Plans To Deliver Excellence, Strengthen Global Air Sports

Greg Principato has been elected the new President of the World Air Sports Federation (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale or FAI) and he joins the organization with a clearly defined purpose: strengthen the global air sports community, ensure the association maintains its excellence, and to deliver value to its members.

Principato comes to FAI after 40 years in leadership roles in Washington, D.C. He established the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and played a foundational part in opening the Udvar-Hazy Air & Space Museum.

Principato also was instrumental on an airline excellence commission, then a leadership position with the National Association of State Aviation Officials followed by a 7-year tenure as President of the National Aeronautic Association (NAA).

Principato said, “One of the challenges in a global organization is to bring all the centers of interests and passions together into a coherent whole. So that we may learn from one another and make each other better. So that we can make the whole FAI way better than just the sum of its parts. I have a history of doing that throughout my career and I believe I can lead the effort to make FAI exactly that.”

When asked about the challenges facing air sports worldwide, he said that the main challenges cross national lines and include attracting a new and diverse group of athletes and participants. This means making changes that will attract air sport athletes of all nationalities, male and female, and regardless of ethnicity or orientation and make them feel welcome to join, stay, and thrive in the FAI community.

The strategies Principato plans to employ include holding all-Members meetings once a year, along with regular town hall type meetings with Members so they can hear from all FAI leaders in addition to himself.

He will also use a Members survey to hear directly what Members want and leadership will base decisions on those desires. Principato will strive to have a level of openness and transparency that will build trust, share successes, and help each other conquer challenges and make FAI as great as it can be.

FMI:  www.fai.org/