Ramp Check '98
The Federal Aviation Administration has recently announced a new enforcement program that will allow Flight Standard District Office Inspectors to "ticket" airmen for violations. The program allows an Inspector to issue the citation on the spot. Like a vehicular traffic ticket, the airmen will be asked to sign the document. Although it is unclear what actions might be taken if the request to sign the paper is declined.
This ticket will then be placed in the airmen's file, without a right of appeal, for a period of two years.
The Balloon Federation of America, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Experimental Aircraft Association, and other aviation groups have strongly objected to Jane Garvey, FAA Administrator, about this new enforcement program.
Aviation groups have expressed their concern to the Administrator that the "Streamlined Administrative Enforcement Process" ticket, regardless of how minor the infraction, could affect a pilot's employment, insurance, and future enforcement actions.
Complete details are available in Advisory Circular 98.1 which can be obtained from local FSDOs.
German Accident Follow-up
German authorities have released their report on the fatal gas balloon accident that occurred last October (Balloon Life, November, 1997). Four people died when their hydrogen balloon exploded near a radio tower.
The final report concluded that the balloon came within 80 to 100 meters laterally and 50 to 100 meters above the ground of a very powerful active short-wave transmitter station. This caused the "Netzkranz," or net ring (ropes containing silver) to melt. The net holding the gas envelope ripped off, the envelope slipped off the net, the basket fell to the ground, and the hot melting metal within the ropes served as a source of ignition for the hydrogen.
It was noted in the report that the strong transmitter station was not listed in the civil aviation board's "Stay-away" list. The listing not withstanding, large towers provide several hazards to ballooning, gas or hot air. In 1990 four people were killed in Ohio when the hot air balloon they were riding in was torn as they tried to clear the top of a tower.
Fossett to Head South
Steve Fossett has announced his plans to try once more to circumnavigate the world by balloon. This time in Southern Hemisphere. Fossett is preparing for an August flight attempt from Argentina. Fossett has made three attempts in the Northern Hemisphere with spotty results.
The main advantages to a Southern route is less political hassles that have plagued his last two flights. The Chicago adventurer will take off from Argentina rather than downtown St. Louis, where he has launched previous attempts. His mission control center will stay at Washington University in St. Louis though, a spokeswoman at the university said.
Fossett plans to take off in August and fly northeast over Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil before crossing over the Atlantic Ocean to the tip of South Africa. Then he plans to fly east, crossing over Australia before the final leg over the Pacific Ocean across Chile and back into Argentina.
The route is expected to last about 18 days.
"He will be flying over water 80 percent of the way, which results in more stable wind patterns," said Fossett's chief engineer, Tim Cole. "Plus, there will be fewer political and military problems because he'll fly over only five countries." Fossett is an experience solo ocean sailor should he have to ditch into the ocean.
For an announcement by another RTW team see Team RE/MAX .
FAI Records
Fédération Aéronautique Internationale has ratified the following world records for lighter-than-air:
AM-8 through 15 (gas/hot air balloons) an altitude record of 10,589 meters by Per Lindstrand, United Kingdom. Per established his Roziere record during a test flight over the Nevada desert November, 25, 1996. This record replaces the previous announcement that listed a higher altitude and the AM-7 size announced last August;
AX-5 (hot air balloon) distance record of 434.7 kilometers by Michael Emich, USA, flying a homebuilt balloon. Mike set his record January 10, 1998 with a flight from Washington, Illinois to St. Marys, Ohio;
AX-4 (hot air balloon) feminine distance record set by Susan Harwell, USA, (see Balloon Life, A Black Tie Affair, April, 1998). She flew her BRET Balloon Repair 31A experimental balloon 74.74 kilometers from Oil City, Louisiana to Williams, Louisiana January 24, 1998.
Balloon Tour America
Balloon Tour America and Skysigns Unlimited have moved their operations to new offices. New telephone number is 904-247-1241, new fax 904-241-1780. The mailing address remains the same, P.O. Box 515191, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32240-1591.
Skysigns Unlimited is a full service balloon company that represents Aerostar International, balloon sales, pilot training, and flies for various corporations. Skysigns also operates Balloon Tour America, a professional balloon racing organization.
UltraMagic
UltraMagic over the America's has announced that they now offer 27 - U.S. Type Certified models from 42,000 to 355,000 cubic feet. A full range of sport, adventure, commercial and passenger ride systems are designed to meet individual needs. For competition the company offers a type designed MV-65 competition race balloon. Artwork quality is a hallmark of the UltraMagic team building each balloon. Special Shapes are also offered with pilots and crew in mind, designed for safety in flight and easier handling on the ground.
DiGiorno Flying Pizza has been a very successful Shape for the Kraft Pizza Co. For more information visit UltraMagic on the Internet at http://www.ultramagic.com/ or call 760/438-9550, fax: 760/634-1474.
Aerostar International
Aerostar has announced the sponsorship of the first ever Aerostar Cup to be held in Selzen, Germany August 1-2. Selzen is located approximately 25 miles southwest of Frankfurt. $5,000 in prizes will be up for grabs over the two day event.
The Aerostar Cup is the culmination of a week long balloon camp put on by Aerostar's German distributors Renate and Alfred Mathes. Pilots from all over Europe and the United States are invited to attend this event. Fun flights are scheduled from July 25-July 31, 1998.
The local balloon club will also be holding a youth camp throughout the week prior to the Aerostar Cup to teach young people about the sport of ballooning.
If pilots are interested in attending this event, please contact either Renate Mathes at 011 49 6138-6922 or Fax 011 49 6138-7426 or Allen Schlenker at Aerostar, phone: 605-331-3500 or fax 605-331-3520 for a pilot application. Applications are due no later than July 1, 1998.