Paris-based Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) has awarded its Honorary Group Diploma for Aeronautics 1999-2000 to Bom-bardier Aerospace employees for the Learjet 45 programme. The institute singled out the aircraft and praised the manufacturer for 'the development of one of the world's most sophisticated business jets'. The manufacturer was nom-inated for the award by the National Aeronautic Association in Washington DC, US, and a formal presentation will take place at the opening ceremonies of the FAI's 92nd annual General Conference in Limassol, Cyprus, on October 20, 1999.\rThe FAI, the world certification agency for all aviation world records, established the award in 1965 for groups of people who have contributed significantly to the progress of Aeronautics (or Astronautics) during the previous year or years. Previous recipients include teams from NASA, Boeing, Rockwell International, Martin Marietta, McDonnell Corporation, Lockheed and the US FAA. Bombardier says that the Learjet 45, along with the Global Express, is the only business aircraft in operation to have received both FAA and European JAA certification. The aircraft recently established three new world speed records in a single working day, which were approved by the NAA and FAI, and were set by a fully-completed, heavily optioned aircraft with three passengers, including an NAA official.