120 years FAI

On October 14, 1905, the "Fédération Aéronautique Internationale" FAI was founded in Paris. Switzerland was one of the eight founding states. 

On June 10, 1905, Count Henri de la Vaulx, Vice-President of the French Aero Club, Major Moedebeck of the German Airship Association and Fernand Jacobs, President of the Belgian Aero Club, presented their proposal for a "Fédération Aéronautique Internationale" to the Olympic Congress in Brussels. The delegates received the idea enthusiastically, and as a sign of their support, the Olympic Congress passed the following resolution:"This Congress recognizes the special importance of aviation and expresses the desire that an association be formed in each country to regulate the sport of aviation and that subsequently a Universal Aviation Association be formed to regulate the various aviation events and to advance the science and sport of aviation."

On October 12, 1905, an international aviation conference was convened in Paris. After two days of debate, the representatives of Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the USA adopted the entire package of proposed statutes. The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale was founded on October 14, 1905. From the outset, the FAI defined its main objectives as follows:"to methodically catalog the best performances so that they are known to all; to identify their specifics in order to make comparisons; and to review the evidence to ensure that record holders have uncontested claims to their titles." The Statutes also stipulated that each organization with sporting powers (i.e. the FAI National Members) should retain full and autonomous control over its own affairs.

More than 100 years old, true to the decisions of its founding fathers, but also because the principles laid down at the time are still valid, the FAI's statutes still reflect the objectives defined in 1905.

However, the advent of new technologies and modern equipment, as well as the emergence of entirely new air sports disciplines, has meant that the FAI's scope of activity has expanded - and continues to do so. New objectives are being adopted to take account of developments in society and the aspirations of those who practice air sports.

As an international, non-profit, non-governmental organization, the Main objective of the FAI the worldwide promotion of aviation and space activities.