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Aviation History
1909
1909 - 0034.PDF
JANUARY 16, 1909. International Aeronautic Federation in London. THE International Aeronautic Federation com- menced its sittings in London at the Hotel Rilz on Monday, January 1 ith, when Mr. Roger W. Wallace, K.C., Chairman of the Aero Club of the U.K., presided in the absence of Prince Roland Buonaparte. Forty delegates were nominated by their respective countries to attend. The first day's sitting occupied some five hours, and was principally devoted to the appeal of the British Aero Club against the award of the Gordon-Bennett Balloon Cup to Colonel Schaeck's "Helvetia." The conference, however, did not support the protest, and the award to Switzerland was therefore confirmed. The full items on the agenda paper for discussion at the conference were as follows :— 1. The question of admitting the Aero Club of Odessa as repre- senting Russia. 2. Discussion of the appeal of the Aero Club of the United Kingdom against the decision of the Berlin Aero Club in awarding the Gordon-Bennett long-distance prize of 1908 to the Swiss balloon "Helvetia." 3. Modification of the representation of the various aeio clubs of each country on the Federation. 4. Relations between the aero clubs and automobile clubs of different countries. 5. Discussion and adoption of rules and regulations governing dirigible balloon and aeroplane contests. 6. To consider rules governing the Gordon-Bennett Aviation Cup Race, 1909. 7. Report of the committee charged with revising the statutes and regulations of the Federation. The following is the official text of the minute in which the conference expressed this resolution relating to the (.ordon-Bennett Race :— "The International Conference, meeting to decide the winner of the Gordon-Bennett Race, declares—' That, having taken note of the official award of the German Club, whereby Colonel Schaeck was exclusively, on a point of law, declared the winner ; that, having considered the various proposals submitted to the meeting, some or which suggested the annulment of the race, whilst others suggested that the first place should be awarded to Mr. John Dunville, and that Colonel Schaeck should be disqualified, regrets that the obligatory interpretation of its rules prevents this con- ference from giving a retro-active effect to the decision of May 27th, 1908, and also regrets that, having before him the proposition put forward in a perfect spirit of sport by the Aero Club of the United Kingdom, Colonel Schaeck should have expressed his willingness that the first prize should be awarded to the club which had protested against him, provided that he himself were awarded a place in the race, and to accept the division with Mr. Dunville of the sum of 12,500 fr. ; this attitude is deplored by the conference, which, nevertheless, accepts the classification of the German Club.'" At Tuesday's meeting, a proposal was put before the conference by Belgium that the Federation should found an International prize fund to the value of ,£48,000, with proportionate subscriptions from the different coun- tries, England, America, France, and Germany to give j£8,ooo each. The proposal was accepted in principle, and, if possible, will be carried through. A committee of three military, naval, and legal experts, from each affiliated Club, was appointed to inquire into the question of regulating flight by International law. On the question of proportionate representation on the F.A.I, a resolution was passed by which the delegates will be proportionate to the relative aeronautic activities of the country they represent. A vote of confidence in the French Aero Club, as representing aviation in France, was passed. In connection with the friction which has taken place between the Aero Club of France and the Automobile Club of France, the following proposal by Mr. Roger Wallace on behalf of America was carried. " The Inter- national Federation decides that any affiliated aeronautical club is free to act in its own country and can enter into any arrangement with another organisation, but only on condition that it maintains in all its integrity the funda- mental statutes of the Federation." This resolution, besides being a vote of confidence in the French Club, INTERNATIONAL AERONAUTICAL CONFERENCE, LONDON, JANUARY 11th, 12th, and 13th, 1909.—Meeting of the Delegates to the Conference at the Ritz Hotel. See Key Plan on opposite page. 36
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