The (; FAI; en, World Air Sports Federation) is the world governing body for air sports, and also stewards definitions regarding

human spaceflight Human spaceflight (also referred to as manned spaceflight or crewed spaceflight) is spaceflight with a crew or passengers aboard a spacecraft, often with the spacecraft being operated directly by the onboard human crew. Spacecraft can also be ...

. It was founded on 14 October 1905, and is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland. It maintains world records for

aeronautical Aeronautics is the science or art involved with the study, design, and manufacturing of air flight–capable machines, and the techniques of operating aircraft and rockets within the atmosphere. The British Royal Aeronautical Society identifies ...

activities, including ballooning, aeromodeling, and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), as well as flights into space.

History

The FAI was founded at a conference held in Paris 12–14 October 1905, which was organized following a resolution passed by the

Olympic Congress An Olympic Congress is a large gathering of representatives from the different constituencies of the Olympic Movement, organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). As detailed in chapter 1, rule 4 of the Olympic Charter, the IOC Pres ...

held in Brussels on 10 June 1905 calling for the creation of an Association "to regulate the sport of flying, ... the various aviation meetings and advance the science and sport of Aeronautics." The conference was attended by representatives from 8 countries: Belgium (, founded 1901), France ( Aéro-Club de France, 1898), Germany ( aka "German Airship League", founded 1902), Great Britain ( Royal Aero Club, 1901), Italy (, 1904), Spain (, 1905), Switzerland (

Aero-Club der Schweiz The ''Aero-Club der Schweiz'' is Switzerland's national aero club, based in Luzern. It claims an active membership of 21,000, amongst some 350 local groups. The club commissioned the Ultimate EA230 aerobatics plane from Walter Extra. External li ...

, 1900) and the United States ( Aero Club of America, 1905). On 2 February 2017 the FAI announced its new strategic partnership with international asset management firm Noosphere Ventures. FAI Secretary General Susanne Schödel, FAI President Frits Brink and Noosphere Ventures Managing Partner

Max Polyakov Maksym "Max" Polyakov (born 30 June 1977) is an international technology entrepreneur, investor, economist, and Philanthropy, philanthropist. Polyakov is a general partner in the venture fund Noosphere Ventures Partners LP which invests in a num ...

signed the agreement, making Noosphere Ventures FAI's Global Technical Partner. The FAI suspended Russia and Belarus due to the

2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine On 24 February 2022, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which began in 2014. The invasion has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths on both sides. It has caused Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II. An ...

, as a result of which pilots from Russia and Belarus will not be able to compete in any FAI-sanctioned event in the 13 FAI air sports disciplines, including paragliding, hang gliding, and paramotoring.FAI SUSPEND RUSSIA AND BELARUS
TUESDAY 1 MARCH, 2022 ''xcmag.com'', accessed 19 April 2022

FAI General Conference

The 117th FAI General Conference took place in Dayton, Ohio, US (the 'Birthplace of Aviation') on 26 and 27 October 2023. The 118th FAI General Conference will be held from 20 to 21 November 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Sports

13 Sports: #

Aeromodelling A model aircraft is a small unmanned aircraft. Many are replicas of real aircraft. Model aircraft are divided into two basic groups: flying and non-flying. Non-flying models are also termed static, display, or shelf models. Aircraft manufactur ...

(modelling (

space modulation {{Modulation techniques Space modulation is a radio amplitude modulation technique used in instrument landing systems (ILS) that incorporates the use of multiple antennas fed with various radio frequency powers and phases to create different dep ...

) – Space Modelling) # Amateur-Built & Experimental Aircraft # Ballooning #

Drones Drone most commonly refers to: * Drone (bee), a male bee, from an unfertilized egg * Unmanned aerial vehicle * Unmanned surface vehicle, watercraft * Unmanned underwater vehicle or underwater drone Drone, drones or The Drones may also refer to: ...

# General Aviation #

Gliding Gliding is a recreational activity and competitive air sport in which pilots fly unpowered aircraft known as gliders or sailplanes using naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmosphere to remain airborne. The word ''soaring'' is al ...

