FÉDÉRATION AÉRONAUTIQUE INTERNATIONALE FAI BALLOONING COMMISSION (CIA) Newsletter Autumn 2000

President's Column
By Jean-Claude Weber, CIA president

Overall, I would label the Y2K as a successful ballooning year. Not as exceptional as 1999, but nevertheless, quite successful.

It has been my pleasure to attend most of our important events this year, and I can assure you that all were run according to expected standards. Congratulations and thanks to the participants, officials and organisers who all went to great length to guarantee that these events will be remembered for their high standards in sports, media and public appeal. It is fact that these events brought out the best in all people involved. But many other ballooning events took place all over the world and they also have contributed to promote our sport and the aims and objectives of the FAI/CIA. So my congratulations and thanks extend to them as well. Also, some exciting new records were established, and the 1999 Montgolfier Diploma for best performance in a Rozière will certainly go to Kevin Uliassi for his amazing flight of 20455 km in 243hours and 47 minutes.

In other respects, the year was very successful as well.

Two years ago, in our Spring 1998 Newsletter, I wrote: “Some time into the not so far future, FAI may stop being NAC "heavy" and begin to "slim down" by finding the ways and means to implement reforms, some of which the Air Sport Commissions have been demanding for years. In particular, ASC are waiting to see whether the Member NACs are willing and capable to change the FAI from a fairly conservative organisation, deriving from the statutory NAC "power base", into a modern, international multi-discipline Sports Federation deriving mainly from its activities. Reality very often precedes the change, and since the early 1990s, the FAI Air Sport Commissions have slowly but constantly gained influence and today it will be very difficult to stop this process of change.”

 Just back from the FAI General Conference, I am very pleased to report that the FAI has finally started to make serious efforts to adapt to the needs of an ever faster changing environment in the sports world. By disbanding its Council and by replacing it with seven elected Executive Board members (Wolfgang Weinreich, president; Hideo Hirasawa, Japan; Don Koranda, USA; Bob Clipsham, Canada; Pierre Portmann, France; Ivo Mazzola, Italy; Alvaro De Orleans-Borbon, Spain), taking full responsibility for the management of FAI, it has finally managed to shed its century-old structures and to open up to new ideas destined to make the FAI a truly modern international sports federation. Mind you, the FAI’s aims and objectives have not been questioned at all, and the General Conference clearly emphasised its conviction that the FAI was not created as a service organisation, but as an institution with its own identity to promote aeronautics and to give guidance to its members and the world’s air sports men and women. Among some other structural changes adopted by the General Conference, you will be surprised to learn that finally the FAI has started to recognise its Air Sport Commissions by giving them voting rights at the General Conference. This may seem to be a futile change, but I can assure you that it entails a lot of consequences for the Air Sport Commissions and their future work. I am convinced that the adopted changes will lead, in the short to medium term, to a stronger, dynamic, and open FAI, caring more about doing what is right than about seeming enlightened and caring.

While event organisers and participants are doing their best to project the best possible picture of our sport to the media and public, I am convinced that in the short to medium term our activity has to adapt to the new conditions of the communication age, and that we will have to find new ways and means to keep the interest of the public and the media. In this respect, the CIA’s initiative to promote and test a balloon tracking system was clearly very successful. Balloon tracking and live position transmission, primarily destined as a promotional tool for event organisers, has been successfully tested at some of this year’s gas and hot air events. While it is recognised that we still have to tackle some technical and utilisation problems, the system has shown that it holds a huge potential for event organisers, and it is hoped that other airsports will join our effort in order to bring down the equipment price and to make it widely available.

The World Air Games seem to be on track, at least as far as ballooning is concerned. As you know, we have planned three events: AA, AX and BX. The AX Test Event in Spain was very successful and more than 60 participants were quite pleased to have had an opportunity to “test” the venue and the organisers’ capabilities. Our officials report that they are confident that the three events can be successfully staged in 2001. Due to difficulties with the new selection process for the AX WAG event, the CIA Bureau, on a suggestion from the CC Subcommittee chairman and after the OK from the Rules Subcommittee, has decided to slightly modify the qualification formula used. In fact, as it was felt that the new selection process was unlikely to provide sufficient entries to reach the 101 required, the Bureau decided to increase the numbers of entries from previous events (see details in the WAG LO’s report). The Gas balloon event is being handled by Mark Sullivan, the newly appointed event director, and the airship event, although the WAG organisers are prepared to stage this event in any case, is still on hold as the CIA Bureau felt that the CIA should only support such an event if there are 12 or more entries. Invitations for all events are out to the NACs and you should make sure that the organisers get timely replies from your NAC.

