FAI World Grand Prix Premiere in the Emirates

For the first time ever, an FAI aerobatic competition will be held in the United Arab Emirates, at Al Ain, from 2 to 6 February 2004. It will also be the first time the competition will host jet aircraft, solo pilots and formation teams in addition to propeller aerobatic aircraft.

For more details on the event and participants, please visit :
http://www.haute-voltige.com/en/fwgp/events/Current/alain04/home.htm
http://www.haute-voltige.com/en/fwgp/events/Current/alain04/participants.htm

The FAI World Grand Prix Series
The new FAI World Grand Prix Series started 1 January 2004 and will finish 31 December 2005. The competition is open to Propeller and Jet aircraft, to Solo pilots and Formation Teams, to both civilian and military competitors. The FAI World Grand Prix will offer a World Grand Prix Champion title sanctioned by FAI (Federation Aeronautique Internationale), the International Federation in charge of all air sports world wide.

Pilots' Selection
Civilian pilots are either proposed by aircraft manufacturers (test pilots), or selected among the top pilots competing in the Freestyle World Aerobatic Championship sanctioned by CIVA, the International Aerobatics Commission of the FAI. Pilot pre-selection (excluding test pilots representing aircraft manufacturers), will be made in each CIVA country through a CHALLENGE ROUND, which will be open to traditional aerobatic competitors as well as airshow pilots. Military pilots are selected by their own Air Force.

World Record Claims
Please find below a selection of the new World Record Claims received since the beginning of the year for Gliders and Microlights :

Class D - Gliders / Claim number : 8324
Sub-class : DO - Open Class Gliders / General Category
Type of record : Speed over a triangular course of 300 km
Course/location : Omarama (New Zealand)
Performance : 222.9 km/h
Pilot : Theo Roger NEWFIELD (New Zealand)
Crew : Grae HARRISSON (New Zealand)
Glider : Schleicher ASH 25 M
Date: 05.01.2004
Current record : 179.30 km/h (17.12.1997 - Terrence Raymond DELORE, NZL)

Class R (Microlights) / Claims number : 8306, 8308, 8310
Sub-class : RPL2 (Microlights : Paraglider Control / Landplane / Flown with two persons)
Pilot : Helmut STERN (Austria)
Crew : Anja ZOTTER (Austria)
Powered Paraglider : Sunflightcraft "Air Chopper" & Sycon Chiron 340
Course/location : Sarvar (Hungary)
Date: 26.12.2003
# 8306 : Altitude / Performance : 4 575 m / Current record : 3'409 m (30.03.2003 - Alenka PRAH, Slovenia)
# 8308 : Time to climb to a height of 3000 m / Performance : 24 min 58 sec / Current record : 39 min 06 sec (30.03.2003 - Alenka PRAH, Slovenia)
# 8310 : Speed over a closed circuit of 50 km without landing / Performance : 52.62 km/h / Current record : new

Class R (Microlights) / Claim number : 8307
Sub-class : RPL1 (Microlights : Paraglider Control / Landplane / Flown with one person)
Type of record : Time to climb to a height of 3000 m
Course/location : Sarvar (Hungary)
Performance : 16 min 51 sec
Pilot : Istvan KOCSIS (Hungary)
Powered Paraglider : Sunflightcraft "Explorer" & Sycon Chiron 340
Date: 26.12.2003
Current record : 22 min 30 sec (10.08.2000 - Howard M. GISH, Jr, USA)

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

7th European Glider Aerobatic Championships 2004
The Organizers of the 7th European Glider Aerobatic Championships 2004 in Moravska Trebova (Czech Republic) have published the Information Bulletin no. 1, and are looking forward to receiving your preliminary entries soon :
EGAC 2004 - Bulletin no. 1

Lausanne, 16 January 2004

Best Season's Greeting / 2004 Young Artists Contest / Winter Holidays / A Selection of the New World Record Claims received this week for Airships, Helicopters and Aeroplanes.

Best Season's Greetings
This is the final Press Release this year from the FAI, the World Air Sports Federation. First of all, we thank you very much for the attention you have given to the information we released throughout the year. We look forward to keeping you informed about Air Sports and FAI activities in 2004, and send you our best Season’s Greetings.

With best regards,

Fédération Aéronautique Internationale
Jean-Marc BADAN
Promotional Manager

2004 Young Artists Contest
As the holiday season started a few days ago, we remind you about the creative opportunity that FAI offers each year to young people : the FAI Young Artists Contest.

General information and recent winners /
Rules for the 2004 Young Artists Contest

Good luck to all participants!

Winter Holidays
We inform you that the FAI Office will be closed from 25 to 28 December 2003, and from 31 December 2003 to 4 January 2004 inclusive.

FAI has received the following record claims :

Class B (Airships) / Claim number : 8262
Size category : BX-04 (Hot-air airships : 1 600 to 3 000 m³) General Category
Type of record : Speed
Course/location : Mondovi (Italy)
Performance : 26.17 km/h
Pilot : David HEMPLEMAN-ADAMS (UK)
Airship : Cameron Balloons DP-70
Date: 17.12.2003
Current record : new

Class E (Rotorcraft) / Claim number : 8286
Sub-class : E-1d (Helicopters - Take-off weight 1750 to 3000 kg)
Group 2 : turbine General Category
Type of record : Speed over a recognised course
Course/location : New York, NY (USA) - South Pole
Performance : 20 km/h
Pilot : Jennifer MURRAY (UK)
Co-pilot : Colin BODILL
Helicopter : Bell 400
Date: 20.12.2003
Current record : New

Class E (Rotorcraft) / Claim number : 8287
Sub-class : E-1d (Helicopters - Take-off weight 1750 to 3000 kg)
Group 2 : turbine General Category
Type of record : Speed over a recognised course
Course/location : Punta Arenas (Chile) - Antarctica
Performance : 111 km/h
Pilot : Jennifer MURRAY (UK)
Co-pilot : Colin BODILL
Helicopter : Bell 400
Date: 19.12.2003
Current record : New

Class C (Aeroplanes) / Claim numbers 8271 - 8272
Sub-class : C-1c (Landplanes - Take-off weight 1000 to 1750 kg)
Group 1 : piston engine
Type of record : Speed over a recognised course
Aircraft : Lancair IV-P
Date: 17.12.2003

# 8271 : Los Angeles, CA (USA) - Phoenix, NV (USA) / Performance : 500 km/h / Pilot : David G. RIGGS (USA) / Current record : 386.42 km/h (10.08.1993 - Harold J. BALLATIN, USA)
# 8272 : Phoenix, AZ (USA) - San Diego, CA (USA) / Performance : 449 km/h / Pilot : Nathan EAST (USA) / Current record : 299.11 km/h (21.08.1993 - Larry K. CLARK, USA)

