Highlights of 2025 CIA Plenary and Subcommittee & Working Group meeting
The FAI Ballooning Commission's 2025 Plenary and Subcommittee & Working Group took place from 12-15 March at the Taj Mahal Hotel in New Delhi, India, reports Japan's Hiromi Furukawa from the FAI Ballooning Commission (CIA) Public & Media Relations Sub-Committee.
A warm welcome from the Aero Club of India
It was the first visit to India for many of the Plenary participants.
We received a very warm welcome from the Aero Club of India, both prior to our arrival in India and their hospitality while we were there. Their assistance included:
- Preparing visa documents
- Conference venues
- Holi Festival
- A trip to Agra (Taj Mahal) on Sunday
Everything went smoothly, thanks to the Aero Club of India, and plenary attendees enjoyed the meeting including the beautiful location at the Hotel Taj Mahal in New Delhi.
New COMMISSION President
After nine years as President of the FAI Ballooning Commission (CIA), Mark Sullivan (USA) stepped down and Claude Weber (LUX) became the new CIA President.
Mark Sullivan became a President of Honour of the FAI Ballooning Commission.
By acclamation, the Plenary elected the following members for the 2025-2027 CIA Bureau:
- President: Claude Weber (LUX)
- First Vice-President: Uwe Schneider (GER)
- Second Vice-President: Marc Andre (SUI)
- Third Vice-President: Andrew Baird (USA)
- Secretary: Sanne Haarhuis (NED)
FAI BALLOONING eventS NEWS
The 2027 European Hot Air Balloon Championship was awarded to Spain and will be held on the island of Mallorca.
Many other intentions to organise FAI events were expressed. For the 2028 World Hot AIr Balloon (HAB) Championship, intentions to bid were shared by India and Saudi Arabia.
The bid deadline for the next FAI Junior World Hot Air Balloon Championship and the next FAI Women’s World Hot Air Balloon Championship was extended to September 2025. For the Junior event, there is possible interest from Poland and France and for the Women’s event, there is possible interest from Saudi Arabia, U.S.A. and Poland.
Be sure to look at www.watchmefly.net to see which events have proposals submitted by the September deadline:
Should an FAI NAC wishes to organise an event, all the required details can be found on Watchmefly, including documents, guidelines and of course you can contact the CIA Event Development Subcommittee (EDS) at: cia-eds-l@fai.org
Awards Approved by CIA
- Montgolfier Diploma for Contribution to the Sport of Ballooning: Sam Parks (USA)
- Montgolfier Diploma for Best Performance - Gas Balloon: Christian Wagner & Stefanie Liller (AUT)
- Montgolfier Diploma for Best Performance - Hot Air Balloon: Clement Seigeot (FRA)
- Santos Dumont Gold Airship Medal: Alicia Hemleman-Adams (GBR)
- FAI Ballooning Hall of Fame Inductees for 2025:
Living: Hans Akerstedt (SWE)
Posthumous: Richard Abruzzo (USA) - Hans Arkerstedt Award for 25+ years attendance at CIA Plenary meetings:
45 years: Hans Arkerstedt (SWE)
35 years: Sabu Ichiyoshi (JPN) and J.C.Weber (LUX)
25 years: Mathijs De Bruijn (NED), Bengt Sterner (SWE), Uwe Schneider (GER) and Mark Sullivan (USA) - FAI Air Sport Medals:
Sebastian Eimers (GER)
Tomas Hora (CZE)
Florian Michel (GER)
Rachel Thomas (IND)
Markus Haggenny (SUI)
Next CIA Plenary in 2026
Next CIA Plenary and SC&WG will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 3-8 February 2026. Sub Committee and Working Group meetings are scheduled for 4-5 February with Plenary meets on 6-7 February. Save the date!
Holi Festival
Aero Club of India kindly organised for all who were interested to experience the Holi festival.
About the Holi Festival:
Holi, often called the "Festival of Colours," is a vibrant Hindu festival celebrated primarily in India and Nepal, as well as by Hindu communities worldwide. It marks the arrival of spring, the end of winter, and the triumph of good over evil. The festival is observed on the last full moon day of the Hindu lunisolar calendar month of Falgun, typically falling in March.
special mention: Plenary lunches
Participants were able to enjoy lunch between meetings on both days, offering a wide variety of local cuisine including very delicious desserts.
The Gala Dinner
All the participants were invited to the Gala Dinner in the evening after the Plenary had finished. It was held at the top floor of the Taj Mahal Hotel with a beautiful view.
There were many local participants to this event. One of them was Ms. Rachel Thomas. I had a very interesting conversation with her where I learned she was the first female skydiver in India. She received the FAI Air Sport Medal, presented by FAI Secretary General, Markus Haggeney.
There were many more extraordinary people in attendance and all the participants shared wonderful moments together in New Delhi.
Trip to Agra, Taj Mahal
Aero club of India also organized a trip to Agra for a visit to the Taj Mahal on Sunday, the day after the Plenary for the people who could stay a day longer. The participants enjoyed their visit and the lunch there.
Appreciation and good luck to...
Our hosts, the Aero Club of India, which has a target to bring all air sports in India to the Worlds level. We wish all the best in achieving this target while appreciating all the efforts to make this FAI Ballooning Plenary to happen in very beautiful India.
