Ballooning

The FAI Ballooning Commission (CIA) is the International Air Sport Commission responsible, within FAI, for developing the Ballooning air sport events available for inclusion in the Event Program of the World Air Games, for preparing Competition Rules and selecting the Athletes invited to the World Air Games.

This section provides information and references on the Ballooning event included in the program of the World Air Games 2009.

The structure and content of this section will be regularly updated to reflect preparation work completed by the LOC and the Commission.

• CIA Information Bulletins
• Hot Air Balloons
• Photos

CIA INFORMATION BULLETINS

Maury Sullivan, Balloon Federation of America Rules Manager, has written an easy to understand guide to the rules of ballooning competitions - download a .pdf version of it here (.pdf 535KB)

HOT AIR BALLOONS

The modern successors of the balloon flown by the Montgolfier Brothers in 1783, hot air balloons have no means of propulsion. Competitions consist of precision tasks, where pilots use the winds at different altitudes to navigate towards set goals and targets. Their pilots must therefore exercise particular skills to analyse weather conditions, observe natural features, and make the best use of burning propane gas to control their altitude. Launches are particularly spectacular, with balloons painting amazing and colourful pictures in the sky.

More about this event ?	Please click on the image to download a leaflet containing more information on Hot Air Balloon competitions. (pdf / 500 kb)
Explanation of competition tasks :	Read about different ballooning tasks in the task explanation guide (.pdf 535KB) courtesy of Maury Sullivan, BFA Rules Manager.
Invited Athletes :	Click here to consult the list and personal profiles of athletes invited to compete at the World Air Games 2009.
Competition Rules :	Download here (pdf / 580 Kb) / Pilots' Information
Maps :	Download here : Low resolution (tiff / 3.5 Mb) / High resolution (Link to tiff. file of 20.6 Mb)
Venue :	Mondovi
FAI Event Description :	Hot Air Balloons (pdf / 60 Kb)
LOC Bid Book :	Ballooning Events (pdf / 2,1 Mb)
Test Events :	8 - 13 July 2008
Link to LOC Webpages :	Ballooning at Mondovi / Aero Club Mondovi
Contact Details :	FAI Liaison Officers / LOC Air Sport Director

PHOTOS

Hot Air Balloons (Test Event at Mondovi)
(Photos : FAI/Jean-Marc Badan)

Task setting by the Event Director David Levin.	Early morning pilots' briefing.

Preparation of targets.	The competition has started.
Throwing a marker.	Close to the target.
Flying over Mondovi's Torre del Belvedere.
Sunset over Mondovi.
	The new Italian Champion Paolo Bonanno receives his medal from the hands of Mondovi's Mayor.