Page 4-5 - 2013 FAI Annual Report

FAI Annual Report–2013 FAI Annual Report–2013 2 3 Table of Contents Table of Contents
Another source of satisfaction was the resumption of
the Red Bull Air Race for the 2014 season, which led to
an agreement with FAI including the provision of a safety
officer andmedals. This can only be positive news for our
sports to have an air race with such sensational media
exposure take place again.
We are all proud of FAI’s rich tradition of aviationpioneers,
and it isexciting tosee it continue today. CharlesLindbergh’s
or Amelia Earhart’s courage and determination are the
very same feelings that animate the hearts of today’s
pilots – only the technologies have changed: in 2013, André
BorschbergandBertrandPiccardcrossedAmericaonboard
the solar-powered aircraft Solar Impulse; the recipient of
theAlvarodeOrleansBorbonGrant, ToddReichert, achieved
record performanceswith his human-powered helicopter;
the 2013 Icarus Cup was the first ever Human-Powered
Aircraft competition to be sanctioned by FAI.
What is now achieved by these pioneers must inspire
the whole air sports community. Integrating the “green”
dimension into our sports is FAI’s next challenge which
we have grasped; new competitions for low-emission and
electricclassesare in themaking, and initiatives for aviation
as part of a cleanandenvironmentally friendlyworldwill be
rewardedwith the newAngelo d’ArrigoDiploma for thefirst
time in 2014. However, wemust get used to systematically
taking intoaccount theenvironmental factorwhenstarting
new projects or awarding competitions.
Expertise in environmental matters, but also inmedicine,
air­­space, new technologies and safety, to name a few,
is an important part of FAI, which are in constant
development within the Expert System. For Anti-Doping,
it was the first year of a full Re­­gistered Testing Pool
developed following the official process.
A parameter that the FAI has been considering for several
years is the growing success of air sports all over the
world. In that perspective, the 2013 FAI Active Members’
Presidents meeting was organised for the first time
in Asia (in Hong Kong, China), following the particularly
fast-paced development of aeronautics in this part of
the world. Furthermore, the Regional Management
Structure, whichalready includedRegional VicePresidents
for East & South Asia and South America, was extended
to Africa.
At the 107th FAI General Conference in Kuala Lumpur, the
FAI approved thenewMembershipof Laos, Libya, Peruand
Portugal (Aeromodelling). I would like to welcome them
and to convey my gratitude to the Malaysian Sport
Aviation Federation which organised the event superbly.
My congratulations also go to the Aero Club of Portugal
which in 2013 celebrated its centenary within FAI.
Last but not least, I take this opportunity to warmly thank
all the event organisers, volunteers and FAI Head Office
staff for the immense work they did in 2013.
Dr. John Grubbström
FAI President