COMPETITIVE BALLOONING by Jim Thompson Graphics by Jeff Thompson

PRESENTED AT Balloon Safety Seminar Lakeland, Florida February 9, 2008

COMPETITIVE BALLOONING How many of you fly competition? How many of you fly competition? How many of you are competitive pilots? How many of you are competitive pilots?

COMPETITION BALLOONING Unorganized competition Unorganized competition Organized competition Organized competition Sanctioned competition Sanctioned competition

UNORGANIZED COMPETITION  One balloon Obtain detailed weather forecastObtain detailed weather forecast Use pibal to obtain local wind direction and speedUse pibal to obtain local wind direction and speed Pick targets or landing locations before takeoffPick targets or landing locations before takeoff Use GPS for navigation during flightUse GPS for navigation during flight Practice throwing markers from various altitudes and speedsPractice throwing markers from various altitudes and speeds

UNORGANIZED COMPETITION Two balloons Two balloons Obtain detailed weather forecastObtain detailed weather forecast Use pibal to obtain local wind direction and speedUse pibal to obtain local wind direction and speed Agree on targets or landing locations before takeoffAgree on targets or landing locations before takeoff Use GPS for navigation during flightUse GPS for navigation during flight Practice throwing markers from various altitudes and speedsPractice throwing markers from various altitudes and speeds

UNORGANIZED COMPETITION Additional balloons Additional balloons Obtain detailed weather forecastObtain detailed weather forecast Use pibal to obtain local wind direction and speedUse pibal to obtain local wind direction and speed Agree on targets or landing locations before takeoffAgree on targets or landing locations before takeoff Use GPS for navigation during flightUse GPS for navigation during flight Use marker to determine pilot closest to targetUse marker to determine pilot closest to target

ORGANIZED COMPETITION Balloon club flights Weekend events Weeklong events

SANCTIONING ORGANIZATIONS FAI FAI CIA CIA NAA NAA BFA BFA

FEDERATION AERONAUTIQUE INTERNATIONALE FAI, the world air sports federation founded in It is a non-governmental and non-profit making international organization with the basic aim of furthering aeronautical and astronautical activities worldwide. FAI, the world air sports federation founded in It is a non-governmental and non-profit making international organization with the basic aim of furthering aeronautical and astronautical activities worldwide.

FEDERATION AERONAUTIQUE INTERNATIONALE FAI Ballooning Commission FAI Ballooning Commission FAI General Aviation Commission FAI General Aviation Commission FAI Gliding Commission FAI Gliding Commission FAI Aeromodeling Commission FAI Aeromodeling Commission FAI Parachuting Commission FAI Parachuting Commission FAI Aerobatic Commission FAI Aerobatic Commission FAI Astronautic Records Commission FAI Astronautic Records Commission FAI Hang Gliding & Paragliding Commission FAI Hang Gliding & Paragliding Commission FAI Microlight Commission FAI Microlight Commission FAI Rotocraft Commission FAI Rotocraft Commission

COMMISSION AEROSTATION INTERNATIONALE President : Jean- Claude WEBER (Luxemburg) President : Jean- Claude WEBER (Luxemburg) 1st Vice-President : 1st Vice-President : Hans ÅKERSTEDT (Sweden) 2nd Vice-President : 2nd Vice-President : Uwe SCHNEIDER (Germany) 3rd Vice- President : 3rd Vice- President :Mark SULLIVAN (USA)

NATIONAL AERONAUTIC ASSOCIATION The primary mission of NAA is the advancement of the art, sport, and science of aviation and space flight by fostering opportunities to participate fully in aviation activities and by promoting public understanding of the importance of aviation and space flight to the United States. The primary mission of NAA is the advancement of the art, sport, and science of aviation and space flight by fostering opportunities to participate fully in aviation activities and by promoting public understanding of the importance of aviation and space flight to the United States.

BALLOON FEDERATION OF AMERICA As the official ballooning branch of the United States National Aeronautic Association, the Balloon Federation of America (BFA) represents the interests of some 2,500 member hot air and gas balloon pilots and crew. As the official ballooning branch of the United States National Aeronautic Association, the Balloon Federation of America (BFA) represents the interests of some 2,500 member hot air and gas balloon pilots and crew.