# Hang Gliding #

Microlights Ultralight aviation (called microlight aviation in some countries) is the flying of lightweight, 1- or 2-seat fixed-wing aircraft. Some countries differentiate between weight-shift control and conventional three-axis control aircraft with aile ...

and

Paramotors Powered paragliding, also known as paramotoring or PPG, is a form of ultralight aviation where the pilot wears a back-pack motor (a paramotor) which provides enough thrust to take off using a paraglider. It can be launched in still air, and on ...

# Paragliding # Powered and glider aircraft Aerobatics # Rotorcraft #

Parachuting Parachuting, including also skydiving, is a method of transiting from a high point in the atmosphere to the surface of Earth with the aid of gravity, involving the control of speed during the descent using a parachute or parachutes. For ...

( Skydiving) # Space

Air Sport Commissions

# General Air Sports (CASI) # Aerobatics (CIVA) # Aeromodelling (CIAM) # Amateur-Built and Experimental Aircraft (CIACA) # Astronautic Records (ICARE) # Ballooning (CIA) # General Aviation (GAC) # Gliding (IGC) # Hang Gliding and Paragliding (CIVL) # Microlight and Paramotor (CIMA) # Rotorcraft (CIG) # Skydiving (ISC)

Events

* World Air Games * World Paragliding Championships * World Gliding Championships *

World Parachuting Championships World Parachuting Championships is the main competitive parachuting championships in the World, and is organised by Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. 2022 * Parachuting (Skydiving): 9-26 October 2022 in Eloy, Arizona, USA, and is organ ...

* FAI World Aerobatic Championships *

World Hot Air Ballooning Championships The World Hot Air Ballooning Championships are the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) World Hot Air Balloon Championship and the FAI Women's World Hot Air Balloon Championship. These biennial Biennial means (an event) lasting for two ...

* FAI World Paramotor Slalom Championships *

2023 FAI F3P World Championships The 2023 FAI F3P World Championships was held from 19 to 25 March 2023 in Jonava, Lithuania. Nelija Prapuolenaitytė from Lithuania become first female pilot to participate at the World championships. Medalists Medal Table Seniors Juniors ...

* World Cup of Indoor Skydiving * FAI World Grand Prix * Red Bull Air Race World Championship *

( Skydiving) All the events sanctioned by the FAI are listed in the events calendar. World Championships The first World Championships in a certain class took place in the following years: # 1951: F1A, F1B, F1C # 1960: F2A, F2B, F2C, F3A # 1961: F1D # 1970: F4B, F4C # 1972: S-classes # 1977: F3B # 1978: F2D # 1985: F3C, F3D # 1986: F3E (now: F5B) # 1989: F1E # 1994: F5D (now F3E) # 1998: F3 # 2010: F6A (WAG) # 2010: F6B (WAG) # 2010: F6D (WAG) # 2011: F3K # 2012: F3F # 2013: F3N # 2013: F3P # 2014: F4H # 2018: F3U # 2019: F5J # 2024: F3M

Activities

The FAI is the international governing body for the following activities: * Aerobatics through the FAI Aerobatics Commission (Commission Internationale de Voltige Aérienne – CIVA) * Aeromodeling and

drones Drone most commonly refers to: * Drone (bee), a male bee, from an unfertilized egg * Unmanned aerial vehicle * Unmanned surface vehicle, watercraft * Unmanned underwater vehicle or underwater drone Drone, drones or The Drones may also refer to: ...

through the FAI Aeromodelling Commission (Commission Internationale d'Aéro-Modélisme – CIAM) * Ballooning through the FAI Ballooning Commission (Commission Internationale de l'Aérostation – CIA) * General aviation through the FAI General Aviation Commission (General Aviation Commission – GAC) *

through the FAI Gliding Commission (International Gliding Commission – IGC) * Hang gliding & Paragliding through the FAI Hang Gliding & Paragliding Commission (Commission Internationale de Vol Libre – CIVL) *