The Great Balloon Race is well on its way now, and this year’s last quarter activities will firmly establish the base for the first race in 2002. Shortly before the meeting of the FAI Council on the 25^th May of this year, a meeting was held at the FAI HQ in Lausanne in order to review the planning, strategy and development of the proposed round the world balloon race, to be called the Great Balloon Race. This meeting followed the CIA’s unanimous decision, at our Thessaloniki meeting in March, to go ahead and to support the Great Balloon Race concept. An outside consultant, Mr. David Passmore, Business of Sport Limited, had been contracted by FAI, financed by a generous donation provided by our President of Honour Jacques Soukup, to study the concept, establish a business plan with a critical path for planning purposes, and to research potential sponsoring opportunities for this event. A project document had been circulated to potential partners, and considerable interest had been shown already at that stage, with the identification of one potential site in Dubai for the start of the event in late 2002. Also proposed was the establishment of an independent entity bringing together the partners involved and to which the rights to organise the race would be sold. A Working Group, appointed by the FAI President to co-ordinate the planning process and consisting of himself, the CIA President, and the FAI Secretary General, Max Bishop, together with Mr. David Passmore agreed to move forward according to the Executive Summary to the business plan and the critical path as laid out in this document.

Three critical elements had to be put in place before the race could begin to become a reality:

1. Secure the commitment of a balloon manufacturer and underwrite the costs of the race,

2. Secure the commitment of a preferred location
   
3. Identify strategic partnership alliances

All of the above goals have now been achieved and the development strategy is now being fully activated, the partnership alliance is evolving, and the marketing strategy will crystallise in 2001. The development strategy is fully in line with the Executive Summary critical path, 4^th quarter 2000 activities are now underway or about to start, and discussions are now ensuing with potential partners in order to ascertain levels of interest and commitment to the race from a long term viewpoint. Cost against revenue assumptions remain fairly similar to the original budget submitted with the Executive Summary of the Business Plan, and there are no changes to the original marketing strategy. FAI/CIA will retain overall control of the event and the title, and the Rules Subcommittee is presently working to establish the race regulations, to be approved at the CIA meeting in March 2001 in Bern. It is planned to

• formally announce the race by the end of this year, after a site visit and further discussions with authorities and potential investors and sponsors of the Dubai venue partner

• confirm the strategic partners,

• secure event operation underwriting,

• complete the consolidated business plan,

• incorporate the Great Balloon Race company and confirm the shareholders,

• secure NAC collaboration worldwide, and

• start the identification process of potential teams

The Great Balloon Race is now becoming a reality with its huge potential for the FAI and the CIA.

Two years ago I concluded my CIA Newsletter paper paraphrasing G.B. Shaw: Some men see things as they are and ask, “Why”? I dream things that never were, and ask, “Why not?”. Today I conclude by wishing you all nice dreams!

- END -

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Arrangements for the II World Air Games, to be held in Spain next year are progressing very well.

The successful test event, the WAG Cup 2000, gave valuable experience for the Organisers, CIA Officials, competitors and crews as to the suitability of the region for 2001. All concerned came away convinced that the WAG next year will be an excellent event in every way, and will be a credit to the Organisers and the CIA.

Invitation for the 3 Championships, Hot Air Balloons, Hot Air Airships and Gas Balloons, were mailed to National Aeroclubs on 15th September, and the deadline for acceptance is 15th November. Entry forms for the first round will be mailed on 15th December, and the final deadline for entries is 31st March 2001 for the Hot Air Balloon and Gas Balloon Championships. The deadline for entries for the Hot Air Airship Championship is 28th February 2001. This earlier deadline is to accommodate the CIA Bureau decision to only support the event if there are 12 or more entries. The organisers will thus still be in a position to cancel the event if the minimum entries are not received. For this event to survive, it is essential that competitive airship pilots world wide ensure firstly that their National Aeroclubs accept the invitation on their behalf, and then submit their entries within the deadline set.

Invitations have also been mailed to Officials for the Hot Air Balloon Championship, and those for the other 2 events will be out shortly.

