS Word File (86K)

PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

By Jean-Claude Weber, CIA president

In our Spring Newsletter I wrote that I looked forward to hearing your concerns, and boy, my ears are still ringing.

True, I asked for it and I am not going to complain, to the contrary, I would like to thank all of you who voiced their concerns. It seems that after all you have things to say. At two events this year the CIA organised a Question & Answer session, and at a third event pilots were asked to participate in a survey after the championship. At all three events the pilots’ response was tremendous and I can assure you that, when the results are discussed at the CIA’s Plenary in March 2000, there will be some surprises. EPAS and its Event Evaluation Working Group are to be commended for their initiative and their hard work during this year.

I recently came upon a Ballooning Journal that I normally read only for its news and nice balloon pictures. This time however, I took the time to read it more thoroughly because the front-page picture showed what seemed to me a perfectly happy pilot. I knew that he had every reason to be happy, and it was no surprise to see his picture on the front page of my journal, but it was a surprise to “feel” affected by his radiant good humour and manifest happiness. Having read the associated articles, written by this pilot and his co-pilot, I felt strangely elated and very grateful for this contribution. They somehow managed to share their wonderful experience and their happiness with the rest of us. Congratulations Bill and David, not only for the title, but also for your skills in communication.

And talking about communication, I believe that we all have a lesson to learn. In our Commission, as in all other associations, we tend in time to take some things for granted. This “sloppy” (or complacent) approach is very dangerous and from time to time we are faced with situations that can grow into major problems if we do not make the right decisions. But how to make the right decisions in an association that meets only once a year for two days and indulges in many fruitless discussions. Communication is the answer, and I encourage all of you to make ample use of all the communication means available today and obviously of the Internet and its facilities. The more we communicate, the less problems will stay unresolved and the more we will learn that it is not only “our own belly button” that we should be concerned about.

In the same journal (not named above) I also found a sidebar presenting the CIA’s Dutch delegate’s efforts to establish the CIA Competitors’ Committee (CCC) and stating that : “…international competition issues have been so strong in the minds of pilots that a CIA Competitors Committee is in the process of being formed. Its primary goal is to make certain that competitors have a direct voice in the CIA, to insure that the competitors’ basic needs and desires are known by the officials and organisers. Efforts to have the CCC officially recognised by the CIA have met with resistance. The CIA reportedly believes that such a committee would be redundant, and that pilot issues can and should be addressed through the pilots’ CIA delegates. But because of …the clear support shown by the world’s top competitive pilots for the CCC, many of us hope the CIA will accept and welcome direct input from pilots via the CCC”.  Again, our communication efforts must have been in vain (or non-existent?) if this is how the CIA’s position is interpreted. The CIA Plenary’s motion in this respect seemed very clear to me (specifically that we invited the initiative’s promoter to present a viable set-up for the CCC conforming with the FAI Statutes and By-Laws), but now I am afraid that we failed again to communicate this “positive” approach to the promoter and his supporters, but also that we failed to communicate to the outside world all the efforts that have been made lately to take into account the pilots needs and desires. It seems to me that we definitely need to make a serious PR effort.

The CIA (as a FAI Air Sport Commission) also needs to make a serious effort in communication within the FAI. During the FAI General Conference in Cyprus (October 21/22, see my report in this NL) I got the distinct impression that the CIA really had lost some sympathies among our fellow air sports friends. When talking to other Air Sport Commissions’ members, I was invariably told that our “special” approach to resolve our conflict within CASI was really not appropriate for a FAI Air Sport Commission. Most of them agreed with what we want to achieve, but none of them agreed with our method. So once again, I now believe we (meaning mainly myself) made a poor show in communication by projecting negative images, and I feel that if we want to obtain the expected results, it is about time we start seriously talking to the other Air Sport Commissions. Therefore, it is of vital importance that all of you communicate as soon and as often as possible with your NAC’s other FAI ASC delegates and try to explain the CIA’s positions. This will tremendously help the CIA to defend its interests within the FAI.

Finally, I am pleased to tell you that during the General Conference the program for the 2^nd World Air Games was definitely frozen. The CIA now plans to have an AA, AX and BX WAG Championship in Seville, Spain from June 22 to July 1 2001. These events will be high quality competitive events run to World Championship standards with CIA appointed International Officials. Also, the Spanish event organisers have agreed to stage a full AX Category 1 Test Championship in 2000, the Pre-World Air Games International Hot Air Balloon Championship.

