SMV Annual Report 2021

Unfortunately, 2021 was also marked by COVID-19 restrictions. The good news was that most of our model flying clubs’ activities were able to take place with minimal additional effort, and club life was not significantly disrupted. However, the indoor flying season through the end of March was completely canceled. For the first time, the Model Flying Association’s general meeting had to be held in writing. This worked very well. The formal agenda items—such as the annual financial report, discharge of liability, elections, etc.—were addressed, but of course we missed the discussions at the general meeting and the social gathering that usually takes place alongside it. Starting in the spring, club and association meetings were once again allowed to take place in person. Video conferences have remained in use, but are now held only to facilitate communication over long distances without lengthy travel times. With some extra effort, smaller events such as competitions, summer camps, or individual public events were able to take place outdoors during the season. This was good for everyone, and we would like to express our sincere thanks to the dedicated organizers. In the summer, the SMV launched a special restart program to promote model aviation events of all kinds

, which was very successful. About 40 events benefited from this support. This program certainly contributed to the fact that more events took place than in the previous year. The SMV is considering continuing this program in 2022.

Cooperation within the SMV Board is going well. During five board meetings, numerous video conferences, and special working sessions, the board was able to handle its business efficiently and in a spirit of camaraderie. There was also plenty of fun to be had through flying together: The board members met twice at a model airfield before board meetings and, together with the host club, got some hands-on practice. The new Sports Director, Faruk Yeginsoy, was briefed by his predecessor even before the General Assembly and was thus able to take up his duties seamlessly after the election. As is well known, we have been searching for a Communications Director for some time. For 2021, we launched a pilot program with an external communications director serving as an executive board member. Although he was not a model aviator, he was a communications professional. The pilot program got off to a good start with many ideas, but it became clear that this mix of professional and volunteer work is challenging. We had imagined it would be easier, but we had to learn from experience and ultimately discontinue the experiment in the fall. The most important communications tasks were once again distributed among the board members, such as managing the wide range of information on the website. Nevertheless, various communication gaps remained, which we would have liked to avoid. Many thanks to my fellow board members, and especially to Martin Schneebeli, for stepping in. The SMV is therefore once again looking for a Head of Communications from among the model aviators. We look forward to hearing from interested model aviators or receiving recommendations.

Together, AeCS, SMV, and the regional model aircraft associations have worked hard to advocate for the interests of the clubs and their members. The example

The process of developing the model aircraft legislation serves as a prime example of teamwork across all levels and over an extended period of time. After Parliament adopted our model aircraft legislation at the end of 2020, the task was to draft the corresponding ordinance (VLK) in collaboration with the FOCA. This work was very time-consuming and would not have been successful without the AeCS network, its experts, the involvement of the regional associations, and our specialists. Many thanks to the AeCS, to our model aviators, and especially to the FOCA and the Foundation for Aviation Competence (FFAC). It is expected that the new VLK will take effect this fall and that our requests for as few new restrictions as possible will largely be met. In addition to the work related to model aircraft legislation, however, many other efforts are worth mentioning: for example, in the areas of wildlife sanctuary zones, UAS zones, U-Space, etc. Here, various analyses, statements, and expert studies were conducted in collaboration with the AeCS and the regional associations.

A fact that is often heard but still frequently underestimated is that model airfields are the heart of our activities and our clubs. Logically, without infrastructure, there can be no model flying. Unfortunately, the threats to our model airfields are not diminishing, and it is important that we take good care of them. Finding a new model airfield today is a process that takes several years; while it often leads to success, it involves an enormous amount of effort and requires great perseverance and excellent teamwork. It is therefore easier to protect and defend the existing infrastructure. Last year, too, several legal proceedings arose concerning model airfields. In these cases, the regional associations and the Model Aviation Association provided their full support. Thanks to good teamwork and networking, some of these cases were successfully resolved. We would like to take this opportunity to once again urge clubs to take advantage of the regional associations’ existing services for training, threat assessments, and assistance with legal matters. Those who plan ahead and are prepared for a crisis will be better able to handle it should it arise.

Model aircraft flying is popular, but our membership has been stagnant for several years. Despite efforts by the regional associations, together with the

Including new clubs, the SMV has just under 8,000 members. It can be assumed that, in addition to our members, there are about 7,000 people who regularly engage in model aviation, some of whom belong to well-organized clubs with excellent infrastructure. The example of model aviation legislation in particular has shown that numbers can make a difference; therefore, our goal must be to increase the proportion of Swiss model aviators in the association. We are called upon to act, and all our members must help recruit new clubs and members. Discussions on this topic have taken place at several presidents’ conferences and within the SMV Executive Board. It is clear that we must ensure that all members of an SMV club are also members of the federation. However, the discussions have also shown that not all clubs are allowed, able, or willing to accept new members, and there appears to be an ever-growing number of citizens who are tired of club life. While they want to fly models, they shy away from the obligations associated with club membership. A working group appointed by the Presidents’ Conference has addressed this issue and outlined an individual membership model that does not compete with our existing structures. In our neighboring countries, around 50% of association members are such individual members. The exact form in which we will implement this model is still undecided.

From a sporting perspective, the year was very mixed, as 2021 was also dominated by the coronavirus. Event organizers were uncertain. Nevertheless, all national competitions were successfully held, and to the best of our knowledge, no participants were infected at any of the events. Internationally, however, almost nothing took place. The European and World Championships were canceled or postponed to 2022 and 2023. Our jet pilots competed very successfully in an international competition in Alessandria, Italy (the European Championships organized by IJM Italy), finishing in 2nd and 4th place.

Despite COVID-19 restrictions, there was, fortunately, another significant increase in youth development events compared to the previous year, such as summer camp programs. Our clubs once again mentored more model aircraft students and got involved in students’ projects, such as high school graduation projects or school project weeks. Unfortunately, major events like those in Hausen, Seewen, etc.—where we could have showcased our youth development programs—were absent. Medium-sized events, such as the Air and Space Days at the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne, did take place but were subject to various restrictions. The Air and Space Days, in particular, once again demonstrated how important it is to have an attractive location within the overall layout. We are delighted by the many activities

organized by our clubs and regional associations, featuring engaging beginner competitions and the promotion of interested young talent in aerobatics (Young Silent Wings, Styro-Cup, Click-Cup, etc.).

At the Delegates’ Assembly on March 19, 2022, in Locarno, we will bid farewell to two long-serving and extremely dedicated committee presidents—Ruedi Schaub (F3 Gliding Committee President) and Felix Zünd (F3 Aerobatics Committee President)—and elect their successors. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Ruedi and Felix in advance for their tremendous dedication to the sport. In Markus Schneuwly and Urs Bärtschiger, they have found excellent successors, whom we are pleased to recommend for election at the 2022 Delegates’ Assembly.

On behalf of the Model Aviation Association, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone for their dedication to Swiss model aviation, whether on the front lines or behind the scenes. When we all pull together, things run smoothly and are even more enjoyable.

We’re all looking forward to the flying season and are confident that some uncertainties will be resolved in 2022, allowing us to focus on flying and enjoying the experience together.