2016 FAI Annual Report

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FAI ANNUAL REPORT–2016 1 FAI ANNUAL REPORT–2016 II
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Annexes
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About FAI
The FédérationAéronautique Internationale, FAI–The
WorldAir SportsFederation, was founded in1905. It isa
non-governmental andnon-profitmaking international
organisation recognised by the IOC with the basic
aim of furthering aeronautical and astronautical
activities worldwide, ratifying international records
and coordinating the organisation of international
competitions. After over a century of steady growth,
FAI is nowan organisation of more than 100member
countries, forming a strong network linking all those
who participate in air sports worldwide.
President’s
Foreword
In 2016 we saw some remarkable highlights and
achievements in the world of air sports and FAI. The
world was gripped as we watched history being made
as the solar-powered Solar Impulse 2 completed its
incredible journey. And we were amazed when Fedor
Konyukhov, the Russian balloonist and adventurer,
successfully circumnavigated the world in a balloon in
record time.
These two eventsmade history and grabbed the attention
of the wider world, but, as always, history wasmade in our
own sporting communities too. From the 2nd FAI World
Paragliding Aerobatic Championships in Annecy, France,
to the finale of the Red Bull Air RaceWorld Championships
in Las Vegas, the sky is our stage and we performed upon
it well.
I was privileged to be elected FAI President late last year.
This comes after the three-term, six-year presidency of Dr
John Grubbström. I would like to thank him for his service
and contribution over those years andwish himall the best
for the future. He has left the FAI in a better position than
he found it, and that is success.
2016was a year of building on success. After the great highs
of the FAI World Air Games in Dubai in December 2015, we
spent much of last year planning how to move forward,
and how to build on what we have done, including laying
the ground work for the next FAI World Air Games in 2020.
Opportunities abound. The year saw the first FAI Wingsuit
WorldChampionships, for example, and one of the best and
biggest FAI World Parachuting Championships ever held.
At the same time, it was without doubt the year for drones.
Drone technology continues to develop apace, and the FAI
is ready to take on the big task of helping to coordinate all
the different actors in this exciting new arena. 2016 saw
the FAI sanction the first FAI Drone RacingWorld Cup, and
this is an area of air sports that is only going to get bigger,
faster and more high profile. Drones, and aeromodelling
in general, really is the route into the world of air sports
for youngsters.
On the ground and behind the scenes 2016 saw us build
on our long-term relationships with our partners. With
our longstanding partner Breitling we were very happy to
launch the new FAI–Breitling Pilot of the Year Award. And
we were delighted to continue our partnership with Red
Bull Air Race. BothBreitling and the RedBull Air Race share
the FAI’s values of commitment to high achievement and
sporting success andwe arehappy to standalongside them.
We also developed newpartnerships. We were very happy
to sign agreements of partnership and understandingwith
DHL, LeaseWeb, the Olympic Channel and, in early 2017,
Noosphere Ventures. Together they help consolidate the
FAI’s commercial footing, which allows us to focus on our
core aims: promoting air sports throughout the world.
Looking forward I want to help the FAI progress even
further, and to continue to develop the exciting projects
that have been initiated in recent years. Key to that is the
development of the FAI Air Games Tour, a new and exciting
concept that will combine several air sports together in a
series that will reach around theworld. The idea is to create