We can report a successful participation at this years’ 30^th edition of AERO Friedrichshafen. Thanks to the kind hospitality of German Aeroclub (DAeC) EAS was able to be represented with its own stand, which was neatly integrated in the DAeC’s one.

This year the EAS delegation comprised President Andrea Anesini, outgoing Senior Vice-President Rudi Schuegraf, Treasurer Martin Kunschitz, and the Vice-Presidents Patrick Pauwels and Michel Rocca. They were supported by EAS EU policy-adviser Timo Schubert.

This fair is always a great spot to catch up with a large part of the General Aviation Community, including EASA, German aviation authorities, IAOPA and endless manufacturers and suppliers.

As part of this year’s show Andrea Anesini was kindly invited by EASA to represent the air sports community during their event “Driving forward aviation’s sustainability ambition”. During his intervention he underlined key points from our position paper “Flying for a better climate”, stressing an openness for alternative propulsion technologies, such as electrification and renewable fuels, for as long as they are safe and affordable. He also made the point that a large percentage of the community represented by EAS is characterised by non-powered sports, such as gliding, hang gliding and paragliding.

On Saturday, EAS had been able to secure the centre stage in the exhibition’s large “glider hall” to present its initiative for a self-declared medical. During a panel discussion with representatives from EASA and IAOPA this project received wide support (see article “EAS Initiative on Pilot Medical Declarations” for more details).