FAI News 01/06

FAI President at the 23rd FAI World Grand Prix, Al Ain /
FAI Environmental Commission : Annual Meeting / Seminar for Event Directors : Reminder / Air Sports are for all ! /
New World Record Claims / Competition Update

Mr. Pierre Portmann, FAI President attended the 23rd FAI World Grand Prix in Al Ain (United Arab Emirates) from 13 to 15 January, at the kind invitation of H.H. Shaikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, President of the Higher Organising Committee, Al Ain Aerobatics Show.

The visit offered an excellent opportunity for the FAI President to witness the rapid development of sporting aviation in the United Arab Emirates, and to have discussions with the President of the Emirates Aviation Association and other leaders about how FAI can help promote further growth in the area.

At the closing banquet of the Air Show, Major General Khalid Bin Abdullah Mubarak Al Bu-Ainain, Commander of the UAE Air Force & Air Defense, pledged his commitment to making the Al Ain event an annual show-case for sporting aviation at the highest international level.

In his reply, the FAI President said "I am very impressed by what I see here. FAI is very pleased to see that the United Arab Emirates are playing a leading role in promoting sporting and recreational aviation. We thank you for your initiative and congratulate you on what you have already achieved."

Photo shown above : The Royal Jordian Falcons over Al Ain

(c) Haute Voltige / K. Tokunaga

For further information, results and photos, please consult :

FAI World Grand Prix, Al Ain 2006

Al Ain Aerobatic Air Show 2006

The FAI Environmental Commission held its Annual Meeting on 13 and 14 January 2006 at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne.

The FAI Environmental Commission will make available to the world air sports community in 2006 a series of important scientific articles in English, on how to protect the environment. One article focuses on the potential for flying sites to provide good habitat for wild-life; another focuses on the effects overflying aircraft have on birds; others deal with matters specific to particular air sports, such as the impact of hot-air balloons on roosting geese. These articles, due to start appearing in the spring, will be helpful for all those air sports people who want to protect the environment whilst enjoying their sport.

The Commission has also started work on the development of recommendations to event organizers and flying site managers on how to structure their activities in an environmentally friendly way. This help and advice will supplement the guidelines already available in the FAI Environmental Code of Conduct.

Elections : Dr Michael GOTH (GER) was re-elected as the President of the Environmental Commission. List of Officials of the Environmental Commission.

Next Meeting : Frankfurt (GER), 20 January 2007

What ? To share knowledge gathered in all air sports, and evaluate how FAI can help event directors to add value to their events, especially in universal matters such as media-coverage, sports marketing, environmental and safety issues.

Who ? Representatives of FAI Air Sport Commissions, FAI Members and persons occupying senior positions in FAI Championship Organizing Committees.

When and where ? From 7 to 9 April 2006; at the House of Sport of the Danish NOC, Bröndby, near Copenhagen.

Information package available at : FAI Seminar for Event Directors

Registration : By 31 January 2006 at the latest. Travel information can be sent at a later date.

Former FAI President (1986-1988) and FAI Gold Air Medal winner G.A. "Peter" Lloyd celebrated his 85th birthday in grand style recently - with a tandem parachute jump. He is seen here in free-fall. Peter fully intends to jump again for his 90th birthday - an inspiration to all those who think that air sports are reserved for youngsters.

Some of the new World Record Claims recently received by FAI :

Class F - Model Aircraft / Claim number : 12371

Sub-class : F5-P (Aeroplane, electric motor. non-rechargeable sources of current)

Category : F5 - Radio Controlled Flight

Type of record : N°181 - Distance to goal and return

Course/location : Lucerne Valley, CA (USA)

Performance : 30.44 km

Pilot : Gary B. FOGEL (USA)

Date: 17.12.2005

Current record : 11.21 km (21.05.2005 - Gary B. FOGEL, USA)

File under review : 19.92 km (19.07.2005 - Jüri LAIDNA, UKR)

Awaiting file : 25 km (07.10.2005 - Gary B. FOGEL, USA)




Class D - Gliders / Claim number : 12457

Sub-class : D15 (15m Class Gliders)

General Category

Type of record : Out-and-return distance

Course/location : Chapelco (ARG)

Performance : 1 665 km

Pilot : Diether MEMMERT (GER)

Glider : Schempp-Hirth Ventus 2 CM - 15m

Date: 08.01.2006

Current record : 1 501.5 km (11.12.2003 - Diether MEMMERT, GER)




Class D - Gliders / Claim number : 12461

Sub-class : D15 (15m Class Gliders)

General Category

Type of record : Speed over a triangular course of 300 km

Course/location : Chapelco (ARG)

Performance : 188.62 km/h

Pilot : Klaus OHLMANN (GER)

Glider : Glaser-Dirks DG-400

Date: 05.01.2006

Current record : 179.30 km/h (17.12.1997 - Terrence Raymond DELORE, NZL)




The details shown above are provisional. When all the evidence required has been received and checked, the exact figures will be established and the record ratified (if appropriate).

For further information on World Records, please consult the latest news, including all claims pending ratification, at FAI World Records.

FAI recently received the following Championship results :

23rd FAI World Grand Prix

Sport : Aerobatic

Date : 13 to 15 January 2006

Location : Al Ain (UAE)

Final results and Official Webpage