British Aerobatic Association Presented Leon Biancotto Diploma

At last night's opening of the FAI General Conference, the British Aerobatic Association was presented the Leon Biancotto Diploma. The Diploma is awarded for outstanding contributions to the sport of aerobatics in the last year. The citation for the award reads as follows: "The British Aerobatic Association’s most notable achievement in 2009 was the organization of the 25th World Aerobatic Championships in Silverstone, United Kingdom. It is widely regarded as the best organized WAC in FAI’s history. The BAeA, under the leadership of Chairman Alan Cassidy, has been able to attract a wide array of talent to its organization and their skills were on display in every operational area of the WAC. Its Contest Director, Steve Green, worked tirelessly for the last two years to make every detail perfect. BAeA member Graham Hill served as Chief Judge of the event. Alan Cassidy was its Flight Director. Nick Buckenham has authored a superb software package for FAI Aerobatic Championships worldwide and it was BAeA members that worked on the new “FairPlay System” that is the heart of the software. Aside from the WAC, BAeA organizes a full calendar of domestic competitions and training camps that would be the envy of organizations one-hundred times its size. They have contributed immeasurably to the promotion of aerobatics in the true spirit of FAI." Alan and Angela Cassidy, Nick and Jen Buckenham, and Steve Green were present in Dublin for the presentation. They are pictured below with CIVA President Mike Heuer (right). Jen and Angela provided administrative support to the event for many months leading up to the WAC and during the event.