The Event Directors for the 3 events are:

• Hot Air Balloons – Les Purfield (GBR)
• Hot Air Airships – David Rapp (USA)
• Gas Balloons – Mark Sullivan (USA)

The dates for the event are 23rd June to 1st July 2001, and the Organisers are looking forward to welcoming everybody to Seville for the Championships.

Invitation and Entry procedure for the WAG Hot Air Balloon Championship

As a result of a suggestion from the Chairman of the Competitors Subcommittee, who felt the procedure as originally approved was unlikely to provide the 101 competitors required, the CIA Bureau, with the agreement of the Rules Subcommittee, decided to slightly modify the procedure. The change increases the numbers invited from previous Category One Events as shown below:

The full entry procedure (as included in the Invitation mailed to National Aeroclubs in September) is:

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CIA CONFERENCE 2001
28th February to 3rd March in Bern, Switzerland

All items for inclusion in the agenda for the 2001 Plenary meeting must reach the CIA President and the CIA Secretary NOT LATER THAN 22nd DECEMBER 2000

These will then be included in the agenda which will be mailed in January 2001. Agenda items should include any supporting documentation, and a position paper, all of which will be included with the agenda.

PLEASE NOTE: The CIA Plenary Meeting cannot make final decisions on items that do not appear on the Agenda.

DATES
28 Feb & ) Subcommittee and Working 1 March ) Group Meetings
2 & 3 March Plenary Meeting

LOCATION
The Conference will take place at:
Hotel Allegro Kursaal Bern,
Kornhausstrasse 3,
3013 Bern, Switzerland
Tel: +41 31 339 5500
Fax: +44 31 339 5510
Email: kursaal@kursaal-bern.ch
Contact: Mr Liebermann

ACCOMMODATION
Hotel Allegro Kursaal Bern
SFr 155.00 single occupancy
SFr 230.00 double occupancy
Including breakfast, lunch and all taxes.

RESERVATIONS
Please make your own reservations direct with the hotel using the form included with this newsletter.

ACCESS
By air via airports at Bern, Zurich, Genf & Basle (hotel pick-up at Bern Airport on request)
By train – free tram ticket to hotel from station. Tickets with hotel confirmation

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION
Please complete the form included with newsletter and return it to the CIA Secretary

TIMETABLE

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Analysis of Expenses for period January to September 2000

Analysis of other Costa

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POINTS FOR ACTION FROM THE CIA PLENARY MEETING, Thessaloniki, GREECE, MARCH 2000

To request FAI to build more flexibility in to FAI By-Law 5.6.4.

49. To represent CIA on CASI in future.

To ensure the addition of the new paragraph concerning approval of scoring software in Section One of the Sporting Code.

To make approved changes to the requirements for experience for jurors.

To add approved qualifications for AA and Record Observers to the International Observer Registration programme.

To re-present proposals for Invitation and Selection Policy of Observers for CIA AX Category One Events at the Plenary Meeting in 2001.

To make the approved purchases of Patches, Anthems and Flags.

To review CIA name and logo and make recommendations to the Plenary Meeting in 2001.

To pursue the use of CIA logo on basket banners, targets, etc.

26. To arrange the payment of the approved donation to the 5^th International Youth Camp.

To follow up the offer from Gerald Sturzlinger of 10 sets of Fly Track GPS system.

To ensure the incorporation of the approved amendments concerning elastic balloons in Section One of the Sporting Code.

To ensure the incorporation of the approved change of wording of the Equivalence of Gases rule in Section One of the Sporting Code.

To ensure the incorporation of the approved amendment concerning Airship altitude records in Section One of the Sporting Code.

To make the approved changes to the AX MER.

To make the approved amendment to Chapter 14 of the AX MER.

To make the approved deletions of AX MER

To make the approved sub-division of the AX MER

To ensure the publication of the approved Version 2.00 of the CIA Internal Regulations.

To ensure the publication of an initial World Ranking List

29. To ensure the addition of the approved rules concerning NO-SHOWS to Section One of the Sporting Code.

35. COMPETITORS SUBCOMMITTEE

To insure the incorporation of the details of the Competitors Subcommittee into the CIA Internal Regulations.

46. To ensure the incorporation of the approved Ranking Working Group in the Plenary Meeting 2001.

36. WORLD AIR GAMES WORKING GROUP

To ensure the use of the approved Competitor Selection Process for the 2^nd World Air Games in 2001.

37. CIA SECRETARY

To ensure that current and future issues of the CIA Administration contain a more detailed breakdown of expenses.

