100th Anniversary of the Aero Club of the Czech Republic

The original Aero Club of the Czech Republic was founded in the autumn of 1909, but it was after the First World War, in March 1919, that the renamed Czechoslovak Aviation Club first became a member of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), again changing its name after the Second World War to Aero Club of Czechoslovakia. The Aero Club of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic then broke up after the Velvet Revolution in November 1989. Today, the Aero Club of the Czech Republic is an independent member (Class 7) of the FAI, in its capacity as one of the legal successors of the erstwhile Aero Club of Czechoslovakia. The Aero Club has more than 7.500 members active in 116 clubs, covering Gliding, Power Flying and Sky Diving. One of the most important duties of the Aero Club of the Czech Republic is to provide international representation in FAI for Aerobatics, Precision Flying, Rally Flying, Gliding and Sky Diving, and – through its various affiliated bodies (Light Aircraft Association of the Czech Republic, Czech Ballooning Union and Czech Modelling Union) for microlights, ballooning and aeromodelling.

The 100th Anniversary of the Aero Club of Czech Republic was celebrated at a large Memorial Air Show, held in Roudnice nad Labem on 27th and 28th June 2009.

Mrs. von Heidenstam, Ambassador of Sweden, pledges free European skies. Copyright P. Kolman, AerohobbyUnder the patronage of the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Mr. Jan FISCHER, and with the motto Free European Sky For Aviation, Mr. Gustav SLAMECKA, the Czech Minister of Transport, presented to Mrs. Catherine VON HEIDENSTAM, the Ambassador of Sweden (representing the new presidency of the European Union for the next six months) a glass trophy depicting the L-200 Morava aircraft as a symbol of the task of freeing up the skies of Europe that faces the Swedish presidency in the European Union in the coming months.

Mr. Vlastimil DVORAK, President of the Aero Club of Czech Republic, who initiated this project three years ago, said : "Even if the project cannot be finished during the Swedish Presidency, it must be finished some time".
Mrs. Catherine VON HEIDENSTAM said : "We will try to eradicate borders within the European Union, for sporting and general aviation too".

FAI was represented at this festival of general aviation and aeronautical sports by one of its Executive Directors, Mr. Willi ARPAGAUS from Switzerland. During his speech Mr. ARPAGAUS introduced the FAI and its activities and objectives. He said : "On behalf of the FAI President I congratulate all members of the Aero Club of the Czech Republic on the centenary of their work for the Czech, European and World aviation and I wish you all the best in the coming years, and a FREE EUROPEAN SKY FOR AVIATION in the future".

News provided by Mr. Jiri DODAL,
Secretary General
Aero Club of Czech Republic