competitive ballooning by jim thompson graphics by jeff thompson
TRANSCRIPT
COMPETITIVE COMPETITIVE BALLOONINGBALLOONING
byby
Jim ThompsonJim Thompson
Graphics by Jeff ThompsonGraphics by Jeff Thompson
PRESENTED AT PRESENTED AT
Balloon Safety SeminarBalloon Safety Seminar
Lakeland, FloridaLakeland, Florida
FebruaryFebruary 9, 20089, 2008
COMPETITIVE BALLOONINGCOMPETITIVE BALLOONING
How many of you fly How many of you fly competition?competition?
How many of you are How many of you are competitive pilots?competitive pilots?
COMPETITION BALLOONINGCOMPETITION BALLOONING Unorganized competitionUnorganized competition
Organized competitionOrganized competition
Sanctioned competitionSanctioned competition
UNORGANIZEDUNORGANIZED COMPETITIONCOMPETITION One balloonOne balloon
• Obtain detailed weather forecastObtain detailed weather forecast• Use pibal to obtain local wind Use pibal to obtain local wind
direction and speeddirection and speed• Pick targets or landing locations Pick targets or landing locations
before takeoff before takeoff • Use GPS for navigation during Use GPS for navigation during
flightflight• Practice throwing markers from Practice throwing markers from
various altitudes and speedsvarious altitudes and speeds
UNORGANIZEDUNORGANIZED COMPETITIONCOMPETITION Two balloonsTwo balloons
• Obtain detailed weather forecastObtain detailed weather forecast• Use pibal to obtain local wind Use pibal to obtain local wind
direction and speeddirection and speed• Agree on targets or landing locations Agree on targets or landing locations
before takeoffbefore takeoff• Use GPS for navigation during flightUse GPS for navigation during flight• Practice throwing markers from Practice throwing markers from
various altitudes and speedsvarious altitudes and speeds
UNORGANIZEDUNORGANIZED COMPETITIONCOMPETITION Additional balloonsAdditional balloons
• Obtain detailed weather forecastObtain detailed weather forecast• Use pibal to obtain local wind Use pibal to obtain local wind
direction and speeddirection and speed• Agree on targets or landing locations Agree on targets or landing locations
before takeoffbefore takeoff• Use GPS for navigation during flightUse GPS for navigation during flight• Use marker to determine pilot closest Use marker to determine pilot closest
to targetto target
ORGANIZED COMPETITIONORGANIZED COMPETITION
Balloon club flightsBalloon club flights
Weekend eventsWeekend events
Weeklong eventsWeeklong events
SANCTIONING SANCTIONING ORGANIZATIONSORGANIZATIONS
FAIFAI
CIACIA
NAANAA
BFABFA
FEDERATION AERONAUTIQUE FEDERATION AERONAUTIQUE INTERNATIONALEINTERNATIONALE
FAI, the world air sports FAI, the world air sports federation founded in 1905. federation founded in 1905. It is a non-governmental It is a non-governmental and non-profit making and non-profit making international organization international organization with the basic aim of with the basic aim of furthering aeronautical and furthering aeronautical and astronautical activities astronautical activities worldwide. worldwide.
www.fai.orgwww.fai.org
FEDERATION AERONAUTIQUE FEDERATION AERONAUTIQUE INTERNATIONALEINTERNATIONALE
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 FAI Astronautic Records
Commission Commission FAI Hang Gliding & Paragliding FAI Hang Gliding & Paragliding
CommissionCommission FAI Microlight Commission FAI Microlight Commission FAI Rotocraft CommissionFAI Rotocraft Commission
COMMISSION AEROSTATION COMMISSION AEROSTATION INTERNATIONALEINTERNATIONALE
President : Jean-President : Jean-Claude WEBER (Luxemburg) Claude WEBER (Luxemburg)
1st Vice-President : 1st Vice-President : Hans ÅKERSTEDT (Sweden) Hans ÅKERSTEDT (Sweden)
2nd Vice-President : 2nd Vice-President : Uwe SCHNEIDER (Germany)Uwe SCHNEIDER (Germany)
3rd Vice- President :3rd Vice- President :Mark SULLIVAN (USA)Mark SULLIVAN (USA)
www.fai.org/ballooningwww.fai.org/ballooning
NATIONAL AERONAUTIC NATIONAL AERONAUTIC ASSOCIATIONASSOCIATION
The primary mission of NAA is The primary mission of NAA is the advancement of the art, the advancement of the art, sport, and science of aviation sport, and science of aviation and space flight by fostering and space flight by fostering opportunities to participate opportunities to participate fully in aviation activities and fully in aviation activities and by promoting public by promoting public understanding of the understanding of the importance of aviation and importance of aviation and space flight to the United space flight to the United States.States.