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As we all know, FAI was founded in 1905. Today, 95 years later, we find ourselves in a world far exceeding anyone’s wildest dreams in 1905. Since then, FAI has recorded aviation’s exploits from gas balloons and wood-and-fabric aeroplanes into the stratosphere, through the sound barrier and into outer space. A multitude of new aerial activities has emerged that was unimaginable a century ago: gliding, aeromodelling, parachuting, helicopters, hang-gliding, paragliding, microlight aircraft, manpowered aircraft, solar powered aircraft.

This process of change never stops, it keeps on relentlessly and ever faster. Just the past 10 years have changed the world into a very different place, politically, commercially, financially and not least, electronically. News and information have become instant. Computers have become vital to each of us in our personal lives. Some of us may not like this whirlwind of change, we may want the world to stop for a bit, but there is no Stop-button.

In FAI, we have tried to hang on and not fall off in the bends. We have tried not only to adapt to the changes, but also to grasp some of the opportunities that have come flashing by. We have been only partly successful, however, because FAI was not designed for this speed and this scope of operations, with a structure and systems from a past century. We are already past Vne, so to say.

All General Conferences are important. This present one, however, has become more important than most. FAI is now at a point where you, the owners, have to make decisions that will prove crucial to the future of the organisation, realising, of course, that failure to make decisions is also, by default, a decision. To present you the picture, let me walk you through the present register of FAI projects, ventures and plans:

This FAI flagship was relaunched with the contract for the Second World Air Games signed in Toulouse in 1998 for the Games to be held in Andalucia in June, 2001. The organisation of this event has caused us many problems, which will be reported on later by the WAGCC. It has, however, also produced some successes.

A key feature of the second edition of the Games was a new approach to the crucial Media and Marketing issues. FAI decided to retain all media rights and created a Joint Venture with the 2001 WAG organiser to exploit them. Despite repeated financial problems and lack of response from Spain, the Joint Venture has, under the management of the WAGCC and the Secretary General, achieved some notable successes:

1) A new agreement for the year 2000 between FAI and the television distributor Trans World International (TWI) for yet another series of TV programs to be produced by the Joint Venture and distributed world-wide by TWI (as was the case in 1999). The six programs made in 1999 were a sales success, grossing nearly 150,000 dollars. The six programs being produced this year have already been sold to a number of countries.

2) The contract with Discovery Channel Network (DCN) that was signed yesterday covers a 10 year co-operation under which FAI will produce three programs in 2000 (with most production costs covered by DCN) to be aired on their Wings Channel in North America and some other parts of the world. Two of the programs have already been produced and a third is to follow.

In addition to this, the Eurosport Channel will also show the TWI programmes. These three FAI partners are all “blue chip” companies in the TV world, associates that we dared not even dream about only three years ago. Still, there is some way to go before we see profits, but the success of our productions so far, created with our own resources and under our own control, represents FAI’s definitive media breakthrough.

These successes would have been impossible without professional staff such as WAG Managing Director Srecko Medven, FAI’s Media Officer Patricia Lamy and TV producer Roland Hilfiker. Above all, however, it is the FAI Secretary General who has been at the vanguard of all these operations and who has handled the complicated commercial negotiations and secured the ultimate result.

After launching the bidding process two years ago for the 3^rd Games in 2005, providing a six-year lead-time for prospective bidders, we have only one definite proposal on the table today. That bid, however, is very well documented, and the WAGCC will continue its work to present a definite recommendation next spring.

This programme of non-Olympic sports creates candidates for the Olympic Program. The 2001 edition of the World Games in Akita, Japan, is proceeding as planned, and FAI will participate in these 6^th World Games next year with parachuting events.

The magnificent performances of the WGPA contribute to the build-up of aerobatics as a major entertainment feature, and are important to the FAI as a whole. It is driven solely by Jean-Louis Monnet and his WGPA company under an contract with FAI. Unfortunately, it is not proceeding as well as hoped, partly because it is hampered by internal rivalries in CIVA. This needs to be addressed by FAI’s coming leadership. We must not tolerate that a major FAI program is jeopardised by internal cliques within an Air Sport Commission. Some Commissions seem to forget that they are part of FAI and obliged to keep the overall interests of the organisation in mind.

The contract with the World Hang Gliding Series organisation was terminated by CIVL last year due to poor management and lack of revenue generation. However, some of the events still thrive, and the spectacular Speed Gliding event in Greece this year was the subject of an important TV production that is included in both the TWI series and the Discovery program.

