The 24th Kodak Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is not one story of The Big One. It is an event of many stories. Thus, Balloon Life’s coverage of this year’s edition is a collection of some of the people, events, and happenings.
On Friday, October 6, the day after 500 plus balloons descended into the on-field scoring area, the local head of the Federal Aviation Administration spoke to the assembled pilots at the morning briefing. She was, shall we say, less then pleased with the performance of a number of pilots the previous day. It seems that many had violated the terms of the event waiver. That agreement allows the participants to fly lower than minimum safe altitudes as specified in the Federal Aviation Regulations.
The FAA Inspector was angry, and rightfully so. There was an agreement that the FAA, Fiesta, and balloonists had agreed to. The terms certainly allowed ample opportunity to use the airspace for maneuvering. The target area had three money poles to grab a cash envelope from (each worth between $1,000 and $10,000). In addition, the final target of the overall competition was in the middle of the scoring area. The overall winner for the week would receive $10,000.
This situation poses an interesting question. Should this type of competition- valuable prizes, heavily populated area, and congested airspace, with its potential pressure-be held? Or should the balloons be flying for the glory and the money be used for another purpose?
NPRM 95-11
On October 23, I visited 800 Independence Ave in Washington, DC, home to the Federal Aviation Administration. In room 915 I read the public docket regarding the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that addresses pilot certification. At that point in time 904 responses from all facets of aviation that had been received. Balloon Life’s update on the NPRM begins on page 30.
Room 915 is windowless office, long and narrow. Adjacent to it is another windowless room, smaller and occupied by a very large and noisy copier. It is in this adjunct room where one sits at a desk to review public comments. The walls are a pale yellow.
Each letter received is time-date stamped, numbered, and placed in an expanding file. On this date the file comprised five expandable folders rising some 15-18 inches in height from the desk top.
I don’t think that the FAA gets many visitors that come to read the public comments. None the less, the staff is friendly and what the American people have to say is available for all to read.
Your comments are important on this issue. Whether you favor or are opposed to any of the issues raised in the NPRM I encourage you to write in (in triplicate) and voice your opinion. For those that wish to e-mail, you may. The government will print out a copy for the public docket.