Human-powered aircraft A human-powered aircraft (HPA) is an aircraft belonging to the class of vehicles known as human-powered transport. Human-powered aircraft have been successfully flown over considerable distances. However, they are still primarily constructed a ...

through the FAI Amateur-Built and Experimental Aircraft Commission (Commission Internationale des Aéronefs de Construction Amateur – CIACA) * Microlighting and Paramotoring through the FAI Microlight & Paramotor Commission (Commission Internationale de Microaviation – CIMA) * Skydiving through the FAI International Skydiving Commission * Rotorcraft through the FAI Rotorcraft Commission (Commission Internationale de giraviation – CIG) The FAI establishes the standards for records in the activities. Where these are air sports, the FAI also oversees international competitions at world and continental levels, and also organizes the World Air Games and FAI World Grand Prix. The FAI organises the FAI International Drones Conference and Expo. This event offers a platform for organisations, businesses and individuals to discuss how drones are used today and to create a framework for how they will be used and impact on life in the future. The FAI also keeps records set in

, through the FAI Astronautic Records Commission (International Astronautic Records Commission – ICARE)

Kármán Line definition

The FAI defines the limit between Earth's atmosphere and outer space, the so-called Karman Line, as the altitude of above Earth's sea level.

Records

The Soviet Union 1971 CPA 3992 stamp (Yuri Gagarin Medal, Spaceships and Planets)

Among the FAI's responsibilities are the verification of record-breaking flights. For a flight to be registered as a "World Record," it has to comply with the FAI's strict rules, which include a proviso that the record must exceed the previous record by a certain percentage. Since the late 1930s, military aircraft have dominated some classes of record for powered aircraft such as speed, distance, payload, and height, though other classes are regularly claimed by civilians. Some records are claimed by countries as their own, even though their achievements fail to meet FAI standards. These claims are not typically granted the status of official records. For example, Yuri Gagarin earned recognition for the first manned spaceflight, despite failing to meet FAI requirements. The FAI initially did not recognize the achievement because he did not land in his Vostok spacecraft (he ejected from it), but later it recognized that Gagarin was the first human to fly into space. The FAI then established the Yuri A. Gagarin Gold Medal, which has been awarded since 1968.

Classes

The following types of craft have records: * Class A Free Balloons * Class B Airships * Class C

Aeroplane An airplane or aeroplane (informally plane) is a fixed-wing aircraft that is propelled forward by thrust from a jet engine, propeller, or rocket engine. Airplanes come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and wing configurations. The broad spectr ...

s ** Class CS Solar-Powered Aeroplanes * Class D

Glider Glider may refer to: Aircraft and transport Aircraft * Glider (aircraft), heavier-than-air aircraft primarily intended for unpowered flight ** Glider (sailplane), a rigid-winged glider aircraft with an undercarriage, used in the sport of glidin ...

s & Motorgliders * Class E Rotorcraft * Class F Model Aircraft ** Class F1 – Free flight ** Class F2 – Control line ** Class F3 –

Radio control Radio control (often abbreviated to RC) is the use of control signals transmitted by radio to remotely control a device. Examples of simple radio control systems are garage door openers and keyless entry systems for vehicles, in which a small ...

*** F3K –

Discus Launch Glider A Discus Launch Glider (DLG) is a radio controlled model sailplane launched using a 'discus launch' in which the glider is held by a wingtip and the flier rotates rapidly before release. Using this launching method, the average flier can achie ...

*** F3F – Slope Soaring ** Class F4 – Scale model aircraft ** Class F5 – Electrically powered model aircraft *** F5B – Electric powered motor gliders *** F5D – Electric powered pylon racing model aircraft ** Class F8 – Autonomous flight (created by CIAM in 2006, later retired) ** Class F9 – Drone Sports *** F9A – Drone soccer *** F9U –

Drone racing First Person View, or FPV, drone racing, is a sport where participants control " drones" (typically small radio-controlled aircraft or quadcopters), equipped with cameras while wearing head-mounted displays showing the live stream camera fee ...