FAI maintains contact with interested organisations and groups in many countries and a second international contact meeting in December last year was held in Paris in December last year to discuss developments. A dedicated FAI website for cyber-flying has been set up, and a draft Cyber-flying Sporting Code is in circulation. Test competitions have taken place in Italy, and there are plans to present Simulated Flying in the 2001 WAG.

The momentous non-stop circumnavigation of the globe by balloon last year has triggered major interest for creating a recurrent ballooning event. Through the company Business of Sport Consultancy Ltd. work is presently under way to create an organisation and a financial basis for instituting a Round-the-World Balloon Race, in order to provide the world’s ultimate ballooning challenge. Later today, the Ballooning Commission president will report more on this project.

These are the on-going major programmes of FAI. They represent our efforts at keeping FAI’s head above the water and, hopefully, to establish the financial footing we need in order not to be washed into oblivion. All this activity, however, comes on top of the ever-present day to day activities of the FAI secretariat. It involves dealing with the media industry and with event organisers that are growing more and more professional. It involves legal issues, financial issues and policy issues - on a daily basis.

These days, as you all now, being “old” is no longer what it was. “Old” used to generate respect through accumulated wisdom and sage decisions. The word “old” today, as often as not, has a negative ring to younger generations. Unfortunately, too many “old” organisations, both commercial and ideal ones, confirm this by fading away, unable to adapt and failing to inspire enthusiasm. If FAI is to survive, we must disprove that perception of “old”. We can only do that by demonstrating ability to adapt.

This is also clearly the time to settle the existential question: What is the purpose of FAI – what is FAI supposed to be and to do? There are those who maintain that FAI is a service organisation set up to provide certain services to its owners. Others maintain that FAI is an institution with its own identity, created to promote aeronautics and the owners’ common interests. One thing is beyond doubt: the FAI that was created in Paris 95 years ago was certainly not intended as a service bureau.

You have only to read the Statute paragraphs 1.2, 1.3 and 1.8 realise that also today, the notion that FAI is a “service organisation” is wide of the mark. Its owners, that is you, the Membership, may decide to change that, but as it stands, FAI is an international institution with a clear mission and a clear responsibility for the development of aviation, sporting aviation in particular. That has been my understanding and my guidance during the eight years that I have been involved in the leadership of this organisation, and it still is. Now it is up to you if you want FAI to stay in that role.

You have given me the privilege of being president of this organisation for six years. Last year, I summed up some of the milestones that we had passed so far and listed the major achievements. For the record, I will do so again, with some updating:

In 1994, we put FAI on the Internet, making FAI’s vast documentation available to the world and opening up instantaneous electronic communications to everyone. For the first time individuals could communicate directly with FAI.

From 1994 onwards, we have engaged ourselves actively in the European JAA activities and, together with our affiliate Europe Airsports, FAI now plays a clear role in these regulatory processes.

In 1994, we became full members of the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) and the International World Games Organisation (IGWA), and have since developed a string presence on this scene, opening a new path to the Olympic Games.

In 1995, in Montreal, the FAI Council held a joint meeting with the Council of ICAO, presenting the case for devolution of national regulatory powers over non-commercial, sporting aviation to national private associations.

In 1995, we established an Environmental Commission, which has put in place an overall environment policy for FAI and is developing codes of conduct for the various air sports.

From 1995 onwards, we developed a good relationship with the International Aircraft Owners and Pilots Associations (IAOPA), and are closely co-ordinating our policies in regulatory matters.

In 1996, we established the FAI Grand Prix of Aviation, our aerobatics flagship, whose magnificent airshow performances around the world are contributing to the build-up of aerobatics as a major entertainment feature.

In 1996, we adopted, under the control of CIVL, the spectacular Speed Gliding event, which will shortly be broadcast on the Discovery Channel in the North and South America and United Kingdom.

In 1997, we established FAI’s ownership rights to all air sports events, securing full control over future income from the media.

In 1997, we introduced a common advertising rules framework for the World Air Games and later decided to apply it to all air sports, creating a firm platform for our dealings with sponsors.

In 1997, we participated with parachuting in the World Games in Lahti, for the first time producing, with FAI’s own resources, the TV signal for Finnish and European TV. In 2001, we will do so again in Akita, Japan.

In 1997, after nearly 10 years of continuous effort, we finally created the World Air Games, with Turkey hosting the groundbreaking First World Air Games in 1997 with over 3000 participants.

