how we work
CIVA Working Groups are established from time to time by the Bureau to provide guidance and advice in specific areas of key relevance to international aerobatics. Their remit is to work within the many formats adopted by the commission, to support and manage its affairs in the most advantageous manner. Each W/G has a chairman supported by a number of members, who work together to provide technical and practical support and direction to the Bureau and provide Reports to plenary conferences in the designated area of interest.
Clearly it is an honour to be appointed to one of these positions. Candidates are expected to work on behalf of their plenary colleagues and the world aerobatic community in support of the working group they join. While their chairman may ask them to respond to specific tasks, it is their own responsibility to seek out areas where improvements or developments could be of benefit to the operation of aerobatic championships and lesser events, and to make a positive effort to move the subject forward.
Everything that happens within the CIVA environment is a direct result of the inspiration and effort made by the dedicated people whose names you see below in one or more of these management teams. This list also provides direct access to each chairman, to whom all enquiries and suggestions should in the first place be directed.
THE KNOWN FIGURES ANALYSIS WORKING GROUP (KAWG)
KAWG Chairman:
Hanspeter Rohner, SUI 
Email
with Pekka Havbrandt, SWE Email
Members:
Alan Cassidy, GBR
Coco Bessiere, FRA
Nigel Hopkins, RSA
Rob Holland, USA
Castor Fantoba. ESP
Louis Vanel, FRA
The KAWG (for power) and the GAC (for gliders) take the Free Known 5-figure master sets submitted by NAC’s each year as the basis for their considerations. Changes are allowed and additional sets may be created to meet annual requirements. Each body (KAWG and GAC) submits a proposal to the annual plenary conference with up to 5 (five) sets of master figures per category, with critical assessments and sample sequences to illustrate their scope and suitability and provide guidance to delegates in their selection of one master set per category for the following year.
The Safety Working Group (SWG)
SWG Chairman:
Hanspeter Rohner, SUI Email
Members:
Tamás Ábrányi, HUN
Alexandre Orlowski, FRA
Keith Doyne, USA
Pierre Varloteaux, FRA
Pekka Havbrandt, SWE
Patrick Paris, FRA - Advisor
The CIVA Safety Working Group (SWG) is an advisory Working Group acting as the focal point to foster the highest levels of safety in all CIVA activities. Its primary aim is to provide recommendations and guidance on any matter associated with safety, through its own work and findings, or on request by any stakeholder in CIVA (e.g. CIVA Bureau, Committees, other Working Groups, NACs, competitors, championship officials and organisers) which may then make appropriate decisions or prepare formal proposals in the light of the SWG advice.
The Media Working Group (MWG)
MWG Chairman:
Eric Lentz Gauthier, USA Email
Members:
Pekka Havbrandt, SWE
Others TBA
The overall aim of the MWG will be to make a positive contribution to the public image of international aerobatics and establish working relationships with potential sources of commercial and/or corporate interest. CIVA's "World Aerobatics" Facebook and Instagram social media streams provide the core range of information from championships, pilots and their NAC's, supported by reference data on many topics provided by this website.
The FairPlay System Working Group (FPWG)
FPS W/G Chairman:
Nick Buckenham, GBR Email
Members:
Doug Lovell, USA
Gilles Guillemard, FRA
Vladimir Machula, CZE
Development of the FairPlay System as operated by CIVA's championship results calculation software is controlled by this working group, which reports its recommendations to the plenary each year.
The Contest Organisation Working Group (COWG)
COWG Chairman:
Nick Buckenham, GBR Email
Members:
Madelyne Delcroix, FRA
Vladimir Machula, CZE
The COWG monitors the operational use and correctness of working practices carried out by Contest Organisers and CIVA officers at CIVA championships in accordance with Section-6 and other regulations, and reports upon their effectiveness to the plenary each year.
The Strategic Planning Group (SPG)
SPG Chairman:
Nick Buckenham, GBR Email
Members:
Alan Cassidy, GBR
Matthieu Roulet, FRA
Mike Heuer, USA
The SPG reviews, develops and reports on matters of strategic value to CIVA's operational status at all international aerobatic championships, and provides its recommendations to the plenary each year.