Class C (Aeroplanes) / Claim numbers 8263 - 8267
Sub-class : C-1c (Landplanes : Take-off weight 1000 to 1750 kg)
Group 1 : piston engine
Type of record : Speed over a recognised course
Pilot : Jon JOHANSON (Australia)
Aircraft : Van's RV-4TE

# 8263 : Adelaide, SA (Australia) - South Pole / Performance : 137.9 km/h / Date: 08.12.2003 / Current record : new
# 8264 : Invercargill (New Zealand) - McMurdo (New Zealand) / Performance : 211.3 km/h / Date: 07.12.2003 / Current record : new
# 8265 : Invercargill (New Zealand) - South Pole / Performance : 222.3 km/h / Date: 08.12.2003 / Current record : new
# 8266 : South Pole - McMurdo (New Zealand) / Performance : 300 km/h / Date: 08.12.2003 / Current record : new
# 8267 : McMurdo (New Zealand) - Invercargill (New Zealand) / Performance : 287.1 km/h / Date: 15.12.2003 / Current record : new

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

For further information on FAI World Records, please consult : http://www.fai.org/records/

Lausanne, 24 December 2003

World Parachuting Championships "Mondial 2003" : Results / 47th Coupe Gordon Bennett : Results / Coming soon : 2003 European F1D Championship / New World Record Claims for Aeroplanes and Space Models.

FAI World Parachuting Championships "Mondial 2003"
7.-14.9.03, Gap-Tallard (FRA)

Under the title of "Mondial 2003", five World Parachuting Championships were held from 7 to 14 September 2003 at Gap-Tallard, in the French Alps. Some 700 athletes representing 40 nations worldwide competed in five different FAI-sanctioned competitions. Thanks to the good weather conditions and to the excellent preparatory work of the Organizers, the "Mondial 2003", the biggest FAI event of 2003, proved to be a great success and benefited from good media and TV coverage.

Winners of the 10th FAI World Parachuting Championship in Canopy Formation
4-Way Rotation : Russia
4-Way Sequential : France
8-Way : France

Winners of the 2nd FAI World Parachuting Championship in Freeflying
USA 1 : Rook NELSON / Mike SWANSON / Jon DEVORE (USA)

Winners of the 27th FAI World Parachuting Championship in Freefall Style and Accuracy Landing
Women's Events :
Accuracy Landing : Lioudmila ZINCHENKO (RUS)
Freefall Style : Svetlana KLENINA (RUS)
Overall : Lioudmila ZINCHENKO (RUS)
Team Accuracy : China
Overall Team : Russia

Men's Events :
Accuracy Landing : Roman KARUN (SVN)
Freefall Style : Marco PFLUEGER (GER)
Overall : Philippe VALOIS (FRA)
Team Accuracy : Slovenia
Overall Team : Russia

Winners of the 4th FAI World Parachuting Championship in Freestyle Skydiving and Skysurfing
Women's Events :
Freestyle Skydiving : Emmanuelle CELICOUT / Alaistar MARSH (FRA)
Skysurfing : Maria RYABIKOVA / Vasily RODIN (RUS)

Men's Events :
Freestyle Skydiving : Martin KRISTENSEN / Nils PREDSTRUP (DEN)
Skysurfing : Vaaleriy ROZOV / Igor KALININ (RUS)

Winners of the 15th FAI World Parachuting Championship in Formation Skydiving
4-Way Sequential : France
4-Way Sequential - Women : UK
8-Way : Russia

FAI congratulates the Winners and thanks the Organisers of the Mondial 2003.

Full Results & Photos : www.mondial03.com

==============

47th Coupe Gordon Bennett
14.-16.9.03, Arc-et-Senans (FRA)

On Tuesday 16 September at 06:15 UTC, the balloon "Le Petit Prince", named after the famous work of Antoine de St. Exupéry, landed safely 5 minutes after sunrise near Tinhosas, a tiny village located near Sagres at the south-western tip of Portugal, after a flight lasting over 50 hours. For the third consecutive year, the strategy adopted by the two brothers Jean-François and Vincent LEYS proved to be successful.

Full Results & Photos: www.gordonbennett2003.org
History & Rules: www.coupegordonbennett.org/
TV coverage : Pascal POETTE (+33.(0)6.12.06.55.96) / mailto:communication@gordonbennett2003.org

===========

Coming soon : 2003 European Aeromodelling Championship F1D
3.-10.10.03, London (GBR)

Location : Millenium Dome
Category : F1 - Free Flight / Indoor Model Aircraft
Information : events.fai.org/aeromodelling/details.asp?id=1539

===========

The FAI has received the following Class C (Aeroplanes) and Class S (Space models) record claims :

Claim number : 7894
Sub-class : C-1d (Landplanes - Take-off weight 1750 to 3000 kg)
Group 1 : piston engines
Type of record : Speed over a recognised course
Course/location : Omaha, NE (USA) - Minneapolis, MN (USA)
Performance : 352 km/h
Pilot : Douglas R. CAIRNS (UK)
Aircraft : Beechcraft Baron 58
Date : 15.09.2003
Current record : none

Claim number : 7895
Sub-class : S1A (Maximum weight 30 g)
S-1 : Altitude Category
Type of record : N° 040 - Total impulse 0.00 to 2.50 N/sec
Course/location : 9th European Space Modelling Championship, Sremska Mitrovica (Serbia and Montenegro)
Performance : 310 m
Pilot : Miha CUDEN (SLO)
Date : 12.09.2003
Current Record : 256 m - 15.10.02 - Miha CUDEN (SLO)

Claim number : 7896
Sub-class : S1B (Maximum weight 60 g)
S-1 : Altitude Category
Type of record : N° 102 - Total impulse 5.01 TO 10.00 N/sec
Course/location : 9th European Space Modelling Championship, Sremska Mitrovica (Serbia and Montenegro)
Performance : 507 m
Pilot : Anton SIJANEC (SLO)
Date : 12.09.2003
Current Record : 490 m - 15.10.02 - Anton SIJANEC (SLO)

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

Lausanne, 19 September 2003

World Microlight Championships : Results / World Hang Gliding Championship : Results / "On Air" : 47th Coupe Gordon Bennett / New World Record Claims for Aeroplanes and Hang Gliders.