In 1997, we established an Airspace Working Group which has since been actively engaged in battling the regulators and all those who are trying to force air sports out of the sky.

In 1997, we entered the world of Cyberflying: flight simulation on private computers, a world inhabited by hundreds of thousands of people, and are actively pursuing this new area.

In 1998, we consolidated the World Air Games concept by contracting with Spain for the 2nd Games to be held in Andalucia in 2001, and a decision on the 3^rd Games, scheduled for 2005, is approaching.

In 1998, we moved FAI operations to Lausanne, the Olympic capital, sharing this location with 14 other international sports federations and have since then been operating vastly more efficiently in an attractive legal environment.

In 1999, we actively entered the world of television as producers of our own sports and information programs under long term contracts with major, “blue-chip” TV distributors and networks.

During 1997-98 we developed a Business plan framework and this year we present a corresponding medium term budgeting system which will become an important administrative tool in our future activities.

This year, 2000, we are in the process of finalising arrangements and financing for the FAI Round-the-World Balloon Race, in order to provide the world with the ultimate ballooning challenge.

At this General Conference, we will hopefully agree to increase FAI’s management capability by introducing an small Board of Executive Directors to replace the existing Council, improving FAI’s ability to deal with its increasing array of special projects and contracts.

There should be no doubt as to where all these initiatives and events are pointing. They all represent unique new opportunities for FAI, which - properly managed - hold a new lease of life for the future of air sports. Also, they all aim at placing FAI in the high profile, high visibility position it deserves as the World’s oldest aviation organisation.

I thank you, the membership who have allowed me the honour of serving you for such a long time, and who have, time and again, supported and endorsed the actions of the Officers and the strategy behind them. I thank my dedicated fellow FAI Officers and our Air Sport Commission Presidents, the real FAI, who have all put their weight in and made all this possible, bringing the results of our efforts out to the real people.

Especially, I thank our Secretary General Max Bishop, who has taken all these enormous challenges in his stride and performed miracles with inadequate resources, always bearing over with my often unreasonable demands on his capacity. It is in now your hands to make life better for all these dedicated people.

Eilif Ness, FAI President                     Linköping, 28 September 2000.

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CIA APPROVED JURORS LIST – 2000

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The FAI Ballooning Commission (CIA) awards sanctions to organisers of balloon events who require international recognition for their event. Organisers can apply for a sanction to stage any international balloon event, but it is mandatory to apply for a sanction to stage a FAI Category One Championship (World, Continental and Coupe Gordon Bennett).

For organisers of smaller events a sanction guarantees the organiser assistance in the planning and staging of the event. The Commission’s Event Planning and Advisory Service (EPAS) works with organisers to ensure the event is staged to the highest international standards for safety and flying operations. This gives the event credibility for competitors and helps the event to grow in size every year.

For organisers of other Category 1 Events and Premier Sporting Events, the awarding of a Ballooning Commission Sanction assists in three ways:

• Providing International Officials

• Increasing Competitor Participation

• Attracting Sponsorship Money

By applying for a Ballooning Commission Sanction, event organisers can obtain assistance before, during and after the event. Before the event EPAS can provide assistance to important officials such as the Director or Safety Officer. During the event the Commission ensures that the correct international rules are used and the highest standards of safety and sportsmanship applied. After the event the Ballooning Commission and the FAI ratify the results and resolve any disputes or protests.

Major events are trying to attract the best pilots from around the world. If an event has a Ballooning Commission Sanction it is recognised by Pilots in every ballooning country in the world as a quality event. The Ballooning Commission advertises sanctioned events every year at its Plenary Meeting and in the FAI Calendar of International Sanctioned Events. Sanctioned Events are also reviewed by the CIA Competitors Committee. This means that the best pilots in every country get to learn about your event and consider attending. All of these reasons will help you to attract the best pilots for your event.

Sponsorship

An Event Sanction can assist in attracting sponsors by providing international credibility to the event and making it easier to get media coverage. In 1999 and 2000 the FAI employed consultants to make films of a number of sanctioned events in each airsport. These films have been sold to several European and American TV distributors. All of this support will help you to attract sponsors to your event.

Conclusion

The FAI Ballooning Commission wants to continue to work closely with the organisers of all International Balloon Events to assist them to run successful and profitable events that are enjoyed by both competitors and spectators. The sanction process has been created to achieve these worthwhile goals.