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World Air Sports Federation

Fédération Aéronautique Internationale - FAI

Last modified: 2023-06-03 by zachary harden
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[World Air Sports Federation flag] by Rob Raeside, 11 July 2006

based on http://www.fai.org:81/documents/constitution/statutes.asp


See also:

Other site:


Description of the flag

The flag has a white background. The logo, in black, is located in the lower left hand corner. The colours of the rainbow are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet and purple. The proportions of the Flag are two by three.
Valentin Poposki, 11 July 2006

"The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), the world's air sports federation, was founded in 1905.It is a non-governmental and non-profit making international organisation with the basic aim of furthering aeronautical and astronautical activities worldwide. Ever growing, FAI is now an organisation of some 100 member countries."

The founding fathers of the FAI, Count Henri de la Vaulx, Vice President of the Aero Club of France, Major Moedebeck of the German Airship League and Fernand Jacobs, President of the Aero Club of Belgium, introduced the proposal of the FIA on 10 June 1905 in the Olympic Congress held in Brussels. The FAI was founded on 14 October 1905 in Paris by Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the USA. The FAI has its headquarters in Lausanne (Switzerland).
Source: http://www.fai.org/

The flag and logo of the FAI are described in the FAI Statutes as follows:

"1.7. Flag and Logo

1.7.1. The FAI Flags and Logos are depicted below :
[logo] [logo] [flag - vertical] [flag - horizontal]

1.7.1.1. The Flags and Logos symbolise the international spirit of aviation and the friendship and co-operation of FAI Members and the men and women who compete in air sports.

1.7.1.2. The FAI Logos shall consist of a symbol representing the beauty, excitement and challenge of flight in a world-wide context, with the abbreviation ‘FAI’ and the appropriate additional text. The FAI logos shall be displayed in accordance with the published rules.

1.7.1.3. The Flags have a blue background. The FAI logo, comprising an image of an eagle in white on top of a golden Earth is superimposed on a background of pale blue meridians and parallels symbolising FAI’s world-wide reach.

1.7.2. The FAI Flags and Logos are the exclusive properties of FAI (By-Laws - Chapter 1)."

Source: http://www.fai.org/system/files/FAI_statutes_2008.pdf

Chapter 1 of the By-Laws says:

"Chapter 1 - General Provisions

1.1. FAI flag and logos

1.1.1. The FAI and its Members shall take appropriate measures to ensure legal protection, on a national and international basis, of the FAI flag and logo and the World Air Games logo.
1.1.2. FAI Members may use the FAI flag and logos within the framework of their activities in accordance with these By-Laws and instructions by the FAI Executive Board.
1.1.3. Each FAI Member is responsible for the observance in its Country of FAI rules governing the use and protection of the FAI flag and logos.
1.1.4. FAI Air Sport Commissions may design specific emblems for their respective disciplines. The design must be approved by the FAI Executive Board prior to production and use.
1.1.5. The use of the FAI flag, logos or emblems for any advertising or commercial purposes without prior written agreement of the Executive Board is prohibited. However, the right to approve the use of the FAI flag, logos or emblems may be delegated  to the FAI Secretary General or to FAI Members.
1.1.6. Copies of all contracts bearing on the FAI flag, logos or emblems shall be sent to the FAI Secretariat at the earliest practicable moment.
1.1.7. The FAI flag, logos or emblems may be exploited on behalf of FAI in the territory of FAI Members, provided that such Members (including event organisers) receive an equitable share of the proceeds thereof, the terms to be established by written agreement."
Source: http://www.fai.org/system/files/FAI_bylaws_2008.pdf

FAI organizes championships and has released on 10 June 2005 a protocol for awards ceremonies, with the following articles on flags:

"2. The awards podium, flags of the three medal winners and National Anthem of the Gold Medal winner will be prepared in advance.

7. After all medals have been awarded, the anthem of the Gold Medal-winning individual or team will be played as their country’s flag is raised (if the winner is not representing a country, play the FAI anthem). The flagpoles must be of different heights, with the tallest in the centre for the flag of the 1st placed competitor or team, and two shorter ones to the right and left for the 2nd and 3rd placed competitors or teams. All flags must be raised to the top of the poles. The flag poles must be of an appropriate height for their location, so as to give a distinguished look to the flag ceremony.
Source: http://www.fai.org/system/files/Protocol_Awards_Ceremonies_v1-1.pdf

A photograph taken on 29 August 2005 in Lausanne airport shows the flag of FAI in real, together with another flag[1] unknown to me ( http://www.fai.org/node/94/a ).
Ivan Sache, 3 June 2008

[1]This is the previous flag.
Jan Mertens, 3 June 2008


The flag and logo of the World Air Sports Federation

There is a new FAI styleguide, see: FAI web site showing, as could be expected, the FAO logo (restyled) in various forms.

"This new logo was created with the intention of providing a unifying symbol, a graphical representation of community, harmony and balance.
Conserving the best elements of the traditional symbol of an eagle grasping the Earth, it was adapted to meet the modern requirements of a future-oriented federation with new ambitions. The symbol is confident and dynamic, and projects the prestige of a long tradition.
The colours used for the FAI logotype are blue and gold. Blue symbolises the sky, the vast arena in which we fly. It evokes feelings of calm serenity, and inspires dreams of freedom such as those that motivated the great aviation pioneers, who needed courage, determination, creativity and inspiration to achieve their objectives. As for gold, this colour conjures up the prestige of FAI, the dynamism of air sports and the link with technology."

There is also a new flag, see: FAI web site:

"FAI Statute 1.7.1.3 describes the new FAI Flags as follows : The new FAI Flags have a blue background. The FAI logo, comprising an image of an eagle in white on top of a golden earth, is superimposed on a background of pale blue meridians and parallels symbolising FAI’s worldwide reach.
Each FAI Championship organizer will automatically receive one flag. Additional flags (vertical or horizontal versions) are available on request at a price of CHF 80.- each (postage and packing included)."

Jan Mertens, January 15, 2005.


Old flag of the World Air Sports Federation

Flag and logo shown under 1.7 of the Statutes approved 28/29 September, 2000: http://www.fai.org/documents/constitution/statutes.asp#c1.

The text says:

    1.7.1.1. The Flag and Logos symbolise the international spirit of aviation and the friendship and cooperation of FAI Members and the men and women who compete in air sports. The rainbow symbolises the historical link provided by FAI between heaven and earth.
    1.7.1.2. The FAI Logo consists of a stylised eagle with outspread wings standing on a sphere denoting the world with "FAI" in capital letters. The FAI Logo may be displayed in one of several colours and may be embellished by the rainbow in full circle or part of a circle. The World Air Games logo consists of a sphere denoting the earth (pale blue) overflown by three human figures (red, orange and green) in formation, with outstretched arms.
    1.7.1.3. The Flag has a white background. The Logo, in black, is located in the lower left hand corner. The colours of the rainbow are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet and purple. The proportions of the Flag are two by three.
    1.7.2. The FAI Flag and Logo and the World Air Games Logo are the exclusive properties of FAI (By-Laws - Chapter 1).

Jan Mertens, August 23, 2003.