FAI World Microlight Championships 2003
23.-31.8.03, Long Marston (GBR)

Winners - "Weight-shift" Microlights (WL)
Flown solo : Richard RAWES (GBR)
Flown with 2 pilots : Simon BAKER / Anita HOLMES (GBR)

Winners - "3-axis" Microlights (AL)
Flown solo : Denis CHEVILLET (FRA)
Flown with 2 pilots : Paul DEWHURST / Oliver NEECE (GBR)

Winners - Powered Paragliders
Foot-launched, flown solo : Ramon MORILLAS (ESP)
Landplane, flown solo : Igor POTAPKIN (RUS)
Landplane, flown with 2 pilots : Mikhail KOZMIN / Dmitry KRYUCHKOV (RUS)

Full results & Photos : www.wmc2003.org
Full report : www.fai.org/news_archives/fai/000256.asp

===========

14th FAI World Hang Gliding Championship
17.-30.8.03, Brasilia (BRA)

Winner
Manfred RUHMER (AUT)

Team
Austria

Full results & Photos : www.brasilia2003.com

===========

47th Coupe Gordon Bennett
12.-20.9.03, Arc-et-Senans (FRA)

On Sunday 13 September between 02:09 and 04:20 local time, 15 gas balloons took-off from the Saline Royale at Arc-et-Senans (France) to participate in the oldest FAI-sanctioned competition, the Gordon Bennett Cup. 40 hours after the first take-off, 3 crews are still fighting for first place as they approach the southern coasts of Portugal and Spain.

Further information on this year competition : www.gordonbennett2003.org
History & Rules : www.coupegordonbennett.org
Live positions : www.gordonbennett2003.org/news/liveposition.php
TV coverage : Pascal POETTE (+33.(0)6.12.06.55.96) / mailto:communication@gordonbennett2003.org

===========

The FAI has received the following Class O (Hang Gliders)) and Class C (Aeroplanes) record claims :

Claim number : 7890
Sub-class : O-3 (Paragliders), Multiplace Category
Type of record : Out-and-return distance
Course/location : Soriska Planina (Slovenia)
Performance : 133 km
Pilot : Cretnik DAMJAN (Slovenia)
Co-Pilot : Natasa ZEZELJ (Croatia)
Paraglider : UP Sherpa
Date : 22.08.2003
Current record : 129.6 km (15.05.00 - Jürgen STOCK, Austria)

Claim number : 7891
Sub-class : C-1b (Landplanes: take-off weight 500 to 1000 kg)
Group 1 : piston engine
Type of record : Speed over a recognised course
Course/location : Allentown, PA (USA) - Dayton, OH (USA)
Performance : 162 km/h
Pilot : Edward S. FIGULI, JR (USA)
Aircraft : Cessna C150
Date : 05.09.2003
Current Record : new

Claim number : 7892
Sub-class : C-1d (Landplanes: take off weight 1750 to 3000 kg)
Group 1 : piston engine
Type of record : Speed over a recognised course
Course/location : Olympia, WA (USA) - Reno, NV (USA)
Performance : 168 km/h
Pilot : Bruce J. MAYES (USA)
Aircraft : North American AT-6D
Date : 06.09.2003
Current Record : new

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

Lausanne, 15 September 2003

Aerobatic Hang Gliding & Paragliding World Cup : Results / New Philatelic Products : 20 Stamps Celebrating the Wright Brothers' First Flight / Coming soon : Parachuting "Mondial 2003" / New World Record Claims for Aeroplanes and Model Aircraft.

6th Red Bull Vertigo / Aerobatic Hang Gliding and Paragliding World Cup
22. - 24.8, Villeneuve (SUI)

Winners - Aerobatic Paragliding
1. Raul & Felix RODRIGUEZ (ESP)
2. Christian MAURER & Peter NEUEUSCHWANDER (SUI)
3. Matthias ROTHEN (SUI) & Horacio LLORENS (ESP)

Winners - Aerobatic Hang Gliding
1. Yann FLOURY (FRA)
2. Mitchell MCALEER (USA)
3. Fredy BIRCHER (SUI)

For further information : www.redbull-vertigo.com or press@redbull-vertigo.com
Photos : www.redbull-photofiles.com
TV Production : News, Highlights and Rough Cuts at Quattro Media +49 (0) 8093 57220

===========

New Philatelic Products : FAI Member Country Singapore Issues 20 Stamps Celebrating the Wright Brothers' First Flight
3.9.03, Singapore

Celebrate the Centenary of the Wright Brothers' First Flight with this set of 20 Singapore stamps featuring civil and military aircraft, to be issued on 3 September 2003. It is definitely a special collection not to be missed !

To view and order the stamps, see : http://vpostmall.vpost.com.sg

===========

Coming soon : World Parachuting Championships "Mondial 2003"
7.-14.9, Gap-Tallard (FRA)

General Information : see FAI Press Release of 5 August 2003
Internet : www.mondial03.com

===========

The FAI has received the following Class C (Aeroplanes) and Class F (Model Aircraft) record claims :

Claim number : 7887
Sub-class : C-1b (Landplanes - Take-off weight 500 to 1000 kg - Group 1 : piston engine)
Type of record : Speed over a recognised course
Course/location : Melbourne, VIC (AUS) - Canberra, ACT (AUS)
Performance : 326.06 km/h
Pilot : Raymond James PEARSON (AUS)
Aircraft : Glasair S112FT
Date : 26.08.2003
Current record : none

Claim number : 7888
Sub-class : C-1b (Landplanes - Take-off weight 500 to 1000 kg - Group 1 : piston engine)
Type of record : Speed over a recognised course
Course/location : Melbourne, VIC (AUS) - Sydney, NSW (AUS)
Performance : 335.04 km/h
Pilot : Raymond James PEARSON (AUS)
Aircraft : Glasair S112FT
Date : 26.08.2003
Current record : 306.72 km/h - 28.10.97 - Jon JOHANSON (AUS)

Claim number : 7889
Sub-class : F2A (Aeroplane, piston engine)
Category : F2 (Control line circular flight)
Type of record : No 133 - Speed (swept volume 5.01 to 10.00 cm3)
Course/location : Oakington, Longstanton, Cambridgeshire (UK)
Performance : 345 km/h
Pilot : Ken MORRISSEY (UK)
Date : 25.08.2003
Current record : 326 km/h - 19.10.84 - Shen XILIN (CHN)

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

Lausanne, 29 August 2003

6th Red Bull Vertigo, Aerobatic Hang Gliding & Paragliding World Cup /
Competitions Results / New World Record Claim

6th Red Bull Vertigo / Aerobatic Hang Gliding and Paragliding World Cup
22. - 24.8, Villeneuve (SUI)

From 22 to 24 August, the world's best paraglider and hang-glider pilots will converge on Villeneuve to demonstrate their aerobatic skills over Lake Geneva. Free entrance, breath-taking competitions, numerous side events and a lot of entertainment and fun.

