The FAI was organized 14 Oct.1905 in Paris, by active participants in balloon competitions held in Europe at about that time. The purpose of this organization was to be a central clearing point for the dissemination of information pertaining to the sport of aviation. Today it has more than ten aircraft-category divisions (called commissions), represented by more than 60 member nations.  Some of the member countries are:

Argentina      *Australia   *Austria       *Belgium        *Brazil        *Canada       *Denmark       *Egypt       *England        Finland         *France      *Germany        Hong Kong     India           Iran              Ireland           Italy             Japan          Kenya           *Korea      *Luxemberg   Mexico    *Netherlands   *Norway         New Zealand    Poland      Russia        *S. Africa       *Spain           Sweden        *Switzerland   *U.S.A.       Venezuela    Yugoslavia

*Indicates CIA member

Each year, these member nations send delegates to the commissions, for each category of aviation endeavor.  The most prestigious of these commissions is for ballooning.  The FAI has many permanent exhibits in its headquarters at: 6 Rue de Galilee, Paris.

Past Presidents who were known balloonists are:

VAULX, Henri de la (1905-1930)
BRABAZON, J. Claud (1946-1948)
FORRER, Fred (1970-1972)

The CIA, representing ballooning of the World, was the last commission to be fully organized as part of the FAI.  For some reason, this group was taken for granted over the years, because ballooning dominated air-sports from its origin.  The 1946 founders were mainly the active members of the International League of Aeronauts, then led by TILGENKAMP of Switzerland. This committee has more than six full member, official delegations, of which the United States has been the major contributing member since 1974.  The CIA is made up of many committees, with most of its yearly business being conducted at the annual meeting.  Among items considered are:

• World Championships (Gas and Hot-Air) standards;
  
• International awards (Montgolfier Diploma);
  
• Certification of international records (Altitude, Distance, Duration); and
  
• International safety standards.
  
  CIA represenatives from the United States have been:
  
  
• Peter PELLEGRINO (1966-71)
  
• Don KERSTEN (1972-73)
  
• Bruce COMSTOCK (1973-75)
  
• Don KERSTEN (1976-77)
  
• Karl STEFAN (1978-94)
  
• Tom SHEPPARD (1995-).
  
  (See Appendix-BW for an expanded delegate list)