Many airsport awards recognize flying skills and achievements while a few others are given out to individuals who contribute significantly to the organization, usually in leadership roles. There are other areas of airsport organizations which are valuable in the overall scheme but are difficult to quantify and even more difficult to recognize appropriately. One of these is promotion of airsports, which is a diverse area and includes encouraging airsport growth, competition, participation and public attendance at events. It is an area important to well being and growth of each sport.

In an effort to recognize and encourage individuals, organizations and countries that promote ballooning the FAI Ballooning Commission (CIA) is creating a new award. The CIA Airsport Promotion Award will focus on acknowledging efforts to create material, publish or broadcast it. There are a number of categories in which the entries can be submitted and there are no age limits.

The details are listed below and it is emphasized that the efforts and materials can be in various mediums but must be submitted through the national ballooning federation to the CIA Public Relations Chairman well before the annual CIA meeting. The winners will be selected at the CIA annual meeting.

Award Objectives:

• To recognize individuals, organizations and countries that have created material to promote ballooning.
• To inform others about promotional material, ideas and efforts that have been used successfully.
• To encourage new initiatives promoting ballooning.

Categories : Entries can be made in the following categories:

• Education
• Promotion
• Training
• Historical

The material can be in print, television video, motion pictures, audio or computer based.

Evaluation Criteria :

• The main theme should be to promote ballooning or flying airships as participation activities.
• May promote a ballooning event, but not necessarily emphasizing sponsors.
• Should not promote a specific manufacturer or sales agent.
• May highlight a ballooning adventure, record or competition.
• High quality of production, writing and photography.
• Should be new and innovative material on ballooning or airships
• Should be understood by non-balloonists and media.
• Material should be available for purchase, rental or free access.
• Provisions will be made to make presentations or displays at the CIA annual conference.

Limitations :

• Maximum of 2 entries per country in each category.
• Material should be created or have become available within the calendar year of entry.
• Entries may be made by individuals, companies, or organizers through their national ballooning federation to the CIA Public Relations Subcommittee Chairman.
• Material should be in the evaluation committees hands by December 31st of the calendar year of entry.

Awards : The final selection will be made at the CIA annual conference with the and awards presented for :

• First overall - Medal plus FAI certificate of merit recognizing first place
• Second overall - Medal plus FAI certificate of merit recognizing second place
• Top two in each category will receive FAI certificates of merit Top ten selections will be recognized on the FAI/CIA Web site.

Three Person Evaluation Team - nominated by PR & Dev Subcommittee The evaluation team will consist of at least one member of the PRC two other balloonists with some knowledge in Public Relations. All members of the team must be at the CIA annual conference to make the final selections.

This winter will see another series of attempts by top balloonists to be the first to circumnavigate the globe. But, once that feat has been achieved, pilots will be seeking a new challenge for their sport. Therefore the Ballooning Commission of the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI), the world governing body for air sports, is to study the feasibility of a regular round the world balloon race to be known as "The Great Balloon Race";

"Consultations will take place between our ballooning commission, and pilots, manufacturers, sponsors and broadcasters"; says Max Bishop, Secretary General of the FAI. "We have teamed up with the international PR consultancy Fleishman-Hillard to assess the potential for the event and are all very motivated by the idea. It would probably take place every four years and we would anticipate a magnificent trophy and a substantial cash prize for the winner."

Bertrand Piccard, pilot of the Breitling Orbiter and grandson of Auguste Piccard who was famed for his inventions which include the stratospheric balloon and pressurised cabin, says "Naturally I want to make the first circumnavigation, but a race round the world, once we see that it is feasible, fills me with tremendous excitement, and I would be the first to sign up. It would be a nice way to carry forward the story of round-the-world adventure."

Don Cameron the world's largest manufacturer of balloons responded enthusiastically to the news , too, "The great balloon race could become to balloonists what the Whitbread is to yachtsmen. It would certainly be a magnificent spectacle."

We have now set up on the FAI Web Site a page to publish pratical information on FAI's move to Lausanne, such as the dates of the move, our new address, telephone and fax numbers, etc.

This page is at http://www.fai.org/move.asp

The Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) has pleasure in announcing the 1999 FAI Young Artists Contest, the main purpose of which is to promote interest in air sports in particular, and in aviation and space generally.

The theme of next year's contest is :

The FAI is particularly concerned with all forms of sporting and recreational aviation, including:

• Ballooning, Gliding and Parachuting
• Aerobatics
• Hang-Gliding and Paragliding
• Microlight/Ultralight Flying
• Model Aircraft
• Light Aircraft and Helicopter Flying

All these activities are tremendous fun for young and old alike. Entrants are invited to try and capture in a painting the excitement and fun of flying in one of the machines above, or skydiving without the aid of any machine.