Program, competitions, pictures : www.redbull-vertigo.com
TV Production : News available from 25 August / Highlights and Rough Cuts availabe from 27 August at Quattro Media, attn Gabi Voight or Alex Kroepfl +49 (0) 8093 57220 or +41 79 467 22 60 (during the competition).

===========

13th European Hot Air Balloon Championship
8. - 17.8, Vilnius (LTU)

Winners
1. Uwe SCHNEIDER (GER)
2. Sandor VEGH (HUN)
3. Jan TIMMERS (BEL)

For further information and pictures : www.ballooning.lt

===========

23rd World Radio Controlled Aerobatic Model Championships
6. - 17.8, Deblin (POL)

Winners
1. Christophe PAYSANT LE ROUX (FRA)
2. Quique SOMENZINI (ARG)
3. Gordon HYDE (USA)

For further information and pictures : www.aeroklubpolski.pl/modelarstwo/23ms/index.htm

===========

2nd World Paragliding Accuracy Championship
4. - 10.8, Lijak (SLO)

Winners
1. Matjaz FERARIC (SLO)
2. Andy SHAW (GBR)
3. David SLUGA (SLO)

Teams
1. Slovenia
2. United Kingdom
3. Lithuania

For further information and pictures : www.lijak2003.com/english.php

===========

10th World Glider Aerobatics Championship
2. - 15.8, Györ-Pér (HUN)

Winners
1. Ferenc TOTH (HUN)
2. Jerzu MAKULA (POL)
3. Georgiy KAMINSKIY (RUS)

Teams
1. Poland
2. Russia
3. Hungary

For further information and pictures : www.wgac2003.com

===========

The FAI has received the following Class R (Microlights) record claims :

Claim number : 7886
Sub-class : RAL2 (Microlights with moveable aerodynamic control, landplane, flown by 2 persons)
Type of record : Distance in a straight line without engine power
Course/location : Szeged Airport (HUN)
Performance : 84 km
Pilot : Huba BAJUSZ (HUN)
Date : 12.08.2003
Current record : new

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

Lausanne, 22 August 2003

India lost one of its young astronauts as Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated on 1st February 2003. The Aero-Club of India arranged a ceremony in the memory of late Ms Kalpana Chawla.

A report from Capt Satish K. Sharma, President of the Aero-Club of India :

"Aero-Club of India (ACI) arranged a function in the memory of late Ms Kalpana Chawla, Astronaut, at its premises on 22nd March, 2003 (see Biography on NASA's Webpages). The function was attended by her family members, colleagues and personalities of the aviation world in India who had influenced Kalpana's desire to touch the stars, prominent among others were her husband Mr. Jean-Pierre Harrison and Sqn Ldr Rakesh Sharma, Indian Astronaut.

During the course of his address, Mr Harrison remembered the day Kalpana got selected as an astronaut at the Johnson Space Center in 1994. Astronaut Sqn Ldr Rakesh Sharma said that, although he had never met Kalpana, he was deeply affected by her passing away. He said that she had left the country to fulfil her dreams of travelling in space since there are still no manned space flights in India.

(...) Kalpana epitomized the dream of our former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi of a young India marching into the 21st century; (...) she was an Indian aviator who not only achieved, but literally touched the stars."

During its meeting of 25th March, 2003, the Council of Management of ACI passed the following resolution :
"It was a great shock to learn about the demise of our young astronaut Ms Kalpana Chawla along with six other crew members caused in the disintegration of US Space Shuttle Columbia on 1st February, 2003.
A young girl from Karnal with a dream and degree in Aeronautical Engineering, passion for flying and inspiration from Haryana Institute of Civil Aviation, Karnal, a member of Aero Club of India (ACI), and the achievements of late Shri JRD Tata, pioneer of Indian Aviation, lead her to reach the peaks of success as an astronaut. India will always feel proud of her achievements at such a young age.
Her untimely death is a great loss not only to our country but to the humanity as a whole.
The Council of Management of ACI deeply mourn the untimely demise of Ms Kalpana Chawla and convey the heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family."

FAI deeply regrets the lost of Ms Kalpana Chawla and hopes that she, together with the six other Columbia crew members, will remain an inspiration to present and future generations of those who love to fly.

Lausanne, 30 May 2003

version française

Youngsters from USA and Japan won the 2003 FAI Young Artists Contest, dedicated to the first century of powered flight. The FAI Aviation & Space Education Commission has been working for more than 30 years to arouse young people’s interest in aviation and space.

“100 Years of Powered Flight” seen through the eyes of youngsters from 23 nations
Each year, all national member organisations of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) are invited to hold a national aviation art contest for youngsters and to submit a selection of 9 art works to an international jury. During its last annual conference in Madrid, the FAI Aviation & Space Education Commission (CIEA) selected the winners of the 2003 Young Artists Contest, the theme of which was “100 Years of Powered Flight”. Youngsters originating from 23 nations took part in this contest. The following Young Artists won the Gold Medals in their respective categories :

1st Category (Ages 6 - 9 years) : Dennis SHEN (USA)
2nd Category (Ages 10 - 13 years) : Hiroshige KUWABARA (Japan)
3rd Category (Ages 14 - 17 years) : James Patrick LINCKE (USA)
(Full results, winning art works and rules)

The 2004 Young Artists Contest will give the opportunity to young people to express in art the theme “Flying Saves Lives”.

Over 30 years of involvement to arouse young people’s interest in aviation and space
The FAI launched the Aviation & Space Education Commission (CIEA) more than 30 years ago to create a greater public awareness and understanding of aviation and space activities. Since then, CIEA has placed great emphasis on capturing the interest of young people : they represent the future of aviation, and notably that of air sports. In practice, this means creating and administering programs that will not only educate, but also inspire young people to take up aeronautical professions and consider air sports as an important, demanding and motivating leisure activity.

CIEA educational programs : an attractive aid for schools and flying clubs
Experience has shown that teachers and students often have a latent interest in aviation and space. Aeronautical matters are commonly integrated into traditional subject areas like history, geography or physics. Once oriented to aviation and space education, teachers usually find that bringing related topics into the classroom creates an enthusiastic atmosphere for learning and challenging the imagination. Apart from the Young Artists Contest, CIEA has several programs available : A Guide to Aviation and Space Education, FAI recommended museums, international youth programs, instructional aids and resource materials. All these programs are available (www.fai.org/education/) to teachers and flying clubs willing to offer educational activities to young people.

