SMV Annual Report 2024

At the General Assembly, there was an extensive debate on cost trends and possible corrective measures. Ultimately, cost-control measures were adopted, but at the same time, the membership fee was increased effective 2025. The groundwork was also laid for the sports federations’ voting rights at the General Assembly. This is a step toward greater democracy within the federation, which is also expected by Swiss Olympic. The traditional Presidents’ Conference took place in Olten in November. The shift in Swiss Olympic’s requirements was also a topic of discussion at this conference. The SMV remains committed to maintaining its Swiss Olympic membership, even though the administrative burden continues to grow and athletic success plays an increasingly minor role in the classification criteria. In addition to all the organizational work, there was, of course, plenty of flying. The first half of the year got off to a slow start with a lot of rain, but most of the many planned events were still able to take place. The second half of the year was then more favorable. The highlights of the flying season were the two major air shows in Yverdon and Hausen am Albis. They thrilled thousands of spectators with many spectacular demonstrations. The SMV was present at both events with the AeCS trailer, and we were able to have many conversations, make new contacts, and maintain existing ones. Many thanks to our model aviation coordinator, Christophe Petitpierre, for his tremendous support and presence. All these public events, big and small, showcase what we do, foster goodwill, and attract new members.

Cooperation within the SMV Executive Board and with the regional associations is going well. We all want to promote model flying for young and old alike—whether for recreational flying or as a sport—and ensure its future. Our responsibilities are constantly growing, and at the same time, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find volunteers who are willing to take on responsibility and invest their time. So far, we’ve managed to strike this balance, even if we have to set priorities here and there and can’t always implement everything that we, our clubs, and our members would like to see.

The work of the Communications Department was characterized by the ongoing collection of news articles and the entry of competition results. In addition, many general tasks were completed, such as reviewing documents on the website and bringing them up to date. An important aspect of this was updating the information regarding insurance on the website. In 2024, with the help of our insurance broker, insurance benefits were improved, and this needed to be documented in a way that was easy to understand. The presentations of the executive board departments in model aviation, including some personal information about those in charge, were well received. The editorial team at Aero-Revue provided us with excellent support here—thank you very much. For 2025, we plan to present the sports commissions and their flight disciplines in the same way.

Our pilots also wrapped up 2024 with tremendous success, winning three team championship titles and three individual titles at the World and European Championships. They also secured four additional podium finishes. A total of ten podium finishes—congratulations!

To ensure these successes continue in the future, the working group of the presidents of the sports commissions has made the promotion of young talent its new priority. In many categories, the number of participants in national and international competitions is declining. Without effective strategies and measures, we will soon no longer be able to look back on such successful years.

We’re quite active in promoting youth and developing young talent through our clubs and regional associations. While some active clubs and regional associations are doing excellent work on the ground, there could be more activities, as the average age of our members is steadily rising and our membership is declining slightly. Unfortunately, the effort required to promote young talent is often a deterrent, or in some cases, there is simply too little interest on the part of the clubs. Please remember that model flying should remain a source of joy in the future, so we need to step up our efforts a bit. The SMV’s Youth Development Department and the regional associations are happy to assist clubs with materials, guidelines, and hands-on support to get started in the sport, connect interested individuals with clubs, provide purchasing tips for beginner models, or support project work and high school graduation projects.

On behalf of my colleagues at the Model Flying Association, I would like to thank everyone who is committed to model flying. A heartfelt thank you goes to the AeCS Central Secretariat and outgoing Secretary General Yves Burkhardt. We look forward to continuing our excellent collaboration and wish the new Secretary General a great start. Thank you to everyone, both in front of and behind the scenes, and to all our partners. It takes the commitment of all of us to secure the future of model aviation, and after all, it’s much more fun when we do it together.

With the annual report and the Delegates’ Assembly on March 15, 2025, in Herrliberg, ZH, we conclude the 2024 association year and wish everyone a great 2025 flying season filled with many flights, wonderful experiences, and good camaraderie. ■

Adrian Eggenberger