The (; FAI; en, World Air Sports Federation) is the world governing body for

air sports The term "air sports" covers a range of aerial activities, including air racing, aerobatics, aeromodelling, hang gliding, human-powered aircraft, parachuting, paragliding and skydiving. Recognized and regulated air sports Many air sports a ...

, 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 , neighboring_municipalities= Bottens, Bretigny-sur-Morrens, Chavannes-près-Renens, Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne, Crissier, Cugy, Écublens, Épalinges, Évian-les-Bains (FR-74), Froideville, Jouxtens-Mézery, Le Mont-sur-Lausanne, Lugrin (FR ...

, 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 vehicle An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft without any human pilot, crew, or passengers on board. UAVs are a component of an unmanned aircraft system (UAS), which includes adding a ground-based controll ...

s (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 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 (Aero Club Royal de Belgique, founded 1901), France ( Aéro-Club de France, 1898), Germany ( Deutscher Aero Club e.V.), Great Britain ( Royal Aero Club, 1901), Italy (

Aero Club d'Italia Aero is a Greek prefix relating to flight and air. In British English, it is used as an adjective related to flight (e.g., as a shortened substitute for aeroplane). Aero, Ærø, or Aeros may refer to: Aeronautics Airlines and companies * Aero (P ...

, 1904), Spain ( Real Aero Club de España, 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 lin ...

, 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 philanthropist. Polyakov is a general partner in the venture fund Noosphere Ventures Partners LP which invests in a number of technol ...

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. A ...

, 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

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 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 General aviation (GA) is defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as all civil aviation aircraft operations with the exception of commercial air transport or aerial work, which is defined as specialized aviation services ...

through the FAI General Aviation Commission (General Aviation Commission – GAC) *

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 a ...

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 ...

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

, 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)

Karman Line definition

The FAI defines the limit between

Earth's atmosphere The atmosphere of Earth is the layer of gases, known collectively as air, retained by Earth's gravity that surrounds the planet and forms its planetary atmosphere. The atmosphere of Earth protects life on Earth by creating pressure allowing fo ...

and

outer space Outer space, commonly shortened to space, is the expanse that exists beyond Earth and its atmosphere and between celestial bodies. Outer space is not completely empty—it is a near-perfect vacuum containing a low density of particles, pred ...

, the so-called Karman Line, as the

altitude Altitude or height (also sometimes known as depth) is a distance measurement, usually in the vertical or "up" direction, between a reference datum and a point or object. The exact definition and reference datum varies according to the context ...

of above

Earth Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor life. While large volumes of water can be found throughout the Solar System, only Earth sustains liquid surface water. About 71% of Earth's sur ...

sea level Mean sea level (MSL, often shortened to sea level) is an average surface level of one or more among Earth's coastal bodies of water from which heights such as elevation may be measured. The global MSL is a type of vertical datuma standardis ...

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

Airship An airship or dirigible balloon is a type of aerostat or lighter-than-air aircraft that can navigate through the air under its own power. Aerostats gain their lift from a lifting gas that is less dense than the surrounding air. In early ...

s * 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 spec ...

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 gliding ...

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 smal ...

*** 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 achieve ...

*** 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 G

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

* Class H Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) Aeroplanes * Class I Manpowered aircraft * Class K

Spacecraft A spacecraft is a vehicle or machine designed to fly in outer space. A type of artificial satellite, spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, Earth observation, meteorology, navigation, space colonization, ...

* 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 vehicle An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft without any human pilot, crew, or passengers on board. UAVs are a component of an unmanned aircraft system (UAS), which includes adding a ground-based controll ...

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 Charles Augustus Lindbergh (February 4, 1902 – August 26, 1974) was an American aviator, military officer, author, inventor, and activist. On May 20–21, 1927, Lindbergh made the first nonstop flight from New York City to Paris, a distance o ...

General Aviation Diploma * Awards for Gliding: ** The

Lilienthal Gliding Medal Lilienthal Gliding Medal – the highest soaring award in the world, established by Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) in 1938 in honour of Otto Lilienthal, a German pioneer of human aviation. It aims "to reward a particularly rema ...

** The Pelagia Majewska 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 Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci (15 April 14522 May 1519) was an Italian polymath of the High Renaissance who was active as a painter, draughtsman, engineer, scientist, theorist, sculptor, and architect. While his fame initially rested on ...

Parachuting Diploma ** The Faust Vrancic Medal * Awards for Aeromodelling: ** The FAI Aeromodelling Gold Medal ** The

Andrei Tupolev Andrei Nikolayevich Tupolev (russian: Андрей Николаевич Туполев; – 23 December 1972) was a Russian and later Soviet aeronautical engineer known for his pioneering aircraft designs as Director of the Tupolev Design ...

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) is ...

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 Air sports Aviation organizations Aviation records

Air sports The term "air sports" covers a range of aerial activities, including air racing, aerobatics, aeromodelling, hang gliding, human-powered aircraft, parachuting, paragliding and skydiving. Recognized and regulated air sports Many air sports a ...

Organisations based in Lausanne Sports organizations established in 1905 Standards organisations in Switzerland World record databases