Preflight

Odyssey Changes Plans
Bob Martin, head of the Odyssey around-the-world flight, announced that Odyssey has officially postponed their planned July, 1996 launch. Martin told Balloon Life that the decision was reached, "primarily due to slow progress in raising the remaining funds we need for the $140,000 balloon itself and to cover actual launch expenses (helium, etc.)."

Martin went on to say, "Gondola construction and testing continue at a good pace in Albuquerque and there are several major corporations considering sponsorship of our remaining costs. However, even if one were to decide immediately to help us, we could now not build the balloon and assemble launch logistics fast enough for a summer launch.

"In addition, because our life support system required more weight than originally thought, the three person flight crew has been reduced to 2 to accommodate the increase in system weight without reducing the 2,000 pounds in ballast supplies. Troy and myself will remain on board as primary pilots."

Mark Sullivan has subsequently resigned from Odyssey to pursue other interests in several major ballooning competitions, not to mention meeting his major obligations for the 25th Anniversary Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Odyssey expects to officially name an alternate pilot in the near future.

Finally, Odyssey is now planning to move their launch site to the southern hemisphere. Martin explained this decision by saying, "[By moving] we don’t have to wait a whole year before our next launch window. As you recall, for a stratospheric flight we have a narrow 2-3 week window each summer...which includes ‘summer’ in southern hemisphere in late December and January. We now hope to organize an attempt from Australia around this Christmas or New Year’s."

The first petition, filed on November 27, 1995 seeks relief from the minimum safe altitudes requirement contained in FAR §91.119. The petition asks that balloons be allowed to operate below minimum altitudes when the operation is conducted without hazard to persons or property on the ground.

The petition (Docket #28443) seeks to add a new paragraph to the existing regulation as follows:

Balloons may be operated at less than the minimums prescribed in paragraph (b) and (c) of this section if the operation is conducted without hazard to persons or property on the surface.

The petitioner states that the amended language seeks to eliminate the conflict of safety now inherent in the present FAR and enhance the safety of person and property while providing the operator of the balloon reasonable choice of altitude enabling control of the aircraft during normal flight and emergencies.

The petitioner suggests the following questions to assist the FAA in obtaining comment on the petition:

1. Should all balloon be included in the rule change? or only hot air balloons with onboard heaters?
2. Should the change not only eliminate paragraph (b) and (c) for balloon operations, but also eliminate paragraph (a)?
3. Due to the safety impact, should this rule be expedited without bureaucratic delay?

The petition (Docket #28437) seeks to add a new paragraph to the existing FAR §91.209 as follows:

(e) Balloons may operate after takeoff and prior to landing without lights required by this part when the Pilot-in-Command determines it necessary to maintain safe clearance from objects on the ground. Balloons while operating in tethered flight at altitudes below 250 feet AGL, may operate without lights required by this part.

The petitioner offers the following list of questions to assist the FAA in obtaining comment on this petition:

1. Should a balloon, while tethered, be required to provide ample lighting, such as floodlights, or operate in a well lighted area?
2. Should balloon operations without lights required, be allowed from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes prior to sunrise, as in Europe and most of the world?
3. Are hot air balloons with on board burners sufficiently self illuminating so as not to need lighting as presently required by FAR §91.209?
4. Due to safety impact, should this petition be expedited without bureaucratic delay?

FAI News
The FAI Ballooning Commission (CIA), held its subcommittee and Plenary sessions in early March in Vienna, Austria. Jacques Soukup of the Virgin Islands was reelected president.

The FAI/CIA Montgolfier Diplomas were voted on and awarded:

For best performance in 1995 in a hot air balloon - Mr. William Bussey (USA) for breaking his own AX-6 distance record by flying 1434.24 km (891.19 miles) over 11 hours and 19 minutes (Balloon Life, March 1995).

For best performance in 1995 in a gas balloon - Mr. Alan Fraenckel (ISV) and Mr. John Stuart-Jervis (ISV) for their last flight in the Coupe Gordon Bennett. They flew for 62.32 hours and covered a distance of 1267.2 km before being shot down by the Belarus military (Balloon Life, October 1995).

For best performance in 1995 in a Roziere balloon - Mr. Steve Fossett (USA) for flying from Seoul, Korea to Leader, Saskatchewan, Canada, a flight of 8748.11 km (5435.82 miles) for category AM-10 through AM-15. This flight also set an Absolute World Record, for which Mr. Fossett will receive the FAI De La Vaulx medal (Balloon Life, April 1995).

For contributions to the development of ballooning - Mr. Alan Fraenckel (ISV) and Mr. Victor Fraenckel (USA) for the creation of the WindReader portable theodolite, one of the greatest advances in ballooning safety since the modern hot air burner.

Santos-Dumont Gold Airship Medal Mr. Vladimir Ustinovitch (RUS) a licensed airship pilot since 1932, Mr. Ustinovitch was Assistant Commander to Umberto Nobile during the latter’s Russian B-6 airship works from 1932-1936. From 1934-1938, he was in charge of rescuing people in the Arctic with his airship, and in 1937 participated in a non-stop airship flight of 130 hours and 27 minutes in the B-6. He has logged over 3200 airship hours, 1900 of them as Commander.

The FAI/CIA safety subcommittee, under Jean Sax (BEL), has produced a CIA Information document entitled Safe Handling of Propane which will be available both in print and on the FAI’s Internet web site. The committee is also working on the final draft of a handbook for Safety Officers which they plan to have ready next year.

The records review subcommittee is assembling information on the History of Notable Balloon and Airship Flights. This listing will record significant achievements that do not qualify as official FAI World Records. The committee is also studying the possibility of creating a new Open Class of ballooning record where an ascent to altitude is made in a balloon but with the pilot descending by parachute.

The FAI/CIA reports that preparations for the World Air Games in Cappadocia, Turkey, are progressing. This year a test event, the Cappadocia Cup, a Premier Sporting Event for 35 competitors will be held in September.

The full minutes of the FAI/CIA meeting will be available from each country’s CIA delegate. In the U.S. that is Sid Cutter, 4800 Eubank NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111.

Olympic Games Flight Final Rule
The Federal Aviation Administration has published the final rules covering aircraft flights in and around the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, Atlanta, Georgia. The regulation of airspace is necessary for the security of the venues, safe operation, and management of aircraft operating to, within, and from these areas, and to prevent any unsafe congestion of sightseeing and other aircraft over the various game sites.

The rule became effective March 13. For more information and/or to obtain a copy contact, Janet Apple, Air Traffic Rules Branch, ATP-230, Airspace Rules and Aeronautical Information Division, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20591, telephone (202) 267-8783.

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