CIVA President Mike Heuer has been awarded the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale’s Silver Medal. The Medal was formally presented to Mike at the opening ceremonies for the FAI Aerobatic Commission’s plenary meeting in Krakow, Poland on November 4, 2011.  Mike is shown at left below with the FAI Secretary General, Jean-Marc Badan, making the presentation.

According to FAI, “The Medal is reserved for persons who have occupied high office in FAI or in an aeronautical organisation in one of its member countries, and in the discharge of their duties have shown exceptional powers of leadership and influence, to the benefit of the whole international air sport community.”

The citation for the award reads as follows:

“Mike Heuer’s career in air sports began in 1968 when he flew his first aerobatic competition.   As a leader in the aerobatic world, he was a founding member of IAC (the American aerobatic organization), its President for 9 years and member of its Board for 37 years. He became the USA Delegate to CIVA in 1984.

In 1986, he was elected President of the FAI Aerobatics Commission (CIVA) and remains in office to this day. Presiding over more International Juries at World and Continental Championships than any other person, he has guided the growth of aerobatics in FAI. During his administration, power and glider aerobatics have matured and different categories exist with more pilots participating in FAI Aerobatic Championships than ever before. Recognized as an effective leader in international aerobatics, he had an enormous influence on its development during the past four decades, benefiting pilots around the world.

A former member of the FAI Executive Board and the NAA and EAA Boards of Directors, he has received dozens of awards including the FAI’s Paul Tissandier Diploma. He was inducted into the Aerobatics Hall of Fame in 2001 and was President of the International Air Sports Board at the 3rd World Air Games.   An airline pilot for almost 30 years, he is now retired and devotes all his time to FAI and CIVA.

It is appropriate and fitting that Mike Heuer be awarded the FAI Silver Medal during the 25th anniversary year of his Presidency of CIVA.”