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The June contribution from Lausanne comes to you very late as a result of decisions taken at the FAI Council meeting at the end of May. An important review of FAI's management structure is under way, and detailed proposals have to be prepared by mid-July for approval at the General Conference in Linköping, Sweden, in September. We are working round the clock to meet this deadline. More on this later in the year, after the Linköping Conference. Linköping is the seat of the SAAB aircraft company, manufacturers of famous military aircraft like the Draken, Viggen and Gripen. The military aircraft industry is having a hard time everywhere, competing for ever smaller orders from governments anxious to save on military expenditure in an era of comparative world peace. (Although history shows that it is precisely at times like this that one should be on one's guard...) Another consequence is that there are fewer and fewer military pilots being trained. Previously, ex-military pilots formed one of the principal sources of recruitment for airlines wishing to save on training costs. Now this source is drying up - at a time when the airline industry is expanding rapidly and more and more commercial pilots are needed. It is obvious to anyone with eyes to see that this is a time when the airlines should be cultivating, protecting and nurturing the general aviation sector - the other main source of highly motivated, skilled and at least partially trained pilots. But when we look around, what do we see: attempts by the airline industry to extend controlled airspace in ways that will eventually squeeze sporting and recreational aviation out of the skies; and - at best - ignorance and indifference on the part of the industry towards our air sport activities as a possible recruiting ground for pilots - and other high quality airline staff . The airlines are no longer run by people who have flying in their blood. They are run purely as businesses, often by people who see no difference between running an aviation operation and a biscuit factory. What counts is the bottom line. It is our job to make sure that the contribution that can be made by air sport to the bottom line of an airline company is not forgotten. Maybe then they will stop regarding spare time pilots as annoying inconveniences, and recognise that we could just be useful to them...
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