Welcome to the Finnish Aeronautical Association!
It’s great that you’ve decided to become a member of the Finnish Aeronautical Association, the national and central organization of sport aviation in Finland. Members also have access to the members’ service at oma.ilmailuliitto.fi, where you’ll find membership cards and licences, valid membership benefits, and a .pdf version of the Ilmailu aviation magazine. In the members’ service, members can make competitor contracts and purchase or check an FAI licence – with much more available in the future.
The Finnish Aeronautical Association is the largest aviation interest group in Finland. Our work to represent our members’ interests means that Finland is a great place to fly and enjoy aviation safely and flexibly. The Finnish Aeronautical Association works continuously to improve the operating conditions for recreational and sport aviation. The Association negotiates with authorities on flying locations and on principles for airspace use throughout Finland, and participates in the preparation of international aviation regulations, safety work, developing members’ insurance coverage, and international aviation cooperation.
All forms of recreational aviation are fascinating and fantastic experiences. An aviation enthusiast’s path often begins with an exciting beginner’s course. Learning brings experiences and skills that can always be developed further. A pilot’s work is never truly finished! After the course, a whole new world opens up for the independent enthusiast, glider, pilot, or jumper. Independent aviation brings enthusiasts fun and a whole range of experiences, but it is often also a very social hobby: likeminded people meet at clubs to practise and maintain equipment. All are welcome at aviation clubs, and there’s something to do for everyone. The Finnish Aeronautical Association brings disciplines, clubs and enthusiasts together.
As a member’s skills develop, they may enjoy participating in aviation competitions. It is easy to begin competitive aviation in competitions held by your local club, after which you can progress to national competitions. Aviation is a worldwide hobby, and the best pilots in Finland compete successfully on the world stage in international competitions.
See what is included in your membership fee!
Information on current affairs
- The Ilmailu aviation magazine is posted to members six times a year.
- News, a competition calendar and results, plus an event calendar can be found on the Association’s website.
- The Finnish Aeronautical Association’s discipline committees promote different air sport disciplines.
- You can pay the membership fees for your club and the Finnish Aeronautical Association conveniently using the same invoice.
Training and guidance
- We produce recreational aviation training materials for pupils and teachers.
- We also provide a safety management system, SMS.
- We approve and maintain a list of parachuting and gliding training organizations. We issue
recreational licences and training qualifications to our approved organizations.
- We provide telephone and email guidance on recreational aviation, such as environmental matters, associations’ tax affairs, and permits for events.
- We are involved in an agreement negotiated with the Finnish Olympic Committee, Teosto, and Gramex. The Association’s member clubs can play recorded or live music at their events for no separate fee. The agreement applies to sporting events of fewer than 15,000 people or auxiliary events of fewer than 200 people, such as sales, parties, social evenings, exhibitions, and camps.
We insure our members
- Members of the Finnish Aeronautical Association are insured by accident insurance that covers all air sport disciplines. Association members are also covered by third-party liability insurance for recreational parachuting and indoor skydiving, paragliding and hang gliding, and when flying drones and model airplanes.
- As an Association member, you will receive a discount on airplane insurance.
- Association member clubs are covered by accident insurance for volunteer workers and business liability insurance.
Collaboration and lobbying
- We elect representatives to the world air sports federation FAI’s air sport commissions and handle the costs of participation in international conferences.
- The Association’s airspace workgroup negotiates airspace matters. We reserve airspace for competitions each year.
- We negotiate on EASA regulations and, if necessary, lobby Finland’s EASA representatives during the preparation phase.
- We promote recreational aviation opportunities and provide statements to Traficom, the Safety Investigation Authority Finland, EASA, and the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
Competitions
- We issue FAI licences to competitors.
- We issue the right and status to organize Finnish championship competitions.
- We provide Finnish championship awards to our member associations and take care of other Finnish and international membership and association awards and plaques.
- We are in contact with FAI, the international umbrella organization for recreational and sport aviation, and we pay an FAI membership fee. We pass on information about world and European championships to our members. We announce Finnish teams to international competitions.
- Sport aviation pilots can use the Finnish Aeronautical Association’s Ilmailuliiton tukisäätiö sport aviation fund. It can be used to conserve sport income in accordance with the Income Tax Act and is subject to certain provisions. The funds withdrawn from the sport aviation fund and used for sport are tax-free for the pilot.
…and much more!
- Badges of completion, club medals, and plaques can be ordered from the Association’s office.
- The Association organizes the national component of an international drawing competition each year.
Welcome to the world of aviation!
The Finnish Aeronautical Association – Suomen Ilmailuliitto ry