The FAI as a Mainstay of International Aviation Sports

Its members are the national air sports federations from over 100 countries.

The FAI has a similar organizational structure to that of the AeCS prior to the major revision of its bylaws. The aviation sports disciplines are not organized into individual federations but rather into commissions. The 13 disciplines are listed alphabetically as follows:

• Aeromodeling
• Amateur-Built and Experimental Aircraft
• Ballooning
• Drones
• General Aviation
• Gliding
• Hang Gliding
• Microlights and Paramotors
• Parachuting
• Paragliding
• Power and Gliding Aerobatics
• Rotorcraft
• Space

Model aviation is organized under the FAI Aeromodeling Commission (CIAM). Strategic leadership rests with the Bureau, which meets twice a year, while operational management is handled by the various subcommittees. The plenary assembly, attended by national delegates, takes place in the spring. The General Secretariat is headquartered in Lausanne. About half a dozen staff members are responsible for the complex administrative tasks.

See also:
https://www.fai.org

The World Air Sports Federation
Highest Governing Body: General Conference

National Federation of Light and Sport
Aviation Highest Governing Body: Delegates’ Assembly (DV
) (total of 200 delegate votes from regions and divisions)

35 Regional Associations
(including 6 model aircraft regions)
Highest Governing Body:
General Assemblies or Delegates’ Assemblies*

35 regional associations bring together the flying clubs of a (geographic) region.

All regional associations collectively hold 100 delegate votes in the AeCS.

The 6 SMV regional associations collectively hold 33 votes.

8 Division Associations
Highest governing body:
General or Delegate Assemblies*

8 National Specialized Associations:

• Balloon
• Ecolight
• Experimental
• Parachuting
• Helicopter
• Model Aircraft (SMV)
• Powered Flight
• Gliding

The division associations collectively hold 100 delegate votes in the AeCS.

The Model Aircraft division has 31 votes.

The SMV is the largest division.

33 votes from the regional associations + 31 votes as a division = 64 votes for the SMV (as of October 19)

* In the Model Aviation Association: 3 Presidents’ Conference

(Model) Aviation Groups/Clubs
: Highest Governing Bodies: General Assemblies

The FAI is the world's leading air sports organization, including for model aircraft flying. The AeCS has always been a dedicated member and has provided several presidents.

The organizational chart also shows the position of the Swiss Model Aviation Federation and the model aviation regions within the AeCS. Equal rights and obligations.

Peter Germann has long deserved this honor and great recognition for his dedication to international model aviation. For him, tethered flight remains his “home.” His tireless dedication began with the founding of the Skyblazers Zurich control-line flying group and the construction of a control-line flying field in Schwamendingen, and continued through his service as head and driving force of the Control-Line Flying Commission, sports director of the SMV, and ultimately as its president. Tethered flight—Control Line—has never let him go. His great international contribution to the FAI/CIAM was and remains his highly competent work on the CIAM Tethered Flight Subcommittee. Without Peter Germann, aerobatics in particular would not have reached such a high level of athletic and organizational excellence. Peter has earned special recognition for his contributions to the evaluation of aerobatic maneuvers and has provided important impetus for the training of judges. Heartfelt congratulations and many thanks. Ed.

The FAI is virtually unrivaled in model aviation as well. Feeble attempts to establish a European organization cannot be taken seriously. Only the American Model Aviation Association (AMA), with its structure strictly focused on model aviation, is superior.

At the AeCS Delegates’ Assembly, Emil Giezendanner, President of the NOS, was presented with the “Model Flying Gold Medal” awarded by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI).

The certificate cites as the reason for the honor his extraordinary contribution to environmentally friendly model aviation through his promotion of electric model aviation within the FAI and his regular publication of the highly regarded CIAM Flyer.

The fact that Emil Giezendanner saw electric propulsion as an alternative to internal combustion engines—at a time when most model aviators had nothing but a wry smile for this technology—shows that he has always been a maverick, constantly seeking out new ideas. For what we take for granted today, he had to devote himself wholeheartedly 50 years ago and put up with many an ironic comment. On behalf of model aviators, heartfelt congratulations on this well-deserved honor.

P. Bartholdi

In most aviation disciplines, the FAI World Cup is also of great importance. In model aviation, the World Cup—following its widespread recognition in free flight and tethered flight—is also gaining increasing recognition, for example in F3A aerobatics, F3C helicopter aerobatics, RC gliding and RC electric flight, etc. The winners are honored at each CIAM plenary session. The dignified presentation of the medals and diplomas to the athletes—in the presence of delegates from over thirty countries—is always a solemn moment. French- or Italian-speaking users can use the translator at https://www.deepl.com/translator

The members of the CIAM Bureau serve on a volunteer basis. In the case of major trips and assignments, modest expense reimbursements may be paid. To me, the achievements of the many FAI committees are always a small miracle. Decisions regarding the sport—such as the introduction of new classes—generally work in an exemplary bottom-up manner. As befits a volunteer-run sports organization, deserving individuals are honored each year with various diplomas or medals. FAI awards are also almost regularly presented to individuals from Switzerland. Every now and then, they are also awarded to model aviators. Since the AeCS was unable to attend the 2018 FAI General Conference, the FAI awards were presented at the AeCS Delegates’ Assembly on March 23, 2019. AeCS President Matthias Jauslin presented various honors across several categories and personally handed out the corresponding certificates. There were also awards for model aviation.