Athletes

FAI President's letter - May 2014

Dear Air Sport Friends,

I am very pleased to report real positive progress within FAI.

But first I would like to extend my best wishes to all of you who like myself are starting another wonderful flying season full of new experiences, views and friends. And to those of you who are preparing for winter I hope you still have some great flying opportunities.

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FAI President's letter - March 2014

Dear Air Sport Friends,

I hope you are enjoying wonderful flying conditions wherever you are.

Since the last General Conference so excellently arranged in Kuala Lumpur by the Malaysian Sport Aviation Federation there have been a number of developments and I wish to update you on the most important of them.

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FAI President's letter - August 2013

Dear Air Sport Friends,

I would like to start this letter by informing you that our Secretary General Jean-Marc Badan unfortunately announced his decision to step down from his position as of Nov 30th. The reasons for his decision are general dissatisfaction with the nature of the daily work in his position, too high a workload as well as some health concerns. This was announced at our recent Executive Board meeting. I and the Board are of course very unhappy about this decision, especially as we are very pleased with his contributions, but we respect his decision. You will have the opportunity to thank Jean-Marc Badan at the General Conference.

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FAI President's letter - October 2012

Dear Air Sport Friends,

Soon we have our 106th General Conference. This time in Antalya, Turkey, organized by the Turkish Aeronautical Association. I am convinced it will be a very successful and also pleasant Conference. Look in at http://www.fai2012turkey.com for the latest updates.

I hope to see as many of you as possible there, although I am well aware that for some it is a very long journey indeed.

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FAI President's letter - June 2012

Dear Air Sport Friends,

I take it you all heard the good news that we now have Breitling as our first ever Global Partner !

This prestigious Swiss watch company has always been involved in aeronautics and this partnership opens up for a new era in air sports management. The rights include a general presence at FAI World and Continental Championships. The contract was signed a very sunny afternoon in Lausanne, in the presence of Air Sport Commission Presidents and many NAC Presidents.

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FAI President's letter - January 2012

Dear Air Sport Friends,

After the General Conference I feel confident we are on the right track. And I am pleased to report that the Executive Board also shares my opinion (both confident and on the right track !).

The re-organization effort of our head office is well under way, but it is not and has not, been easy. It will require some time before we are up and running. We have and have had shortcomings, and these are being addressed. Some of them you are well aware of and some are being gradually uncovered. However, the head office is being reconstructed under the competent leadership of our Secretary General Jean-Marc Badan. He and the EB have recruited a new Sports Manager, Mr. Robert (Rob) Hughes, and a new IT Manager, Mr. Visa-Matti Leinikki, who will join the office in March and May respectively. Let’s give them a warm welcome and a chance to get into the match! And let the head office catch up before further steps can be achieved on important matters such as, for example, a new Organiser Agreement, the FAI Sporting Licence Database or further improvements on the FAI Website and databases.

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FAI President's letter - September 2011

Dear Air Sport Friends,

First of all, my warmest greetings to our new Secretary General, Jean-Marc Badan. I am sure you join me in wishing him all the very best in his new and challenging position as FAI Secretary General. You know he is well established within the air sport world and I am sure he will be just the right person for FAI, now and in the future. At present, he in close co-operation with Stéphane Desprez updating himself on the various issues Stéphane has been pursuing. Also, again, all our best wishes to Stéphane in his new job at FIM.

The General Conference is coming up and I want to take this opportunity of to say that I am looking forward to welcoming you to Belgrade in October ! If you have not registered yet – do it now !

At the General Conference (GC) in Dublin last year a new President and a new Executive Board (EB) was elected and the Strategic Task Force report was presented and accepted as a tool for progress. At this GC we will report on our work.

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FAI President's letter - August 2011

Dear Air Sport Friends,

This time of year in most parts of the world is the time for competition and other aerial activities, and I have just gone down to Denmark to participate in the Swedish (!) Nationals for hot air ballooning - I like the idea of sharing Nationals in other countries; I would be happy to receive other examples.

But of course FAI business rolls on.

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FAI President's letter - July 2011

Dear Air Sport Friends,

As I sit down to write these lines I am still overwhelmed by the sad news of the recent sudden death of the General Aviation Commission President Hans Johann Gutmann. My thoughts and sympathy are with his family, and to reduce the load on them – and to fully appreciate the work he did promoting air sports and General Aviation – please turn to:
http://www.kondolenzbuch-online.de/cgi-bin/2011/books/000264.pl

Nevertheless, I wish to send you this update on what’s going on within the FAI Executive Board. It is the first of what I intend to be routine open letters from myself to the FAI community. In fact, I intend to get the regular FAI Newsletter up and running again, reporting on the FAI position in the World of Sports and highlights from the various Commission newsletters.
It has been quite an experience to take on the work as the new President of FAI, and to lead a new Executive Board. I am most grateful for the support of the board and the staff at our headquarters.

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