Agenda Items

All items for inclusion in the agenda for the 2000 Plenary meeting must reach the CIA President and the CIA Secretary NOT LATER THAN 21st DECEMBER 1999.  These will then be included in the agenda which will be mailed in January 2000.  Agenda items should include any supporting documentation, and a position paper, all of which will be included with the agenda.

NOTE:  under a recently approved change in the Sporting Code 'The CIA Plenary Meeting cannot make final decisions on items that do not appear on the Agenda'.

Limassol/Cyprus, October 21, 1999
From Jean-Claude Weber, CIA President

HIGHLIGHTS of 1999

As we have been made aware that time and space are rare commodities, I will limit my report to the bare minimum and essentials. Should you however wish to have the full details of your Ballooning Commission’s activities, I invite you to go to the CIA’s homepage on the FAI web site.

First Around The World Manned Balloon Flight

Around at last! When I told you last year in my report that the latest records established by American pilot Steve FOSSET were bound to be broken soon, I did not really imagine that it would already happen in March of this year. I was very fortunate to be allowed to be present for the BREITLING ORBITER III’s launch on the first of March, and I must admit that it was a very emotional moment for all who witnessed this latest attempt to achieve what had never been done before. Ballooning’s greatest challenge, the global circumnavigation by manned free balloon, was finally achieved on March 21 at 05:52 GMT. Having flown for 19 days 21 hours 47 minutes (477 h. 47 min.) and 40814 km, Bertrand PICCARD (Switzerland) and Brian JONES (UK) set the World Record for shortest time around the World at 15 days 10 hours 24 min. (370h. 24 min.). As it so happened this historic flight, along with Colin PRESCOT’s and Andy ELSON’s circumnavigation attempt (who also set duration and distance records), took place during the CIA’s annual meeting in Lausanne from March 3^rd to 6^th, where delegates from 27 NACs were constantly informed about the progress of the flights.

14^th World Hot Air Balloon Championship

This Championship took place in Bad Waltersdorf/Austria from August 28^th to September 5^th. The well-organised event was unfortunately marred by bad weather and only 5 out of 12 possible flights were flown, some in marginal competition conditions. The competition was however very challenging and Bill ARRAS (US) is the new World Champion. Second place went to Uwe SCHNEIDER (Germany), and third place to Gintaras SURKUS (Lithuania). The top ten places went to competitors representing 9 different NACs.

43^rd Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett

The CIA’s most prestigious gas balloon event started on the last day of September in Albuquerque, N.M. (USA), and finished a week later. The Coupe, won by Philippe De Cock & Ronny Van Havere with a flight of 910 miles, therefore goes to the Belgian NAC who will also be the organiser of the 44^th Coupe Gordon Bennett in 2000. For the record, I wish however to inform you that, after the cancellation of the 42^nd Coupe Gordon Bennett in Paris in 1998, the CIA initiated an extraordinary bidding process where the Gas Division of the Balloon Federation of America, with the formal approval of the US NAC, was granted the sanction to organise this event. As the event organising NAC is usually determined by the previous year’s winners of the Coupe, this was in fact only the third in the history of the Coupe Gordon Bennett that the CIA had to resort to a bidding process in order to determine the event organisers. As a by-line, I would like to mention that this year’s event has been organised in conjunction with the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, the most spectacular ballooning event in the world with more than 1000 participating balloons, but alas not one organised under the FAI’s or the US NAC’s auspices. This is very regrettable, and the CIA is actively working with its US delegate to make it possible for this event to also obtain an official FAI sanction.

CIA Annual Meeting

The CIA’s annual meeting took place in Lausanne from March 3 to 6, 1999. The CIA was the first commission to formally meet in FAI’s new home town, and our meeting, with 27 NAC delegates present was very successful due mainly to the efforts of the FAI staff, the Swiss NAC and the Swiss Ballooning Federation. The following CIA decisions concern the major issues dealt with during the meeting:

• to fully support the 2^nd FAI WAGs with high quality, high visibility sporting events for hot air balloons, airships and gas balloons, and to not organise World Championships during the WAGs in order to allow the WAGs to evolve into a highly successful stand-alone FAI event in accordance with its basic principles;
• to change its Category 1 Sporting Calendar to avoid potential conflicts between future WAGs and the CIA Continental – and World Championships;
• to support the 2001 ECO Joint Venture with US$ 5,000;
• to develop qualifying criteria and a scoring formula for a hot air balloon competitors World Ranking List;
• to re-organise its PR & Development Subcommittee in order to better suit the growing demands of FAI, event organisers and competitors in this respect;
• to appoint a media expert to participate in FAI’s efforts to make air sports more “media friendly”;
• to not send a CIA delegate to CASI for the foreseeable future and write to the CASI president presenting our apologies for future meetings;
• to financially support future initiatives in respect of youth activities world-wide.