BALLOON FEDERATION OF AMERICA  The BFA provides programs of educational and safety training, organizing and operating the US National Balloon Championships as well as other local, state and regional competitions, and selecting US representative pilots for participation in World Championships and the prestigious Coupe de Gordon Bennett gas balloon race.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 2008 Championship in Anderson, SC 2008 Championship in Anderson, SC August 27 through September 1, 2008 August 27 through September 1, competitive pilots & 30 non competitors 50 competitive pilots & 30 non competitors $50,000 prize money for competitors and $20,000 for non competitors $50,000 prize money for competitors and $20,000 for non competitors Championship Director – David Levin Championship Director – David Levin

FUTURE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS Hot Air Competition Division is actively soliciting locations for 2009 and future championships Hot Air Competition Division is actively soliciting locations for 2009 and future championships

NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP 2011 – Open for submittal of bid by host organization and city 2011 – Open for submittal of bid by host organization and city

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2008 – Hofkirchen, Austria (September 13 – 20) 2008 – Hofkirchen, Austria (September 13 – 20) 2010 – Bids being considered by CIA for Hungary and India 2010 – Bids being considered by CIA for Hungary and India 2012 – Submittal of bid being considered by Anderson, SC, 2012 – Submittal of bid being considered by Anderson, SC,

2008 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP USA expects to have 8 competitors Johnny Petrehn Johnny Petrehn Joe Heartsill Joe Heartsill Pat Cannon Pat Cannon Nick Donner Nick Donner Paul Petrehn Paul Petrehn Al Nels Al Nels Owen Keown Owen Keown Joe Zvada Joe Zvada 2006 US World Team

BFA HOT AIR COMPETITION DIVISION Sam Parks – Chair – Southeast Region Sam Parks – Chair – Southeast Region Steve Lombardi – Vice Chair – Southwest Region Steve Lombardi – Vice Chair – Southwest Region Barb Davis – Secretary – Barb Davis – Secretary – Event Official member Dick Donnelly – Finance Manager – Great Lakes Region Dick Donnelly – Finance Manager – Great Lakes Region

Richard Sabin – At Large Richard Sabin – At Large John Davis IV – At Large John Davis IV – At Large Jim Thompson – North Central Region Jim Thompson – North Central Region Al Nels – Northeast Region Al Nels – Northeast Region Dale Wong – Western Region Dale Wong – Western Region David Levin – Championship Director David Levin – Championship Director Mike Tuten – Chief Observer Mike Tuten – Chief Observer Andrew Baird – BFA Board Liaison Andrew Baird – BFA Board Liaison BFA HOT AIR COMPETITION DIVISION

Elections Great Lakes Region Board MemberGreat Lakes Region Board Member Southwest Region Board MemberSouthwest Region Board Member North Central Region Board MemberNorth Central Region Board Member Southeast Region Board MemberSoutheast Region Board Member BFA HOT AIR COMPETITION DIVISION

PURPOSE OF BFA SANCTIONING Establish common rules and procedures for competition Establish common rules and procedures for competition Establish a fair method of evaluating pilot skills Establish a fair method of evaluating pilot skills Develop a National Ranking System Develop a National Ranking System Qualify pilots for participation in U.S. National Hot Air Balloon Championship Qualify pilots for participation in U.S. National Hot Air Balloon Championship Develop list of pilots qualified for International and World Competition Develop list of pilots qualified for International and World Competition

BFA SANCTION COMPETITION RULES AND REGULATIONS Similar to International Rules Similar to International Rules International rules used for Nationals International rules used for Nationals HACD reviewing rules HACD reviewing rules Available from BFA Office Available from BFA Office On BFA web site On BFA web site

BFA GUIDELINES FOR EVENT ORGANIZERS Event Guidelines presently being reviewed by HACD Event Guidelines presently being reviewed by HACD Goal to update and streamline procedure Goal to update and streamline procedure Review should be finalized in April Review should be finalized in April To be published on BFA web site To be published on BFA web site

