2016 FAI Annual Report

42-43 / 67

FAI ANNUAL REPORT–2016 FAI ANNUAL REPORT–2016 40 41
GREAT EVENT.
STRONG CREW.
When the competition starts, we have
already finished. With the full range of
freight transportation services we deliver
your equipment around the globe.
At the right time, at the right place, and
at competitive rates. No matter whether it
is big and bulky or small and sensitive.
Challenge us now.
DHL Global Forwarding, Freight
Excellence. Simply delivered.
General Information
Sponsorship
&Partnership
While 2016 was a successful year for many pilots in
the air, on the ground the FAI was working hard to
establish new commercial relationships to help ensure
the continued success of the FAI in an ever-changing
commercial and media landscape.
High profile projects like Solar Impulse 2 and the success
of international events like the RedBull Air Race, show that
air sports can and do prove to be engaging and exciting,
attracting audiences worldwide.
Buildingandmaintainingproductivecommercialrelationships
allows the FAI to focus on its core role of promoting and
developing air sports around the world.
The FAI has been present at many of themost exciting and
high profile adventure and air sport achievements of the
last century. It isworking hard to develop newpartnerships
that can help carry that legacy forwards.
Aswell as providing full logistics support services to the FAI
head office, the FAI and DHL will work together to promote
new business, through the FAI’s Commission meetings,
National Air Sport Controls (NACs), event organisers and
others within the air sport community.
DHL
The FAI and DHL signed a four-year agreement in 2016,
naming DHL as the Official Logistics Partner of the FAI.
Theagreementwassigned inGladbeckGermany, prior to the
launchofthe60thCoupeAéronautiqueGordonBennettballoon
race, themost prestigiousballooncompetition in theworld.
Announcing the new partnership, Vincenzo Scrudato, the
Global Managing Director of DHL Trade Fairs & Events,
said, “We are happy to become part of the world air sport
community.”
FAI President Dr JohnGrubbströmwelcomedDHL onboard:
“We are looking forward to the four-year collaborationwith
DHL, whichwe see as anatural fit for theworldof air sports.”
DHL is part of the worldwide leading logistics provider
Deutsche Post DHL Group and provides a comprehensive
range of services in the field of logistics, haulage and
storage. The FAI and DHL will work together primarily in
the area of event logistics.
BREITLING
Breitling has been a key FAI Global Partner since 2012. A
renownedSwisswatch brandwith a long history in aviation,
the partnership has always been a perfect fit.
In 2016 the Breitling Milestone Trophy and the Breitling
Youngster Awardwere both retired. In their place, the FAI-
Breitling Pilot of the Year Award was launched.
This new award is designed to recognise outstanding
achievements in the world of air sport – and this year
it was awarded to Russian round-the-world balloonist
Fedor Konyukhov.
Konyukhov was given the award in recognition of his
historic flight earlier in 2016, which saw him become only
the third balloon team to successfully circumnavigate the
Earth in a non-stop flight. In the process he set a new FAI
world record, completing the mission in a time of 11 days
4 hours 20 minutes.
In November 2016 Konyukhov travelled to Switzerland
from his home in Moscow to receive his Pilot of the Year
Award – and was presented with the iconic chronograph
Navitimer 01 – at Breitling Chronométrie, the brand’s
modern facility in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
Breitling also provided support to the following FAI category
1 competitions:
−− 60th Coupe Aeronautique Gordon Bennett
−− 20th FAI European Aerobatic Championships