MAIN CIA PROJECTS

The Great Balloon Race

As a direct consequence of the many attempts to circumnavigate the globe non-stop in a balloon, interest in a “around-the-world” balloon race has dramatically increased during the last few years. If it is true that world’s balloonists will need new challenges, it is equally true that the FAI will need new ways to catch the world’s attention. This has already been recognised some years ago, but it is only since late last year that the FAI and the CIA have seriously started to look in the organisation of such an event. The CIA has set up a specialised Working Group in this respect, and some eminent specialists have pledged their support. Earlier this year, the WG decided to explore all potential avenues that could facilitate the organisation of a first FAI organised race in late 2001, the year of the WAGs. The CIA’s Rules Subcommittee is presently actively preparing a first draft set of rules, and in association with a major international PR company, the CIA is set to start promising negotiations with potential sponsors who already have expressed a keen interest.

The FAI/CIA – Organisers Agreement

In accordance with the FAI Statutes and the Sporting Code, the CIA has now started to implement individual agreements with all sanctioned International ballooning event organisers. Nearly unavoidable with new schemes, we have had some initial problems and we had to adapt our standard agreement to take into account some legitimate requests from organisers, and some sound advice from the FAI Officers. In this respect, the CIA has brought into the agreement not only the organisers duties, but also the CIA’s duties and the organiser’s rights. In addition, we have totally re-organised our Event Assistance program by creating a special subcommittee (Event Planning and Assistance Service – EPAS), and organisers may now take advantage of a multitude of CIA services that were previously not available. Starting in the year 2000, all sanctioned International ballooning events will have to be covered by an FAI/CIA-Organiser agreement, and the CIA is presently working to modify its bidding process in order to allow bidding parties to have a signed agreement before the CIA is required to grant a final sanction.

The FAI 2^nd World Air Games

At its meeting in Lausanne earlier this year, the CIA has decided to “to fully support the 2^nd FAI WAGs with high quality, high visibility sporting events for hot air balloons, airships and gas balloons, and to not organise World Championships during the WAGs in order to allow the WAGs to evolve into a highly successful stand-alone FAI event in accordance with its basic principles”. In order to achieve this goal, and learning from past mistakes, the CIA has started work on some initiatives that will greatly encourage the world’s best competitors and officials to participate in the WAGs. However, we are facing very strong opposition from the Spanish ECO 2001 organisers and, at the time of writing, we do not know if an agreement can be reached that will allow the CIA to continue its work in this respect.

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

A plea in support of the FAI Sporting Licence

Analysing the CIA’s statistics, I believe it to be worthwhile to focus your attention on a few key numbers and to briefly comment on them in order to underline the point of my concerns.

In 1998, of the 48 FAI Members that nominated delegates to the CIA, only 36 reported any activity (75%). These 36 FAI Members reported 12855 aerostats, 15897 pilots, and 803 FAI Sporting Licenses issued. It is of great concern for an ASC to learn that only around 5% of all reported pilots were issued a Sporting Licence. For instance, the top NAC reported 8267 (52%) balloon pilots, but only issued 32 (4%) of the FAI Sporting Licences in ballooning. Although it is no secret that many a balloon flight today is commercially motivated, it is nevertheless surprising to learn that we only have 803 pilots and officials world-wide under direct “National Air Sport Control”. Why are these figures important in this report? Because as an Air SPORT Commission the CIA feels that it is wrong that the vast majority of active balloonists are left to their own devices and are totally unconcerned with FAI and CIA. The CIA recently started to organise Q&A sessions at major ballooning events, and one of the most frequent comments was that the FAI and CIA are consistently invisible among active balloonists worldwide. Of course the CIA is now trying to correct this situation by a multitude of actions, and one of these is to remind the FAI members that it is one of their more important duties to make every possible effort to encourage every balloon pilot or official engaged in any ballooning activity to hold a FAI Sporting Licence. I believe that the only way to effectively support and protect our air sport in the ballooning community, and at the same time to promote the aims and objectives of the FAI, is to make sure that each participant in our sport can easily obtain his Sporting Licence and participate, without undue hardship (financial or other), in all our air sport’s activities. I don’t think it necessary to outline the advantages of the Sporting Licence for the FAI Members, but I would like to stress that if NACs and FAI wish to keep control of the sporting activity in ballooning in the FAI Members’ countries, then we should make sure that the FAI Sporting Licence gets back the place and status it deserves.