BFA SANCTIONED COMPETITION Safety Sanction Safety Sanction Open Sanction Open Sanction Traveling Sanction Traveling Sanction Local Sanction Local Sanction State Championship State Championship Regional Championship Regional Championship

BFA SANCTIONED COMPETITION The Hot Air Competition Division will be reviewing the rules and requirements for each type of sanction The Hot Air Competition Division will be reviewing the rules and requirements for each type of sanction A SANCTION IN A BOX is being developed to provide details of what BFA will provide for each type of sanction A SANCTION IN A BOX is being developed to provide details of what BFA will provide for each type of sanction

WHAT DOES COMPETITION DO FOR YOU? Challenges your pilot skills Challenges your pilot skills Measures pilot skills Measures pilot skills Improves pilot skills Improves pilot skills Increases crew involvement and skills Increases crew involvement and skills

CHALLENGES YOUR PILOT SKILLS Competition forces pilots to establish goals or targets Competition forces pilots to establish goals or targets In order to reach a target you must fly the balloon, not let the balloon fly you In order to reach a target you must fly the balloon, not let the balloon fly you When flying the balloon, you learn to read the speed and direction of different wind layers When flying the balloon, you learn to read the speed and direction of different wind layers You learn to recognize changing conditions and how to adapt to them throughout the flight You learn to recognize changing conditions and how to adapt to them throughout the flight

MEASURES PILOT SKILLS Compare skills with others flying is same area Compare skills with others flying is same area With pilots on individual flightsWith pilots on individual flights With pilots at competitionsWith pilots at competitions Compare skills on a Regional basis Compare skills on a Regional basis Compare skills on a National basis Compare skills on a National basis National Ranking SystemNational Ranking System National ChampionshipNational Championship Compare skills on a World basis Compare skills on a World basis World Ranking ListWorld Ranking List

IMPROVES PILOT SKILLS Requires preflight planning Requires preflight planning Requires additional knowledge of weather and wind conditions during entire flight operation Requires additional knowledge of weather and wind conditions during entire flight operation Requires use of GPS in flight planning and in each flight Requires use of GPS in flight planning and in each flight Requires continual good decision making Requires continual good decision making Requires controlling the balloon under varying flight conditions Requires controlling the balloon under varying flight conditions

INCREASES CREW INVOLVMENT AND SKILLS Crew learns to work as a team Crew learns to work as a team Crew learns to obey rules Crew learns to obey rules Crew required to practice good landowner relations Crew required to practice good landowner relations Crew improves map skills Crew improves map skills Crew gets to experience excitement of competition Crew gets to experience excitement of competition Crew takes pride in accomplishments of pilot Crew takes pride in accomplishments of pilot

RESOURCES On Target by Pat Cannon – (Two time National Champion) in BALLOONING On Target by Pat Cannon – (Two time National Champion) in BALLOONING CD containing all segments of On Target available from BFA Office CD containing all segments of On Target available from BFA Office

On Target by Pat Cannon - BALLOONING  Mar/Apr 2001Commit to Compete  May/Jun 2001Equip Yourself to Compete  Jul/Aug 2001Map Your Way to the Target  Sep/Oct 2001The Tail of the Pibal  Nov/Dec 2001The Role of the Crew Chief  Jan/Feb 2002The Flight  Mar/Apr 2002Yes Sir, Mr. Director, Sir!  May/Jun 2002Planning a Multi-Task Flight  Jul/Aug 2002R-E-S-P-E-C-T  Sep/Oct 2002The Art of Baggie Toss  Nov/Dec 2002The Key Grab  Jan/Feb 2003Competition Q & A

CHALLENGE I would challenge each of you to fly each flight like it was a competition, to become more involved in organized competition to improve your pilot skills and decision making, and to gain an additional edge on flying safely I would challenge each of you to fly each flight like it was a competition, to become more involved in organized competition to improve your pilot skills and decision making, and to gain an additional edge on flying safely

QUESTIONS

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?