FAI Rotorcraft Commission (CIG)

Twenty years ago on 14 May 2005, Didier Delsalle flew an Ecureuil AS 350 B3 helicopter to the top of Everest and gained an FAI World Record for highest take-off in a helicopter at 8848m. 

• Read anniversary article about the Everest record
• See more images of the project

To mark the 20th anniversary of the achievement, Delsalle participated in an interview with FAI:

20 years ago, on 14 May 2005, French pilot Didier Delsalle took a helicopter to the top of the world and gained the FAI record for highest take-off - from the peak of Everest at 8,848m.

After Jean Boulet made his FAI absolute altitude record in 1972 by reaching 12,442m in the Aérospatiale SA 315 Lama, certain members of the helicopter industry in France began to ponder the possibility of putting an aircraft to the ultimate test of landing on the world’s highest mountain.

The Annual Meeting of the FAI Rotorcraft Commission (CIG) was held in Lausanne, Switzerland, on 21 March 2025, bringing together Delegates from across the world to discuss the ongoing development of helicopter sports and the Commission's strategic direction.

From 12-15 June 2025, helicopter pilots will gather in Płock, Poland for the International Helicopter Races, a unique competition showcasing precision flying, teamwork, and aerial skill.