A clarification concerning the CIA and CASI

In 1999 the CIA delegates (the same persons that are delegated to the CIA by their respective NACs) unanimously decided to no longer send a CIA representative to CASI for the foreseeable future. The reasons leading to this decision are many and complex, but the most important one is that the CIA feels that the present CASI structure is ill-suited to guarantee each ASC its own vital freedom to best manage its activity without interfering with other ASCs’ prerogatives. The CIA believes that each air sport for itself is best suited to look after its own activity, and that it would be preposterous for the CIA to try to influence other air sports. But let me assure you that there is no question of the CIA wishing “to go it alone” or of rejecting the FAI Statutes or General Section of the Sporting Code. This is simply not true and any other statement you may have heard has probably been made to serve that person’s interest and not the interest of the FAI and the CIA. The CIA is, and intends to stay, fully committed to the principles, aims and objectives of the FAI.

This concludes the CIA President’s report.

WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE EVENT PLANNING 

AND ADVISORY SERVICES (EPAS)?

By: Alex Nagorski - EPAS Chairman

EPAS was restructured as a separate subcommittee at the March 1999 Plenary just in time for the busy event season. Stella Roux Devillas has maintained a steady course through the event sanctioning process for 1999 while the new EPAS members get up to speed and try to implement new ideas.

One major item that has been implemented is the FAI Organisers Agreement, which took a considerable amount of discussion and effort to refine for ballooning events. The Luxembourg Mobilux and Honda Grand Prix event organisers, especially Jean-Claude Weber, have provided a significant amount of input and we believe we now have a good working model to be used for all other CIA Sanctioned Events. We also realise that more work in this area is needed over the next few years, to help organisers understand and work with the agreement.

The Event Standards and Evaluations Working Group chaired by Les Purfield has taken a number of significant steps forward with its mandate. At the 14^th World Hot Air Balloon Championship in Bad Waltersdorf, Austria and 43^rd Coupe Aeronautique Gordon Bennett, his Working Group has:

• Conducted event debriefings for competitors, officials and organisers chaired by the Jury President. Details from these meetings will be included in the Jury Reports.
• Distributed and collected surveys from many participants
• Collected the survey information supplied by the Luxembourg event organisers

Having completed this first round of data collection, the efforts are now being focused on how best to analyse the responses and to pass along information to other CIA Subcommittees and Working Groups.

It is significant that the comments from people who participated in the event debriefings were favourable as they thought the sessions were very good in getting issues discussed and letting the competitors put forward their impressions and ideas. This was especially true at the Gordon Bennett where 17 out of 20 teams and most of the officials attended the debriefing.

In the area of event sanctioning a considerable amount of discussion has taken place over the last few months with the consensus being that the sanctioning guidelines need to be updated considerably, event categories reviewed, sanction fees examined and a number of procedures clearly documented. A significant amount of work has been identified for the group to undertake over the winter months.

FAI BALLOONING COMMISSION
QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSIONS

By: Alex Nagorski - EPAS Chairman

The poor weather at the 14^th World Hot Air Balloon Championship in Bad Waltersdorf, Austria limited the flying time, but did provide ample opportunity for people to meet.  During the week Jean-Claude suggested that a cancelled flight could provide an opportunity to hold an open question and answer session for all those at the event. As Presidents are usually very good at delegating duties, I found myself being asked to organise and chair such a meeting.

Looking around it was apparent that a large number of CIA Bureau, Subcommittee and Working Group Chairmen were at the event as competitors, officials or crew. In asking people to represent their groups, everyone was very enthusiastic to be part of it, so the idea quickly became a reality.

The evening flight on September 2^nd was cancelled so the Question and Answer session was announced at the flight briefing and an agenda distributed. The meeting was started immediately following the briefing and approximately 300 balloonists remained to take part.

After an introduction by the President, Jean-Claude, each chairman gave a 2-minute presentation on his group, including recent accomplishments and work in progress. Then they fielded questions and comments from those in attendance. Since this was a World Championship, there was a considerable amount of discussion concerning the rules. After a reasonable amount of time the agenda moved on to all the other subcommittees.