www.naa.aerowww.naa.aero
BALLOON FEDERATION OF BALLOON FEDERATION OF AMERICAAMERICA
As the official ballooning As the official ballooning branch of the United States branch of the United States National Aeronautic National Aeronautic Association, the Balloon Association, the Balloon Federation of America (BFA) Federation of America (BFA) represents the interests of represents the interests of some 2,500 member hot air some 2,500 member hot air and gas balloon pilots and and gas balloon pilots and crew.crew.
www.bfa.netwww.bfa.net
BALLOON FEDERATION OF BALLOON FEDERATION OF AMERICAAMERICA
The BFA provides programs of The BFA provides programs of educational and safety educational and safety training, organizing and training, organizing and operating the US National operating the US National Balloon Championships as well Balloon Championships as well as other local, state and as other local, state and regional competitions, and regional competitions, and selecting US representative selecting US representative pilots for participation in World pilots for participation in World Championships and the Championships and the prestigious Coupe de Gordon prestigious Coupe de Gordon Bennett gas balloon race.Bennett gas balloon race.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 2008 Championship in Anderson, SC2008 Championship in Anderson, SC
August 27 through September 1, August 27 through September 1, 20082008
50 competitive pilots & 30 non 50 competitive pilots & 30 non competitorscompetitors
$50,000 prize money for competitors $50,000 prize money for competitors and $20,000 for non competitorsand $20,000 for non competitors
Championship Director – David LevinChampionship Director – David Levin
FUTURE NATIONAL FUTURE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPSCHAMPIONSHIPS
Hot Air Competition Hot Air Competition Division is actively Division is actively soliciting locations soliciting locations for 2009 and future for 2009 and future championshipschampionships
NORTH AMERICAN NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPCHAMPIONSHIP
2011 – Open for 2011 – Open for submittal of bid by submittal of bid by host organization host organization and cityand city
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPWORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2008 – Hofkirchen, Austria 2008 – Hofkirchen, Austria
(September 13 – 20)(September 13 – 20) 2010 – Bids being considered 2010 – Bids being considered
by CIA for Hungary and India by CIA for Hungary and India 2012 – Submittal of bid being 2012 – Submittal of bid being
considered by Anderson, SC, considered by Anderson, SC,
2008 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP2008 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
USA expects to have 8 USA expects to have 8 competitorscompetitors
Johnny PetrehnJohnny Petrehn Joe HeartsillJoe Heartsill Pat CannonPat Cannon Nick Donner Nick Donner Paul Petrehn Paul Petrehn Al NelsAl Nels Owen KeownOwen Keown Joe ZvadaJoe Zvada
2006 US World Team
BFA HOT AIR COMPETITION BFA HOT AIR COMPETITION DIVISIONDIVISION
Sam Parks – Chair – Southeast Sam Parks – Chair – Southeast RegionRegion
Steve Lombardi – Vice Chair – Steve Lombardi – Vice Chair – Southwest RegionSouthwest Region
Barb Davis – Secretary – Barb Davis – Secretary – Event Official memberEvent Official member
Dick Donnelly – Finance Dick Donnelly – Finance Manager – Great Lakes RegionManager – Great Lakes Region
Richard Sabin – At Large Richard Sabin – At Large John Davis IV – At LargeJohn Davis IV – At Large Jim Thompson – North Central Jim Thompson – North Central
RegionRegion Al Nels – Northeast RegionAl Nels – Northeast Region Dale Wong – Western RegionDale Wong – Western Region David Levin – Championship David Levin – Championship
DirectorDirector Mike Tuten – Chief ObserverMike Tuten – Chief Observer Andrew Baird – BFA Board Andrew Baird – BFA Board
Liaison Liaison
BFA HOT AIR COMPETITION BFA HOT AIR COMPETITION DIVISIONDIVISION
ElectionsElections 2009 2009
• Great Lakes Region Board Great Lakes Region Board MemberMember
• Southwest Region Board Southwest Region Board MemberMember
20102010• North Central Region Board North Central Region Board
MemberMember• Southeast Region Board Southeast Region Board
MemberMember
BFA HOT AIR COMPETITION BFA HOT AIR COMPETITION DIVISIONDIVISION
PURPOSE OF BFA PURPOSE OF BFA SANCTIONINGSANCTIONING
Establish common rules and Establish common rules and procedures for competitionprocedures for competition
Establish a fair method of Establish a fair method of evaluating pilot skillsevaluating pilot skills
Develop a National Ranking Develop a National Ranking SystemSystem
Qualify pilots for participation in Qualify pilots for participation in U.S. National Hot Air Balloon U.S. National Hot Air Balloon ChampionshipChampionship
Develop list of pilots qualified for Develop list of pilots qualified for International and World International and World CompetitionCompetition
BFA SANCTION COMPETITION BFA SANCTION COMPETITION RULES AND REGULATIONSRULES AND REGULATIONS
Similar to Similar to International RulesInternational Rules
International rules International rules used for Nationalsused for Nationals
HACD reviewing HACD reviewing rulesrules
Available from BFA Available from BFA OfficeOffice
On BFA web siteOn BFA web site
BFA GUIDELINES FOR EVENT BFA GUIDELINES FOR EVENT ORGANIZERSORGANIZERS
Event Guidelines Event Guidelines presently being presently being reviewed by HACDreviewed by HACD
Goal to update and Goal to update and streamline procedurestreamline procedure
Review should be Review should be finalized in Aprilfinalized in April
To be published on BFA To be published on BFA web siteweb site
BFA SANCTIONED BFA SANCTIONED COMPETITIONCOMPETITION
Safety SanctionSafety Sanction Open SanctionOpen Sanction Traveling SanctionTraveling Sanction Local SanctionLocal Sanction State ChampionshipState Championship Regional ChampionshipRegional Championship
BFA SANCTIONED BFA SANCTIONED COMPETITIONCOMPETITION
The Hot Air Competition The Hot Air Competition Division will be reviewing Division will be reviewing the rules and requirements the rules and requirements for each type of sanctionfor each type of sanction
A A SANCTION IN A BOXSANCTION IN A BOX is is being developed to provide being developed to provide details of what BFA will details of what BFA will provide for each type of provide for each type of sanctionsanction
WHAT DOES COMPETITION DO WHAT DOES COMPETITION DO FOR YOU?FOR YOU?