Lausanne, 26 May 2003

The FAI played an active part in the recent World Conference on Doping in Sport, working to ensure that air sports remain free of this objectionable form of cheating, which also constitutes a threat to flight safety. The FAI community will soon be invited to adopt the new World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) Code, replacing the Olympic Movement Code which FAI competitors have had to follow until now.

World Conference on Doping in Sport
The World Conference on Doping in Sport, held in Copenhagen from 3 - 5 March 2003, was attended by over 1000 delegates from governments, national anti-doping organisations, Olympic Committees, and international federations. Many governments were represented at ministerial level. The Conference accepted the new World Anti-Doping Code (may be down-loaded at wada-ama.org/en/t1.asp).

A Universal and Effective Anti-Doping Regime
This Code aims at achieving a universal and effective anti-doping regime, applicable to all sports throughout the world. The Conference was widely seen as marking an historical turning pointin the fight against doping in sport. Conference participants undertook to try and obtain agreement from their respective organisations to enable the Code to be formally signed and implemented by mid-2004. The text of the resolution adopted by the Conference is available on WADA's Internet pages.

Governments will use statutory instruments of various kinds to give legal force to the Code in their countries. The International and National Olympic Committees will withdraw financial and other support from any federations that refuse to comply with the Code. The final text of the Code met most of the earlier concerns raised by international federations, including FAI. There is now a new, clearer definition of what constitutes « Doping ». There is provision for Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUE), in cases where athletes have no option but to take substances on the banned list, for medical reasons. And it is left to FAI to decide what should happen, in team events, if an individual team member violates the anti-doping code.

Competitors' Personal Responsibility
Unchanged is the principle of « strict liability ». This means that it is the personal responsibility of each international air sport competitor to ensure that no prohibited substance enters his / her body. It is not necessary for intent, fault, negligence or knowing use to be proven for a violation to occur.
The current (Olympic) list of prohibited substances is at multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/en_report_542.pdf. This list will be replaced by the new WADA list in due course.

FAI Approval of Code
The FAI General Conference in Krakow in October 2003 will be invited to adopt the World Anti-Doping Code.
Meanwhile, those who wish to learn more about WADA's campaign against doping in sport may wish to look at True Game, a program specially developped by WADA.

Lausanne, 12 March 2003

At the invitation of the National Aeronautic Association and the Soaring Society of America, which held its annual convention during the same period, the FAI Executive Board met on 24 and 25 January in Dayton (Ohio), the home-town of the Wright Brothers. During their first meeting outside Europe, and at the beginning of a symbolic year celebrating 100 Years of Powered Flight, the FAI Executive Directors made several decisions which will affect the future of FAI well beyond its own Centenary in 2005.

A New Image for Air Sports and FAI
To reflect the latest developments in the Air Sports environment, the FAI Executive Board adopted a new, evolving, Strategic Plan. As the basic management document for the next few years, the new Strategic Plan will play an important role in the further development of Air Sports and international competition. Top priority was given to the 3rd FAI World Air Games (see our Press Release 02/03 or www.worldairgames.org).
and to the modernization of the overall image of Air Sports and FAI. The new FAI Corporate Identity currently under development will be progressively introduced from the beginning of 2004 and should be fully implemented in 2005, the year of FAI’s Centenary. FAI Members and Air Sport Commissions will receive detailed information and be consulted both on the Strategic Plan and on the new Corporate Identity within the next few weeks.

FAI Subscription and Voting System
In accordance with the decision taken last year by the General Conference, the Executive Board continued its work on the future subscription and voting system. The basic definition of Air Sport Persons discussed in 2002 has been complemented by more detailed guidelines on how to determine the exact numbers used for the calculation of the annual fees. FAI Members will receive this information very soon and will be asked to supply FAI with the up-dated number of Air Sport Persons in each country. These will form the basis for the final proposal to be put to Conference in September 2003.

Streamlined FAI General Conference
Since the 2000 Conference in Linköping, the Executive Directors have continued their efforts to simplify and improve the attractiveness of the annual FAI General Conference. The Secretary General has been tasked with the development of new solutions to shorten the Opening Ceremony, liven up the Awards Ceremony and to shorten the statutory part of the Conference, leaving more time for discussion of strategic issues.

More Support for Competition Organizers
During the last few years, many Competition Organizers have experienced serious problems in checking the credentials of athletes who register for international competitions. Starting a long-term process aimed at further improving FAI’s administrative support to Competition Organizers, the creation of a centralized database of all valid FAI Sporting Licences is to be studied, to be made available ultimately to all FAI Competition Organizers.

A Book for the FAI 100th Anniversary
Finally, the FAI Executive Directors mandated Mr Pierre Morath, a well-known sport historian with works on the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and UCI (International Cycling Union) to his credit, to start researching and writing a 224-page book covering the history of FAI and Air Sports. Mr Morath will be assisted in his work by Mr Eilif Ness, FAI President from 1994 to 2000, whose wide knowledge of FAI and air sports will add value to the content of the book, to be published early in 2005. In the near future, the FAI Secretary General will appeal to FAI Members to participate in this historical research process by searching their own archives for interesting and relevant material.

The next meeting of FAI Executive Board will be held in Lausanne on 9 and 10 May 2003.

Lausanne, 13 February 2003

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The first powered flight of the Wright Brothers will be celebrated this year. Although not founded until two years after 1903, FAI wishes to pay tribute to this feat, which marked the beginning of an extraordinary human and technological era for mankind.

Centennial Events planned throughout 2003
As Wilbur and Orville Wright achieved their first sustained and controlled heavier-than-air powered flight on 17 December 1903, they probably didn't expect that, 100 years later, at least a million people would visit the Wright Brothers National Memorial at Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. While the culminating event of the centennial year will most probably be the re-enactment of the Wright's first flight on 17 December 2003 with a reproduction of the Wright Flyer, numerous other events are planned in the USA and in all parts of the World.

A Central List of Internet Sites
Nobody is likely to be able to visit all these events, but each of them will have something of interest to offer. FAI has therefore opened a new Web page displaying a comprehensive selection of links to Web sites dealing with the Wright Brothers Centennial. This page can be found at www.fai.org/centenary/wright.asp. We welcome your contributions and reports on other interesting sources of information, which you deem worthy of featuring on this page webmaster@fai.org.

FAI Young Artists Contest and the Centennial
Each year, all member organisations of FAI are invited to hold a national aviation art contest for youngsters. The 2003 Young Artists Contest will give the opportunity to young people to express in painting "100 Years of Powered Flight". The Rules of the 2003 Contest and addresses of FAI members are available at : www.fai.org/education/contests/artists.