* Class G

* Class H Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) Aeroplanes * Class I Manpowered aircraft * Class K Spacecraft * Class M Tilt-Wing/Tilt Engine Aircraft * Class N Short Take-off and Landing (STOL) Aeroplanes * Class O Hang Gliding & Paragliding * Class P Aerospacecraft * Class R Microlights and Paramotors * Class S Space Models ( Model rockets) * Class U Unmanned aerial vehicles

Selected records

Awards

The FAI Gold Air Medal was established in 1924 and was first awarded in 1925. It is reserved for those who have contributed greatly to the development of aeronautics by their activities, work, achievements, initiative or devotion to the cause of Aviation. The FAI has also awarded the

Paul Tissandier Diploma Paul Tissandier (19 February 1881 – 11 March 1945) was a French aviator. Biography Tissandier was the son of aviator Gaston Tissandier and nephew of Albert Tissandier, Gaston's brother. Tissandier began his flying career as a hot air ballo ...

since 1952 to those who have served the cause of aviation in general and sporting aviation in particular. The FAI also makes awards for each of the following air sports. * Awards for Ballooning: ** The Montgolfier Ballooning Diploma ** The

Santos Dumont Alberto Santos-Dumont ( Palmira, 20 July 1873 — Guarujá, 23 July 1932) was a Brazilian aeronaut, sportsman, inventor, and one of the few people to have contributed significantly to the early development of both lighter-than-air and heavier- ...

Gold Airship Medal * Awards for General Aviation: ** The Charles Lindbergh General Aviation Diploma * Awards for Gliding: ** The Lilienthal Gliding Medal ** The

Pelagia Majewska Pelagia Teresa Majewska (26 April 1933 - 12 July 1988) was a Polish aeroplane and glider pilot-instructor, who won many national and world glider records. She was also a social activist. Early life and education Pelagia Teresa Pietrzak was bo ...

Gliding Medal ** The Pirat Gehriger Diploma * Awards for Rotorcraft: ** The FAI Gold Rotorcraft Medal * Awards for Parachuting: ** The FAI Gold Parachuting Medal ** The Leonardo da Vinci Parachuting Diploma ** The Faust Vrancic Medal * Awards for Aeromodelling: ** The FAI Aeromodelling Gold Medal ** The Andrei Tupolev Aeromodelling Medal ** The

Alphonse Penaud Alphonse may refer to: * Alphonse (given name) * Alphonse (surname) * Alphonse Atoll, one of two atolls in the Seychelles' Alphonse Group See also *Alphons *Alfonso (disambiguation) Alfonso (and variants Alphonso, Afonso, Alphons, and Alphonse) i ...

Aeromodelling Diploma ** The Antonov Aeromodelling Diploma ** The Andrei Tupolev Aeromodelling Diploma ** The Frank Ehling Diploma * Awards for Aerobatics: ** The Leon Biancotto Aerobatics Diploma * Awards for Astronautics: ** The Yuri A. Gagarin Gold Medal ** The V.M. Komarov Diploma ** The Korolev Diploma ** The Odyssey Diploma * Awards for Hang Gliding: ** The Pepe Lopes Medal ** The FAI Hang Gliding Diploma * Awards for Microlight Aviation: ** The Colibri Diploma ** The Ann Welch Diploma * Awards for Aviation and Space Education: ** The Nile Gold Medal * Awards for Amateur-Built Aircraft: ** The Phoenix Diploma ** The Phoenix Group Diploma ** The Henri Mignet Diploma

FAI Young Artists Contest

The FAI Young Artists Contest is an international painting competition for youngsters between the ages of 6 and 17. Each FAI Member Country organises the contest in their country, and the national winners are submitted to the International Jury each year.

Members

Active members

Associate members

Affiliate members

Temporary members

Suspended members

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Federation Aeronautique Internationale 1905 establishments in Switzerland Aerobatic organizations Aeronautics organizations Organisations based in Lausanne Sports organizations established in 1905 Standards organisations in Switzerland Aviation organizations Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations International standards organizations