Challenges your pilot skillsChallenges your pilot skills Measures pilot skillsMeasures pilot skills Improves pilot skillsImproves pilot skills Increases crew involvement Increases crew involvement
and skillsand skills
CHALLENGES YOUR PILOT CHALLENGES YOUR PILOT SKILLSSKILLS
Competition forces pilots to establish goals or Competition forces pilots to establish goals or targetstargets
In order to reach a target you must fly the balloon, In order to reach a target you must fly the balloon, not let the balloon fly younot let the balloon fly you
When flying the balloon, you learn to read the speed When flying the balloon, you learn to read the speed and direction of different wind layersand direction of different wind layers
You learn to recognize changing conditions and how You learn to recognize changing conditions and how to adapt to them throughout the flightto adapt to them throughout the flight
MEASURES PILOT SKILLSMEASURES PILOT SKILLS Compare skills with others Compare skills with others
flying is same areaflying is same area• With pilots on individual flightsWith pilots on individual flights• With pilots at competitionsWith pilots at competitions
Compare skills on a Regional Compare skills on a Regional basisbasis
Compare skills on a National Compare skills on a National basisbasis• National Ranking SystemNational Ranking System• National ChampionshipNational Championship
Compare skills on a World Compare skills on a World basisbasis• World Ranking ListWorld Ranking List
IMPROVES PILOT SKILLSIMPROVES PILOT SKILLS Requires preflight planningRequires preflight planning Requires additional knowledge of Requires additional knowledge of
weather and wind conditions weather and wind conditions during entire flight operation during entire flight operation
Requires use of GPS in flight Requires use of GPS in flight planning and in each flightplanning and in each flight
Requires continual good decision Requires continual good decision makingmaking
Requires controlling the balloon Requires controlling the balloon under varying flight conditionsunder varying flight conditions
INCREASES CREW INCREASES CREW INVOLVMENT AND SKILLSINVOLVMENT AND SKILLS
Crew learns to work as a teamCrew learns to work as a team Crew learns to obey rules Crew learns to obey rules Crew required to practice good Crew required to practice good
landowner relationslandowner relations Crew improves map skills Crew improves map skills Crew gets to experience excitement Crew gets to experience excitement
of competitionof competition Crew takes pride in accomplishments Crew takes pride in accomplishments
of pilotof pilot
RESOURCESRESOURCES
On Target On Target by Pat Cannon – (Two by Pat Cannon – (Two time National Champion) in time National Champion) in BALLOONINGBALLOONING
CD containing all segmentsCD containing all segments of On of On Target Target available from BFA Officeavailable from BFA Office
On Target by Pat Cannon - BALLOONINGOn Target by Pat Cannon - BALLOONING Mar/Apr 2001 Commit to Compete May/Jun 2001 Equip Yourself to Compete Jul/Aug 2001 Map Your Way to the Target Sep/Oct 2001 The Tail of the Pibal Nov/Dec 2001 The Role of the Crew Chief Jan/Feb 2002 The Flight Mar/Apr 2002 Yes Sir, Mr. Director, Sir! May/Jun 2002 Planning a Multi-Task Flight Jul/Aug 2002 R-E-S-P-E-C-T Sep/Oct 2002 The Art of Baggie Toss Nov/Dec 2002 The Key Grab Jan/Feb 2003 Competition Q & A
CHALLENGECHALLENGE I would challenge each of I would challenge each of
you to fly each flight like it you to fly each flight like it was a competition, to was a competition, to become more involved in become more involved in organized competition to organized competition to improve your pilot skills improve your pilot skills and decision making, and and decision making, and to gain an additional edge to gain an additional edge on flying safelyon flying safely
QUESTIONS
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?