The 1st FAI Drone Events Organizer Meeting was held on 29 and 30 April 2017 at the Maison du Sport International in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Representatives from FAI gathered with experts and organizers from around the world to exchange experiences from the recent past years and to discuss upcoming drone racing events in 2017/18 and plans beyond on a global level.
Topics on the agenda saw a report from the FAI on its role and involvement in international developments on drones related to Innovation, Safety and Sports. The FAI Aeromodelling Commission (CIAM) presented the status of the rule-making process, the success of the FAI World Cup Events 2016 and plans for 2017.
organizers of these FAI World Cup events, as well as FPV Racing organizations such as MultiGP from USA and the European Rotorsports Association (ERSA), contributed by showcasing their approach to the sport. Freedom Drone Sports (FDS) from Australia presented the new segment of large drones (Freedom 500 and Freedom Class).
In addition, the concept for the 1st FAI World Drone Racing Championships 2017/18 was presented to the participants. The exchange of experiences and projects on this global level were seen to be a very important step to further develop drone sports on a global level.
From left to right: Mr Markus HAGGENEY (FAI Sports and Events Director), Ms Soonchen PARK (Korea Aeromodelling Association, KAMA), Ms Mikyung YOO (KAMA), Mr Hangsik KIM (KAMA), Mr Zdravko TODOROSKI (FAI World Cup Oganiser, FYR of Macedonia), Ms Esther HUIJSMANS (Dutch Drone Festival), Mr Antonis PAPADOPOULOS (FAI CIAM President), Dr John LANGFORD (National Aeronautic Association of the USA), Mr Bruno DELOR (FAI F3U Subcommittee Chairman), Mr Bengt LINDGREN ( FAI Executive Board Director), Mr Richard VINUESA (ERSA), Mr Frits BRINK (FAI President), Ms Susanne SCHOEDEL (FAI Secretary General), Mr Jose Manuel MARTINEZ (FAI World Cup Organiser, Spain), Mr Tony WEBB (FAI Marketing Consultant), Mr Grantley REED (Freedom Drone Sports), Mr Yann OEFFNER (ERSA), Mr Paul NEW (Freedom Drone Sports), Mr Sandro BERTOZZI (ERSA), Mr Michael GIANOUTSOS (Multi GP), Mr Tim JESKY (Academy of Model Aeronautics, AMA), Mr Richard HANSON (Academy of Model Aeronautics, AMA).