Lausanne, 17 January 2003

The annual Congress of the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) took place from 21 - 24 November 2002 in Colorado Springs, USA. FAI President Wolfgang Weinreich and Secretary General Max Bishop attended the Congress.

Valuable contacts for the next World Air Games
The annual Congress of the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) took place from 21 - 24 November 2002 in Colorado Springs, USA, the location of the US National Olympic Committee. FAI President Wolfgang Weinreich and Secretary General Max Bishop attended the Congress and had several valuable opportunities for meetings with professional event organisers interested in organising the next World Air Games. Useful presentations were given, amongst others, by the Marketing Director of the International Olympic Committee.

New Promotional Material about the World Games
On the same occasion, the Annual General Assembly of the International World Games Association (IWGA) was held. Roland Hilfiker (FAI Olympic Liaison Officer) is Vice President of IWGA and is also responsible for IWGA's communications and public relations. He presented a new promotional video and brochure about The World Games, the four-yearly multi-sport event that includes skydiving as well as water-skiing, roller-skating, dance-sport and some 20 other attractive sports. Following the very successful World Games in Akita, Japan in 2001, plans are now well advanced for the next Games, in Duisburg, Germany in 2005.
The IWGA will shortly open a permanent office in Colorado Springs, thanks to the generosity of a local charitable foundation, the El Pomar Foundation.

FAI Secretary General elected to ARISF Executive Board
The GAISF Congress also saw the announcement of the results of the elections to the Executive Board of the Association of IOC-Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF). The ARISF brings together all the federations that are recognised by the International Olympic Committee, but are not on the Olympic Games programme. The results (18 federations voting) were:

Elected as ARISF Executive Board Members :
Max Bishop (Secretary General, FAI)
Antonio Espinos (President, World Karate Federation)

Elected as ARISF Secretary and Treasurer :
Gerald Koenig (President, International Bowling Federation

Lausanne, 29 November 2002

During a ceremony organized on 4 November 2002 at the Polish Embassy in Berlin, FAI President Wolfgang Weinreich was awarded the Cross of Merit of the Republic of Poland, the country's highest distinction available to foreign citizens.

In his laudatory speech, Mr Jan Karpinski, President of the Aeroklub Polski, summarized Mr Weinreich's life as being devoted to aviation : “Everything Mr Weinreich did in aviation has been aligned with Otto Lilienthal's vision of flight being global, free, peaceful and without any borders”.

Mr Karpinski reminded everyone that, when Europe was still divided into two blocs, Mr Weinreich was present with his wife, also an internationally well-known glider pilot, at the Polish Women’s Gliding Championship in Lisie Katy, Poland, in 1978. Ever since then, he had remained faithful to the many links of friendship he struck up on that occasion with members of the Polish gliding and aviation community. When he became President of the German Aero-Club, Mr Weinreich had contributed greatly to a strong and fruitful cooperation between the national aero clubs of Germany and Poland.

29 August 1932, said Mr Karpinski, was a notable landmark in Polish aviation history, the date on which Polish aviators Zwirko and Wigura won the famous “Berlin Challenge”. On that same day seventy years later, Mr Alexander Kwasniewski, the President of the Republic of Poland and patron of the Aeroklub Polski, had agreed to the Aero Club of Poland’s proposal to nominate Mr Wolfgang Weinreich for the Cross of Merit in recognition of the many years of service he had devoted to fostering close relations between the two countries, also in his more recent post as FAI President.

Mr Weinreich received this high distinction in the presence of HE Jerzy Kranz, Ambassador of Poland, Mrs Angelica Schwall Düren representing the German Bundestag, General Janusz Konieczny representing the Polish Air Force and former Polish Minister and FAI Vice President Dr. Wieslaw Jaszczynski. The FAI itself was represented by Mr Alvaro de Orleans-Borbon, Executive Board Member and Deputy to the FAI President.

In his acceptance speech, acknowledging the great honour that had been bestowed upon him and the pleasure it had given him, the FAI President re-emphasized his firm commitment to ensure that aviation be used as a means of building bridges between all nations and peoples, and thus contribute to world peace.

Lausanne, 12 November 2002

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Created in 1906 and reserved exclusively for gas balloons, the Gordon Bennett Cup is the oldest aeronautical competition organized under the supervision of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. Last Saturday, 31 August 2002, around midnight, 17 crews representing 8 different nations took off for the 46th edition of this prestigious competition, climbing high in the sky above Châtellerault (FRA) with the aim of flying as far as possible in any direction.

After three days and nights on board their home-built balloon, "Le Petit Prince", the two brothers Vincent and Jean-François LEYS (FRA) won the Gordon Bennett Cup for the second consecutive year. This time, the LEYS Brothers chose an especially daring flight route. After leaving the French coast between La Rochelle and Bordeaux, they skirted the north coast of Spain and then flew out on a semi-circular route over the Atlantic Ocean leaving the Portuguese coast more than 400 km behind them. With the help of their expert forecaster, the two aeronauts finally returned to dry land, touching down safely yesterday (Tuesday) evening at 20:12 UTC 100 kilometres north-west of Faro (Portugal), having covered a straight distance of 1282 km from their starting point. The pilots had meteorological assistance from Luc TRULLEMANS, the forecaster who guided the non-stop round-the-world balloon flights of Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones in 1999, and of Steve Fossett in 2002.

With this splendid victory of the LEYS brothers, France will have the honour of organising the next Gordon Bennett Cup again in 2003.

Further information : www.gordonbennett2002.org /www.fai.org/ballooning

Lausanne, 4 september 2002

Following our Press Release of 26 July 2002, FAI today publishes the results of international competitions in the sports of Gliding and Precision Flying. We also draw your attention to a new World Record in Parachuting and to the remarkable 20-year sporting career of Tomas Suchanek (CZE), the new European Standard Class Gliding Champion.

15th WORLD PRECISION FLYING CHAMPIONSHIP
7.- 14.7.02, Lucko (CRO)

Winners
Individuals : Lubos HAJEK (CZE)
Teams : Czech Republic

Information
Competition / FAI – General Aviation Commission (GAC)

11th EUROPEAN GLIDING CHAMPIONSHIP
6.- 28.7.02, Bekescsaba (HUN)

Winners
Standard Class : Tomas SUCHANEK (CZE)
15 m Class : Frédéric HOYEAU (FRA)
18 m Class : Petr KREJCIRIK (CZE)
Open Class : Tassilo BODE (GER)

Information
FAI – Gliding Commission (IGC)

6th EUROPEAN GLIDER AEROBATIC CHAMPIONSHIP
16.- 26.7.02, Pasewalk (GER)

Results not validated, as the competition could not be completed due to bad weather conditions.