Although the chairman or representatives were willing to openly answer any questions or comments, it was emphasised that if people wanted to make a proposal for the CIA to seriously consider they would first need to document it. Then they would need to have their Delegate take the proposal forward through the formal CIA process.

This first meeting lasted almost two hours, with around 150 people still left at the end. It was very well received by competitors, officials, crews and organisers as it provided them with an opportunity to see, hear and talk to CIA Bureau and Subcommittee members. Favourable comments were heard through out the rest of the week and at following events.

A second Question and Answer session was scheduled at the 43^rd Gordon Bennett in Albuquerque, USA right after the event debriefing meeting. Fewer CIA Bureau and Subcommittee members were present and fewer competitors were at this event, which was part of the very large Albuquerque Fiesta. Only 20 people turned out for this meeting but the comments were very good and the discussion worthwhile. Those who attended the meeting encouraged the CIA to continue to hold these types of sessions since it provided an opportunity for the CIA to "wave their international flag" as well as letting balloonists see those individuals working in the FAI Ballooning Commission.

A few lessons were apparent from these two meetings:

• Regular FAI Ballooning Commission Question and Answer meetings should be scheduled at sanctioned events.
• The key factors for good attendance are: the meeting time, location and Bureau and Subcommittee members present.
• Seeing and hearing the FAI Ballooning Commission members was a worthwhile experience for those who participated.
• Formal CIA structure and procedures must still be followed to raise and resolve issues at the international level.

Thank you, to all the CIA Bureau and Subcommittee members who participated and let us continue these open sessions.

CIA DONATIONS SCHEME

REMINDERS

EVENTS OPEN FOR SANCTION APPLICATION
(WORLD AND CONTINENTAL)

CIA ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNT

for the period from 1st January to 30th September 1999
IN SWISS FRANCS

POINTS FOR ACTION
FROM THE CIA PLENARY MEETING, LAUSANNE,
SWITZERLAND, MARCH 1999

20. OBSERVER SUBCOMMITTEE

That the International Observer Registration Programme be enhanced by adding a registration category for observers of AA Class events and a category of observers of Record attempts.

21. PR & DEVELOPMENT SUBCOMMITTEE

That the CIA approves expenditure on CIA and FAI Medals and Certificates at a cost of $750

That the CIA approves expenditure on CIA Patches and Scarves at a cost of $4000

That the CIA approve expenditure for CIA pilot information brochure $500

21. BUREAU

That the Bureau schedule a period of not less than 3 hours during each Annual Conference for public relations, education or open forum discussions.

21. EPAS

That the CIA Event Contract is redrafted by EPAS to consider the following issues:

• Ensuring that event organisers are able to understand the purpose and implications of the contract.
• The requirement and timing for a deposit in addition to event sanction fees.
• The identification and use of mandatory and negotiable clauses.
• The use of different standard contracts for World Championships, Gordon Bennett events, and other Category 1 or Premier Sporting events.
• The use of CIA Logo, protocols and merchandise.

21. SCORING WG

That the Scoring WG develop qualifying criteria and a scoring formula for an AX world ranking list of international pilots. This list should be developed as soon as possible. This trial ranking system should be presented to the plenary for discussion and approval in March 2000. The list is not proposed for use in any event selection or qualification procedure.

22. WORLD AIR GAMES WG

The WAG WG was asked to present a new proposal (competitor selection process ) at the Plenary Meeting in 2000.

23. COMPETITORS COMMITTEE

That the CIA give its intention to accept the Competition Pilot Commission as an affiliated body with rights to send a (non-voting) representative to CIA Meetings. This affiliation will take place at the meeting of March 2000 subject to:

a) The CPC completing its formation

b) The CPC being broadly and democratically representative of the world’s competition pilots.

24. RULES SUBCOMMITTEE

That the CASI Representative write to the President of CASI presenting our apologies for future meetings and requesting that no new General Section amendments are made which are mandatory on the CIA.

That the CIA propose revision of the General Section, 6.8.1 and 6.8.2, to specify that approval authority for extension of time limits be assigned to the Air Sport Commission concerned.

That the definitions for cubic capacity in Section 1, 2.1.3 and 2.2.3 for balloons and airships be modified by additional words to the effect that if, starting from a filled (no wrinkle) condition, the material of the aerostat has sufficient elasticity so that the actual volume achieved during flight affects the size class, then the actual volume achieved during flight shall be used in determining size sub-class.

