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Around The World In A Balloon
A flight team from the United States and United Kingdom has announced plans for a nonstop manned balloon flight around the world. The project, called Spirit of Peace, will launch from Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, sometime this winter. If successful, it would be the first manned nonstop circumnavigation of the globe by balloon. Jacques Soukup will be pilot in command. He will be joined by Mark Sullivan and Crispin Williams. They will launch a Roziere balloon, which is a combination of gas and hot air balloon, and fly in the jet stream at heights of up to 42,000 feet (12,800 metres).  |
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World Air Games 2001
Following the decision to award the 2001 World Air Games to Spain (Andalucia, discussions have been held with leading TV and sports marketing companies to ensure maximum media coverage of the Games (and of other FAI events in the period leading to 2001). On 11 June, a FAI delegation including the Secretary General, World Air Games Managing Director, and Olympic Coordinating Committee President met with top executives of Trans World International/IMG - the group led by Mark McCormack that handles many top international sporting personalities and organisations. TWI/IMG declared their wish to work with FAI, and discussions are under way on terms for a possible agreement. |
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Lausanne - the New FAI Office
On an initial visit to Lausanne, following the FAI Council's decision to relocate the Secretariat there, Secretary General Max Bishop and Assistant Secretary General Thierry Montigneaux were received by Municipal and International Olympic Committee authorities on 23 June and given every possible assistance to facilitate the move. Two possible locations for the FAI office have been identified, one with an aeronautical theme, very close to Lausanne aerodrome. A decision on the location will be made as soon as negotiations are complete. The Olympic Committee will make available to FAI under very favourable terms their superbly equipped meeting rooms at the Olympic Museum and headquarters building. Special rates for FAI delegates have already been negotiated at Lausanne hotels. The target date for the move is December 1998. In recognition of the fact that many FAI Vice Presidents will wish to visit the new headquarters in 1999, the Royal Danish Aero Club has withdrawn its offer to host the May 1999 Council meeting. This meeting will therefore be held in Lausanne. There are preliminary plans for some form of air display on this occasion to mark the ceremonial arrival of FAI in Lausanne. |
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FAI Medical Commission Criticises JAA Policy
Doctors gathered for the annual congress of the FAI's Medico-Physiological Commission on 5/6 June voiced strong criticism of the European Joint Aviation Authorities' proposals on medical examinations for private pilots when the new European licences are introduced in 1999. The proposed intervals between screenings are much more frequent than is required by the Federal Aviation Administration in the USA, yet no scientific evidence has been put forward by the JAA to justify the different frequency. It appears to be purely a pragmatic compromise between existing national requirements. The FAI doctors urged that minimising the risk of incapacitation in flight should be the sole determinant of screening frequency. Extra expense could only be justified if it could be demonstrated scientifically that frequent screening improved flight safety levels significantly. |
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FAI President in Cyprus
Visiting Cyprus in mid-June for business reasons, FAI President Eilif Ness took the opportunity for discussions with the National Aero Club of Cyprus, and to visit the site for the 1999 FAI General Conference in Limassol. He declared the venue "superb". |
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Aviation and Space Education
The last FAI Commission meeting of the 1997/8 cycle, the Aviation and Space Education Commission meeting takes place on 2/3 July at Cranfield, England, just before the annual fly-in of the Popular Flying Association. The entries for the 1998 FAI Young Artists' Contest will be judged on this occasion. Appropriately for a year in which FAI moves to the Olympic Capital, the theme is: " Design an Olympic Air Sport Poster ". |
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Dates for Diaries
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