FAI - Annual Report 2014

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FAI ANNUAL REPORT–2014 50
General Information
Members
The 2014 FAI Active Members’ Presidents meeting
which took place in Stockholm, Sweden, on 7 June 2014,
allowed the FAI Head Office and Executive Directors to
keep the Members informed about the current projects
and to better understand how FAI is perceived by them.
It also gave an opportunity to the Members to get to
know each other better, to share their views and to
communicate the activities which they organised on a
national level, examples of which can be found below.
The 108th FAI General Conference approved the new
membership of the African Air Sports Federation
(International Affiliate Member), the Arab Air Sports
Federation (International Affiliate Member), the
Federação Portuguesa de Voo Livre (Associate Member)
and Segelflugszene gGmbH (International Affiliate
Member).
AIR SPORT AUSTRALIA
CONFEDERATION (ASAC)
Australian air sports have enjoyed a successful 2014, with
manymajor awards and competitionwinners coming from
“down under”. The most notable include Bill Moyes, FAI
Gold Air Medal, and Nicola Scaife, winner of the 1st FAI
Women’s Hot Air Balloon World Championship.
The ASAC President has been included in the national
level Aviation Industry Consultative Council, which is a
government initiative and is chaired by the Deputy Prime
Minister who is also the minister responsible for aviation
in Australia. ASAC also has a former gliding president on
the Board of the national aviation regulator. This all bodes
well for favourable outcomes for air sports in Australia.
Airspace regulationandencroachment of airfields, as inmost
countries, is an ongoing issue for Australia. Nonetheless,
theweather and terrain conditions for air sports inAustralia
are fantastic and all international visitors and competitors
are most welcome.
FEDERATION OF AERONAUTICAL
SPORTS OF RUSSIA
On 13 September 2014, the first Aerofestival was run by
the Federation of Aviation Amateurs (FAA) of Russia at
the “Severka” airfield in Kolomna, near Moscow. Over
2,000 spectators had a chance to see the performances
of over 30 general aviation aircraft flown by top class
pilots. Furthermore, fascinating demonstration flights
were performed by highly professional, world and national
champions, who showcased their aerobatic expertise. The
versatile programwas filledwithnumerous activities taking
place in the air aswell as on the ground: the organisers also
set up an amusement park for children including interactive
events, which made of the Aerofestival a real air festival
and a family entertainment event. The next edition will be
held from the 3 to 6 September 2015.
AERO CLUB OF SOUTH AFRICA
(AeCSA)
Sport and recreational aviation is alive and well in South
Africa where AeCSA has hosted successful national and
world events in 2014, such as the 4th FAI World YAK 52
Aerobatic Championship and the 1st FAI World Intermediate
AerobaticChampionship, andsentmany athletes tocompete
all around the globe.
Additionally, AeCSA is still amajor force behind the “Safety
First Aviator” campaign actively attempting to reduce the
accidents in sport aviation in South Africa and the third
year of this project with associated filmproduction is well
underway for roll-out covering sports such asmicrolighting
and gyrocopters in 2015.
Furthermore, AeCSA continues to have fly-aways around
the country for all disciplines, and South Africa has an
excellent and thriving airshow circuit which continues to
give dreams to the youth.