FAI Members are responsible for making arrangements in each country for a national competition, or similar process of selection. We recommend that the prizes for winners of national competitions should include visits to sport aviation airports and museums, and if possible flights in light aircraft, gliders or balloons. Each country may submit to FAI a maximum of 9 paintings (3 in each age category).

All entries must be received at the FAI Office by 30th April 1999. Please note that from 1 January 1999 the address of the FAI Office will change to :
Avenue Mon-Repos 24
Lausanne
Switzerland

Entries will be judged by an International Jury. The winners in each age group will receive Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals, together with diplomas. These will be presented at the FAI General Conference in Limassol, Cyprus, in October 1999. Unless the winners are able to be present in person, the medals and diplomas will be given to the FAI delegates from the countries concerned; who will then be responsible for arranging a suitable occasion for the presentation of the awards.

Entries, once received by FAI will become and remain the property of FAI, which may use them for a variety of purposes. FAI Members are therefore encouraged to make good quality colour copies of their winners' work for public relations purposes before sending the entries to Paris.

1. Eligibility : All children in the age groups shown below are encouraged to participate in the Contest, even if they are related to officials or employees of the FAI or any of its member organisations.
2. Age groups : Entries will be judged in 3 classes (determined by the age of the entrant on 31st December 1998).

   I	Age 6 to 9 (Date of birth between 1st January 1989 and 31st December 1992)
   II	Age 10 to 13 (Date of birth between 1st January 1985 and 31st December 1988)
   III	Age 14 to 17 (Date of birth between 1st January 1981 and 31st December 1984)

3. Format : The required format is A3 (297 x 420 mm or 11 3/4 x 16 1/2 inches) or, if this is unobtainable in your country, the nearest possible equivalent.
   Artwork must not be framed or outlined with borders.
4. Medium : All artwork must be done by hand (or, in the case of handicapped children, by foot or mouth). Any of the following media are permitted :
   • Watercolour Acrylic
   • Oil paint
   • Indelible marker pens
   • Felt-tip pens
   • Soft ball-point pens
   • Indelible ink
   • Crayola, or any similar indelible medium.
   The following media are NOT permitted :
   • No pencil, charcoal or other non-permanent medium may be used.
   • No computer-generated artwork is permitted.
   • No collage work involving the use of photocopies is permitted.
5. Markings : The following details should be clearly shown on the back of the artwork:
   • Title
   • Family name
   • Given name
   • Address
   • Date of birth
   • Country of residence
   • Name and address of school which child attends
   • Certificate of authenticity
6. Certificate of Authenticity :The Certificate is to be worded as follows :
   "I/We certify that this is the original and unassisted work of (name of entrant)". Certificates are to be signed by the entrant's teacher, parent or guardian, or other suitable person.
7. Address for Entries :All entries are to be sent to the organising authority in each FAI Members, and which arrive in Lausanne by the closing date of 30 April 1999, will be considered by the International Jury.

The following friends of FAI have died since the last General Conference :

Mr. Stane BIZLILJ (SLOVENIA)
Formerly Secretary General of Aeronautical Association of Slovenia

Mr. Peter J. COSTELLO (IRELAND)
Formerly President of the Irish Aviation Club Limited

Mr. George COX (UNITED KINGDOM)
President of Honour of the FAI Aerospace Education Commission

Dr. Herbert CULMANN (GERMANY)
Formerly President of German Aero Club

Mr. Patrick de GAYARDON (FRANCE)
Famous French skydiver

Mr. Don KIRSTEN (U.S.A.)
Formerly Delegate to the FAI Ballooning Commission

Mr. Oran NICKS (U.S.A.)
Well-known glider pilot and inspiration behind the FAI World Class Glider Project

Mr. Mauricio OBREGON (COLOMBIA)
President of Honour of Fédération Aéronautique Internationale

Baron Edmond de ROTHSCHILD (FRANCE)
Companion of Honour of Fédération Aéronautique Internationale

Mr. Christain SCHWEIZER (SWITZERLAND)
Alternate Delegate to the FAI Aerobatics Commission & well-known aerobatics pilot

Mr. Daniel SCHWEIZER (SWITZERLAND)
Well-known aerobatics pilot

Mr. Alan SHEPARD (U.S.A.)
First American to fly in space

Mr. Roger WOODS (AUSTRALIA)
Vice President of the FAI Gliding Commission