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The FAI flag flew from the Mon Repos flagstaff this week - the first meeting of the new FAI Executive Board, established by the September 2000 General Conference, has just taken place. The Executive Directors, from 3 continents, met for two days to consider a wide range of issues, from the 2001 World Air Games in Andalucia; through TV and Media affairs; to plans for the celebration of FAI's centenary in 2005. The working atmosphere was excellent. FAI is now equipped with an executive structure that will enable difficult decisions to be taken promptly, with input from skilled and experienced business brains. Hot on the heels of this meeting came the mid-term gathering of the FAI's Aeromodelling Commission (CIAM), held in the Olympic Museum. The new edition of the international aeromodelling sporting code - a vast tome with some 11 volumes, covering each of the sub-disciplines, from control-line aerobatics to indoor electric models - was finally approved. Previous editions have always been published in booklet format, but - a sign of the times - the new edition will be Internet only, down-loadable in pdf format The CIAM Bureau also approved the 2001 sporting calendar. This contains more events than the calendar for all FAI's other air sport disciplines put together. There are now World Cup Series in several aeromodelling sub-classes, including free flight, control line and space modelling. Business is booming. There will now be a short intermission for FAI staff before the 2001 season of FAI Commission meetings starts in January, with the Environmental Commission, in Lausanne, and the Parachuting Commission which will meet at the same time as the Parachute Industry Association symposium in San Diego, USA. All the FAI office staff join me in wishing all Air Sports International readers a very Happy New Year, and thanking you for your loyalty to these columns in 2000. To put you in a suitably 'astronautic' mood for your odyssey into 2001, I recommend clicking on: http://www.lsi.usp.br/~rbianchi/clarke/
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