That the Record Claim forms in Section 1, Annex 1, be revised to include, in addition to the Observers signature, a box for his printed name, and on the first form, address and contact numbers, telephone, fax and email.

The President reported on progress in the plans for The Great Balloon Race, and proposed that the Plenary delegate responsibility to the Bureau to continue negotiations with the assistance of experts Alan Nobel (GBR), Don Cameron (GBR) and Jacques Soukup (GBR).

International Observer Registration Program Update

By Ron Wiseman, Observer Subcommittee Chairman

At the present time, there are 81 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, six observers have their application on hold while they complete the qualification process. The 81 registrants represent the 18 countries of Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and United States.

There are four documents that cover this program: the “Overview” which presents the highlights of the 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 country.

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

Ron Wiseman, R.O.                              phone: +1 920 734 0642
3400 North Fiesta Drive                      fax: +1 920 730 8263
Appleton Wisconsin 54911 USA         e-mail: Ronwiseman@aol.com

Nothing. To the contrary, I believe the Sporting Badges to be the perfect instrument to reward excellence in the sport of ballooning. So why the title? Because many pilots are discouraged by the seemingly difficult claim procedures. Mind you, not by the qualifications and requirements, and I am convinced that many more badges would already have been issued if our pilots knew how to apply. And it is exactly the aim of this paper to make pilots see how easily they can apply and obtain a Sporting Badge once they have met the qualification requirements.

The Sporting Code Section 1, Chapter 8, details the Claim procedures as follows:

8.2.5.1 Register of Badges.
An NAC or delegated Ballooning Authority shall keep a register of badge flights which it has validated, and shall report to the FAI information on awards earned as follows:

• The NAC or delegated Ballooning Authority reporting,
• Name of pilot,
• Class and sub-class of aerostat used,
• Type of badge or diamond awarded,
• Tasks flown, with dates and performances achieved.

8.2.5.2 Awarding Badges.

• The reporting NAC or delegated Ballooning Authority shall remit to the FAI monetary instrument covering the cost of the badges.
• The Records Review Subcommittee of the CIA shall monitor the operation of the badge system, and maintain a register of all badges awarded.
• The PR and Development Subcommittee of the CIA shall make arrangements for design, procurement and delivery of awards to the NAC or delegated Ballooning Authority concerned.

8.2.5.3 The CIA Records Review Subcommittee may appoint observers and act as co-ordinator where National Balloon Federation arrangements have not been made.

8.2.5.4 Inexpensive badges will be available from the CIA for purchase by NAC/National Balloon Federation. Precious metal badges may be commissioned by winners at their own expense if they wish.

This basically means that your National Aero Club or Balloon Federation (your NAC = National Airsport Control) is in charge to handle the CIA Sporting Badges scheme. However, and here we face a problem, most NACs and their CIA delegates don’t know that such a CIA scheme exists, or that it is their responsibility to make it work.

In order to facilitate the claim procedures, you will find attached to the CIA Newsletter a model CLAIM FORM that should be distributed as widely as possible, and that should be available from NACs on request. (The form will also be made available on the CIA web pages).

Once you have met the requirements, you should send your CLAIM FORM to your NAC or CIA delegate. They will then make sure that your performances are properly registered and they will award you the corresponding badge or diamond. In most cases the awarded badge will obviously be the inexpensive one (except perhaps for a few very rich NACs), but you may order from the FAI, at your own expense, the corresponding badge in precious metal (Silver, gold and diamonds) As far as applicants are concerned, that’s it.

Generally, NACs don’t like to get involved in a badge-issuing process, because this means that they have to provide some kind of service. This is where the CIA delegates come in: They have to make sure either that their NAC fully participates, or they have to take over from their NAC and handle the badge scheme on their own. They have also to make sure that the CIA Badge schemeis widely publicised and they have to provide assistance for their NAC’s pilots wishing to participate.

Pilots participating in the CIA Badge scheme have to provide big efforts in order to achieve the requirements. The CIA and the NACs have only to provide a small contribution to make sure that our pilots are duly rewarded.

Please let us make things happen

1999 CIA APPROVED JURORS LIST

FAI Members: 76 Full (7 suspended), 9 Associate (3 suspended), 6 Temporary = 91 (10 suspended)
Declared for ballooning: 57 full (2 suspended), 1 associate (suspended), 1 temporary = 59 (3 suspended)
46 Delegates and 32 Alternate Delegates declared to FAI