About the FAI Ballooning Commission (CIA)

All FAI ballooning international championships, competitions and record activities are conducted under the direction of the FAI Ballooning Commission (CIA). CIA stands for "Comité International d'Aérostation".

Meetings

The FAI Ballooning Commission meets once a year at an plenary meeting to discuss and work on the development of sport ballooning, rules changes and sporting events (decision on venues for future events, appointment of organising committees, etc.). 

Each FAI Member Country may appoint a Delegate with the right to vote at the Annual Meeting.

Bureau

Between annual meetings, the FAI Ballooning Commission is run by the Bureau, which consists of the President, four Vice Presidents, the Treasurer and the Secretary.

The Bureau is elected during the annual meeting of the FAI Ballooning Commission.

Delegates

Each FAI Member Country can appoint a Delegate to the FAI Ballooning Commission and participate in the work of the commission.

Subcommittees

Subcommittees are set up by the FAI Ballooning Commission. They have specific terms of reference (TOR) for their work and responsibilities. These TOR are approved by the CIA Annual Meeting.

Working Groups

Working Groups are temporarily established by the FAI Ballooning Commission to study and report on specific matters or proposals.

Go to the Organisation page to get the list of all Bureau Members, Delegates, Subcommittees and Working Groups.

Awards

FAI Medals and Diplomas are awarded each year at the Opening Ceremony of the annual FAI General Conference.

The FAI Awards for ballooning are the following:

• The Montgolfier Ballooning Diploma
• The Santos Dumont Gold Airship Medal

Records

The FAI maintains files of all aviation records and the FAI Ballooning Commission lays down the requirements for class conformity and flight verification where parachuting is concerned. The requirements are to be found in Section 5 of the Sporting Code.

Access the database and consult the current and past ballooning World Records.

Rules & other documents

The FAI Ballooning Commission establishes and maintains rules and criteria for FAI ballooning competitions and records, FAI badges, security at world sporting events, and technical standards.

Go to the Documents page to get the latest edition of those documents.