Information
Competition / FAI – Aerobatics Commission (CIVA) / FAI – Gliding Commission (IGC)

NEW WORLD RECORD IN PARACHUTING
7.7.02, Pujaut (FRA)

FAI has ratified the following new World Record :
Type of record : G-2-C Formation Skydiving, longest sequence (4-Way) / Claim # 7405
Location : Pujaut (FRA) / Coupe de France de Vol Relatif 2002
Performance : 42 formations
Team : France Maubeuge NPC (FRA) with David MOY, Erwan POULIQUEN, Marin FERRE, Julien LOSANTOS, Laurent PECHBERTY
Previous record : 39 formations (23.9.99 – Arizona Airspeed Team / USA)

Information
FAI - World Records / FAI – Int. Parachuting Commission (IPC) / Féd. Française de Parachutisme

TOMAS SUCHANEK (CZE) – 20 YEARS OF HIGH-LEVEL SPORTING PERFORMANCE

The new European Standard Class Gliding Champion, Tomas SUCHANEK, already has a large number of victories to his credit in two other air sports : Hang Gliding and Microlight Flying.
After starting to compete in Hang Gliding in 1982, he won the “Czechoslovak Nationals” in 1986 and started competing at international level in 1988. World Champion in Hang Gliding in 1991, 1993 and 1995, and European Champion in 1994 and 1996, he also became European and World Champion in Microlight Flying in 1993 and 1994. Tomas Suchanek’s name has been appearing among the winners of international gliding (sailplane) competitions since 1998, when he won the 2nd place at the European Club Class Sailplane Championships.

To crown his sporting career, Tomas Suchanek holds 10 World Records in Hang Gliding : Straight distance / Speed over a triangular course of 25, 50, 100, 150 and 300 km / Speed over an out-and-return course of 100 and 200 km).

Information
About T. Suchanek / FAI – World Records / FAI – Gliding Commission (IGC) / FAI – Hang Gliding & Paragliding Commission (CIVL) / FAI – Microlight Commission (CIMA)

The FAI congratulates all sports(wo)men on their outstanding performances.

Lausanne, 31 July 2002

(Information about next FAI international competitions : FAI – Competitions)

Summer holidays (Northern Hemisphere) mean not only "sea, sand and sun", but also the high season for all air sports championships. In the last few weeks, several FAI World and Continental Championships were held in the sports of Aerobatics, Hang Gliding, Paragliding and Aeromodelling. The FAI now publishes the first results.

13th EUROPEAN HANG GLIDING CHAMPIONSHIP
20.6 – 6.7.02, Bled (SLO)

Winners
Class 1 : Manfred RUHMER (AUT)
Class 1 – team : Austria
Class 5 : Thomas SCHULZ (GER)
Class 5 – team : Italy

Information
Results / World Pilot Ranking / FAI – Hang Gliding & Paragliding Commission (CIVL).

7th EUROPEAN PARAGLIDING CHAMPIONSHIP
4. – 20.7.02, Kobarid (SLO)

Winners
Cross-country / Overall : Alex HOFER (SUI)
Cross-country / Women : Louise CRANDAL (DEN)
Team : Switzerland

Information
Results / World Pilot Ranking / FAI – Hang Gliding & Paragliding Commission (CIVL).

13th EUROPEAN POWERED AEROBATIC CHAMPIONSHIP
10. – 20.7.02, Panevezys (LIT)

Winners
Men : Ramon ALONSO (SPA)
Women : Pascale ALAJOUANINE (FRA)
Team : Russia
Free program : Klaus SCHRODT (GER)

Information
Results, participants, photos / FAI – Aerobatics Commission (CIVA).

2002 FAI SCALE WORLD AEROMODELLING CHAMPIONSHIP
10. – 21.7.02, Tillsonburg (CAN)

Winners
F4B (control line flying) : Marian KAZIROD (POL)
F4C (radio-controlled) : Andreas LÜTHI (SUI)

Information
Results, photos / FAI – Aeromodelling Commission (CIAM).

2002 FAI ELECTRIC FLIGHT WORLD AEROMODELLING CHAMPIONSHIP
12. – 21.7.02, Winterthur (SUI)

Winners
F5B (electric gliders) - Individuals : Urs LEODOLTER (SUI)
F5B - Team : Germany
F5D (pylon racing) - Individuals : Robert WIMMER (GER)
F5D - Team : Germany

Information
Results, photos / FAI – Aeromodelling Commission (CIAM).

8th WORLD HANG GLIDING CHAMPIONSHIP FOR WOMEN
11. – 21.7.02, Chelan Butte, WA (USA)

Winners
Individuals : Kari CASTLE (USA)
Team : Germany

Information
Results / FAI – Hang Gliding & Paragliding Commission (CIVL).

14th WORLD HANG GLIDING CLASS 2 CHAMPIONSHIP
11. – 21.7.02, Chelan Butte, WA (USA)

Winners
Individuals : Manfred RUHMER (AUT)
Team : United Kingdom

Information
Results / World Pilot Ranking / FAI – Hang Gliding & Paragliding Commission (CIVL).

1st WORLD HANG GLIDING CLASS 5 CHAMPIONSHIP
11. – 21.7.02, Chelan Butte, WA (USA)

Winners
Individuals : Christian CIECH (ITA)
Team : Italy

Information
Results / World Pilot Ranking / FAI – Hang Gliding & Paragliding Commission (CIVL).

Lausanne, 26 July 2002

The season of FAI World Aeromodelling Championships will start soon with three championships to be held on the European and North American continents in the coming weeks. Following is a brief description of the different FAI categories that will compete.

2002 Electric Flight World Championships / July 14th – 21st, 2002 / Winterthur - Switzerland
The competition site of these “Silent Wings” championships is located north east of Winterthur in northern Switzerland. Released or launched into the air from the hands of their pilots, these electric powered motor gliders (FAI category F5B) use NiCd cells as their power source, which may be recharged during flight by solar cells; the motor gliders are radio-controlled throughout their 5-minute flights, to complete tasks in distance, duration and landing. In the Pylon Racing events (FAI category F5D), radio-controlled racers (max. weight of 1.25 kg) fly 10 times around a 400 m. triangular course; the winner is the pilot who covers the total distance of 4 km in the shortest time and with the fewest infringements of the official course.
For further information : www.silentwings.ch

