• Commission Medico-Physiological of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.
• Ratification of Breitling Orbiter III World Records
• FAI has now ratified the following Class A (Free Balloons) records

Text of a statement agreed unanimously at the CIMP meeting held at Lausanne on 24-25 April 1999.

CIMP views with concern the increasing conflict between pilots and medical regulatory authorities in Europe.

Pilots should appreciate that disease is an important cause of fatal accidents and that maintenance of health is essential for flight safety. Medical regulatory authorities should accept that all costs or restrictions placed on pilots are supported by evidence.

The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), the world air sports federation based in Lausanne/Switzerland, has announced the formal ratification of the first round-the-world balloon flight by Bertrand Piccard (Switzerland) and Brian Jones (United Kingdom).

The flight, which took place between 1st and 21st of March 1999, broke 4 world records, 3 of them absolute records for balloons. The performances ratified by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale are:

• Shortest time around the world (AM 15 + Absolute) 15 days 10 hours 24 min. (370 h. 24 min.)
• Distance (AM 15 + Absolute) 40'814 km
• Duration (AM 15 + Absolute) 19 days 21 hours 47 min. (477 h. 47 min.)
• Altitude (AM 15 only) 11'737 meters

The FAI offers its warmest congratulations to Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones for their historic achievements. These will be publicly recognised on a date to be announced shortly with the presentation of FAI World Record Diplomas.

Type of record: Distance (5960)
Performance : 40814 km
Previous record : 22910 km (J. Stephen FOSSETT - 16.08.98)

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Type of record: Duration (5961)
Performance : 19 days 21 hours 47 minutes (477 h. 47 min.)
Previous record : 17 days 17 hours 41 min. (425 h. 41 min.) - Andy ELSON(UK) - Colin PRESCOT(UK), 7.03.1999

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Type of record: Shortest time around the World (5962)
Performance : 15 days 10 hours 24 min. (370h. 24 min.)
Previous record : No record registered yet
Pilots : Bertrand PICCARD (Switzerland) - Brian JONES (UK)
Balloon : Cameron Balloons R-650
Course : Chateau d'Oex (Switzerland) to near Dâkhla (Egypt)
Date : 1 - 21 March 1999

Type of record: Distance (5957)
Performance : 40814 km
Previous record : 22910 km (J. Stephen FOSSETT - 16.08.98)

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Type of record: Duration (5958)
Performance : 19 days 21 hours 47 minutes (477 h. 47 min.)
Previous record : 17 days 17 hours 41 min. (425 h. 41 min.) - Andy ELSON(UK) - Colin PRESCOT(UK), 7.03.1999

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Type of record: Shortest time around the World (5959)
Performance : 15 days 10 hours 24 min. (370h. 24 min.)
Previous record : no record registered yet

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Type of record: Altitude (5963)
Performance : 11737 m
Previous record : 10 589 m (Per Axel LINDSTRAND (UK) - 25.11.96)
Pilots : Bertrand PICCARD (Switzerland) - Brian JONES (UK)
Balloon : Cameron Balloons R-650
Course : Chateau d'Oex (Switzerland) to near Dâkhla (Egypt)
Date : 1 - 21 March 1999

The FAI offers its warmest congratulations to Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones for their historic achievements. These will be publicly recognised on a date to be announced shortly with the presentation of FAI World Record Diplomas.