1. FAI — What Is the International Aeronautical Federation?
The FAI (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale) was founded on October 14, 1905 in Paris and is now headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland. It is the world''s only organization that sets global standards for all air sport disciplines — from aerobatics to paragliding, skydiving to drones.
FAI comprises over 100 national federations. Paragliding and hang gliding are governed by CIVL (Commission Internationale de Vol Libre — the Free Flight Commission). CIVL is responsible for training standards, competition rules, record ratification, pilot rankings, and equipment certification oversight.
Why Does It Matter?
The FAI standard guarantees that paragliding is not just "fun" — it is serious aviation where rules and safety are universal, whether you fly in Georgia, France, or Brazil.
FAI standards in paragliding cover 5 key areas:
SafePro Para — the training standard
IPPI Card — international recognition mechanism
Sporting Code Section 7 — competition regulations
EN 926 — equipment certification
Safety protocols
2. SafePro Para — The Global Training Standard
SafePro Para is the unified training framework developed by CIVL that defines 5 stages a pilot must complete to be recognized as a qualified aviator. The system carefully avoids any gaps in the progression and clearly separates participants into students and pilots.
This standard ensures that a pilot trained in Georgia has exactly the same foundational knowledge as a pilot in France or Switzerland. National federations use SafePro as a guide when developing their own programs, maintaining equivalence across different systems globally.
3. IPPI Card — International Pilot Proficiency Identification
The IPPI (International Pilot Proficiency Identification) card was introduced in 1992. It is an internationally recognized document issued through the FAI/CIVL framework that certifies a pilot''s competency level worldwide.
How IPPI Works
The IPPI card reflects the pilot''s SafePro Para stage. When a pilot travels abroad, the IPPI card — together with their national licence — provides site managers, instructors, and operators with a quick and clear reference of the pilot''s experience level. For instance, if you hold ParaPro 4, an inspector in the Alps knows you are qualified for thermal flying and XC routes.
Two Ways to Obtain the IPPI Card
Since October 2015, the IPPI card is available in two formats:
Per Level: A physical card purchased from your national association. Renewal is needed only when your proficiency level changes;
Per Year: An IPPI logo printed on the national licence. The association automatically issues it to all licensed pilots for a small annual fee. Countries using this scheme include France, Italy, Hungary, Serbia, Romania, Mexico, and others.
Important Note
The IPPI card does not provide insurance coverage. Flight safety is ultimately the pilot''s own responsibility. The IPPI card is valid only together with a current national licence or rating card.
4. Sporting Code Section 7 — Competition Regulations
The FAI Sporting Code Section 7 is the primary regulatory document governing all official paragliding and hang gliding competitions. Updated annually, it includes multiple sub-sections covering everything from general rules to scoring formulas.
Competition Categories
Category 1 (Cat 1): World and Continental Championships. Held every 2 years. The first Paragliding World Championship took place in 1989 in Koessen (Austria), with the first valid podium in 1991 in Digne (France). European Championships have been held since 1988, Pan-American since 2008, Asian since 2004;
Category 2 (Cat 2): Open international competitions. Organizers can apply for Cat 2 status as late as 40 days before the event. CIVL provides PR support and sanctioning.
WPRS — World Pilot Ranking System
All pilots competing in Cat 1 or Cat 2 events earn WPRS points. Points fully depreciate after 3 years, so regular participation is essential for maintaining a competitive ranking. Scoring uses the GAP formula and is processed through the FS (Flight Scoring) software.
XC Competition Format
Cross-Country competitions feature two main formats:
Open Distance: Pilots attempt to fly as far as possible, sometimes in a defined direction;
Race to Goal: Pilots follow a defined route through turnpoints. The first to land at goal isn''t necessarily the winner — scoring includes leading bonuses, altitude bonuses, and penalties.
XC tasks cover 30-100 km distances, making Live Tracking essential — via services like Airtribune, Flymaster, Livetrack24, and Livetrack360. At Cat 1 events, live tracking is mandatory, with CIVL providing approved equipment and technical staff.
5. EN 926 — Equipment Certification Standard
While FAI does not directly conduct equipment tests, it relies on the EN 926 (European Norm) standard, certified by European testing bodies (PMA, DHV/LTF, Air Turquoise). Participation in FAI-sanctioned competitions requires equipment meeting certified standards.
Protective Equipment
Helmets: EN 966 standard for paragliding — specific protection against lateral and top impacts;
Harnesses: Back protector standard EN 1651 — the back is the most vulnerable area during landing mishaps;
Reserve parachute: Mandatory. Annual repacking requirement, minimum deployment altitude of 60-100 m.
6. Safety Protocols
FAI/CIVL continuously analyzes flight incidents worldwide and issues recommendations. CIVL''s safety structure includes:
Safety Officer: Since 2012, CIVL has a dedicated Safety Officer coordinating incident analysis;
Safety Management System (SMS): A structured process for risk identification, assessment, and mitigation;
Incident Report Forms: Standardized reporting available to any pilot or organizer;
Safety Notices: Alerts about specific products or practices;
Satellite Tracker List: CIVL approves a list of trackers meeting safety standards for Cat 1 competitions.
CIVL Safety Philosophy
"Every system is perfectly designed to achieve exactly the results it gets." (Donald Berwick) — the epigraph on CIVL''s safety page. Safety is not accidental — it is the result of systematic work.