2002 World Scale Championships / July 12th – 21st, 2002 / Tillsonburg, Ontario - Canada
The aim of the so-called “scale” contests is to recreate accurately the appearance and realism of the full-size aircraft (scale accuracy, colours, markings, realism of flight, etc.). Two types of scale models will compete at Tillsonburg. The control line flying scale models (FAI category F4B) are powered by piston, jet or electric engines; to control their models, pilots use a control handle connected to a line 15 to 21.5 m. long and attached to the aircraft. The radio-controlled flying scale models (FAI category F4C / max. weight of 10 kg) have to accomplish basic flight manoeuvres (take-off, landing, circles) and in some cases aerobatic figures.
For further information : www.2002worldscalechampionships.on.ca

2002 World Control Line Championships / July 14th – 22nd, 2002 / Sebnitz - Germany
Controlled according to the same principles as described above (control line flying scale models), 5 categories will compete at Sebnitz :
Speed models (FAI cat. F2A) have to attain a maximum speed over a measured course of 1 km (10 laps of a 15.9 m radius circle). Aerobatic models (FAI cat. F2B / max. 5 kg) must perform prescribed manoeuvres. Team racing models (FAI cat. F2C / max. 0.7 kg) : three models, each representing a team (1 pilot + 1 mechanic), fly simultaneously on the same circuit; eliminating rounds are followed by semi-finals and a final. Combat models (FAI cat. F2D) : two of these piston-engine models (max. 5 kg) fly at the same time in the same circle; the aim is to cut a streamer attached to the opponent’s model, points being awarded for each cut made. Scale models (FAI cat. F4C) : see hereabove.
For further information : www.sebnitz-2002.de

Lausanne, 1 July 2002

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Youngsters from Georgia and USA win the 2002 Young Artists Contest. 2003 Contest dedicated to the first century of powered flight. The FAI Aviation & Space Education Commission has been working since more than 30 years to arouse young people’s interest in aviation and space.

From “Silent Flight” to “100 Years of Powered Flight”
Each year, all national member organisations of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) are invited to hold a national aviation art contest for youngsters and to submit a selection of 9 paintings to an international jury. During its last annual conference in Vienna, the FAI Aviation & Space Education Commission (CIEA) elected the winners of the 2002 Young Artists Contest, the theme of which was “Silent Flight” : Ruthann Lynn Jones, USA (junior - ages 6 to 9), Eka Tabliashvily, Georgia (intermediate - ages 10 to 13) and Matthew Paul Gauvin, USA (senior - ages 14 to 17) won the Gold Medals in their respective categories. As the Wright Brothers’ first powered flights will be celebrated next year, the 2003 Young Artists Contest will give the opportunity to young people to express in painting “100 Years of Powered Flight”.
(Results and paintings of previous contests, rules of 2003 Contest and addresses of FAI members available at www.fai.org/education/contests/artists/).

Over 30 years of involvement to arouse young people’s interest in aviation and space
The FAI launched the Aviation & Space Education Commission (CIEA) more than 30 years ago to create a greater public awareness and understanding of aviation and space activities. Since then, CIEA has placed great emphasis on capturing the interest of young people : they represent the future of aviation, and notably that of air sports. In practice, this means creating and administering programs that will not only educate, but also inspire young people to take up aeronautical professions and consider air sports as an important, demanding and motivating leisure activity.

CIEA educational programs : an attractive aid for schools and flying clubs
Experience has shown that teachers and students often have a latent interest in aviation and space. Aeronautical matters are commonly integrated into traditional subject areas like history, geography or physics. Once oriented to aviation and space education, teachers usually find that bringing related topics into the classroom creates an enthusiastic atmosphere for learning and challenging the imagination. Apart from the Young Artists Contest, CIEA has several programs available : A Guide to Aviation and Space Education, FAI recommended museums, international youth programs, instructional aids and resource materials. All these programs are available (www.fai.org/education/) to teachers and flying clubs willing to offer educational activities to young people.

Lausanne, June 13th, 2002

During his visit to the local flight school of Zar on April 29th, Alexander Kwasniewski, the President of Poland, took over the role of patron of the entire Polish airsports movement. Mr. Kwasniewski renewed thereby a practice, which had been already decided in the thirties by the Polish President at that time. During his official address, the President pointed out the importance of aviation and airsports for his country.

Invited to the ceremony by Mr. Jan Karpinski, President of the Aero-Club of Poland, Mr. Wolfgang Weinreich, President of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, emphasized the high educational value of airsports for youth. Furthermore, he mentioned the numerous successes of Polish airsportsmen and women, and thanked the Aero-Club of Poland for its readiness to take over important tasks in the world of airsports : the next World Gliding Championships will take place in 2003 in Leszno, and furthermore, the Polish city of Krakow will also host in 2003 the 96th FAI General Conference, the first FAI General Conference to be held in Poland since the thirties.

Lausanne, May 2nd, 2002

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By installing several crucial systems, the 2001 missions to the International Space Station (ISS) consolidated its future success. The Quest module provides a capability to perform “space walks” (EVA’s) from the ISS and has a unique feature - it can support both the US and Russian space suits. Another milestone was reached when the ISS’s new robotic arm was installed, which was of critical importance for the continued assembly of the ISS.

ICARE – The FAI Astronautic Records Commission, whose members represent all three space agencies, American, European and Russian, met on April 19th in Lausanne to honor the crews who contributed last year to the future success of the International Space Station. Dr Segismundo Sanz Fernandez de Cordoba, ICARE President, announced the following awards : the crews of STS-98 and STS-104 will receive the Vladimir Komarov Diplomas; the 2nd and 3rd crews to live aboard the ISS will be honored with the Yuri Gagarin Gold Medal.

The experts then continued their investigations into the rules according to which future record attempts in suborbital flight will be ratified. In 1996, the X-Prize Foundation launched a competition to jump-start the space tourism industry. A $10 million cash prize will be awarded to the first team that privately finances, builds and launches a spaceship able to carry 3 crew to an altitude of 100 kilometres, return safely to Earth and repeat the launch with the same ship within 2 weeks. Twenty teams are presently working on this project and the first attempts should take place in 2003 (www.xprize.org).

At the end of the meeting, the NASA representative Mr Michael Collins, announced that the population of Lausanne, the Olympic Capital where the FAI Headquarter has been established since 1998, would have the opportunity to track the spacecraft flying over the city. The NASA Website www.spaceflight.nasa.gov, where the space enthusiast can get much information about past, present and future space missions, also provides details about the dates and times at which spacecraft like the ISS and the Space Shuttle fly over the city.

Lausanne, April 29th , 2002

An International Aviation Film Festival will be held in Prague from May 23 till May 26, 2002. During four days, visitors will have an opportunity to see a number of feature films and documentaries.

A "National Aviation" section will feature one particular country every year, focusing on those countries that are considered exotic from a European point of view, and whose history and contribution to the aviation industry is worth mentioning.

More information is available at http://www.aviationfilms.cz/