HACD/GTBR Ink 2023 US National Championship Contract

Air Sports News - US Teams

Maury Sullivan talks with Regan Tetlow of AirSports News about US TEAMS. Check it out the video at 

MAURY SULLIVAN - AIR SPORTS INTERVIEW

HACD Rules & Regulations

The 2024 Rules, 2024 Regulations, Policies and Procedures are now available for downloading. You can find the download at the links below.

 Previous rules

• 2022 Rules
• 2015 Rules
• 2014 Rules and Regulations
• 2013 Rules and Regulations
• 2012 Rules and Regulations
• 2009 Rules and Regulations

Balloon LIVE sensors

Balloon LIVE sensors are now available for pre-order. 

Pilots will be required to provide their own Balloon Live Sensor at the 2021 US Team Nationals and the 2021 US National Championship as well as future World Championships and International Events. This technology is intended to be used for the next 10+ years.

About the Balloon Live Project: Click Here for Information

Step 1: Complete the Balloon Live Sensor Order Form by 11/20/2020

Click HERE to complete form

(prices indicated are in EUR; US pricing will vary) 

Note: US orders will be considered "private orders" and paid via "bank transfer" by the BFA.

Step 2: Complete payment with the BFA November 20 - December 10, 2020

Completed registration forms for the USA will be transferred to Paul Petrehn on behalf of the Balloon Federation of America (BFA) and the Hot Air Competition Division (HACD). 

The final unit pricing for the US + shipping will be determined by the total number of completed registration forms received by November 20 and is now estimated not to exceed $375 USD. Once your registration form is submitted and transferred, you will be contacted to verify final costs, shipping details and payment procedures. Payment in full will be required to the BFA not prior to November 20 and no later than December 10, 2020.

Don't miss this special sale opportunity!

Paul Petrehn

paulpetrehn@gmail.com

2020 HACD Special Election

HACD Members,

The HACD board would like to encourage you to vote as a part of a special election dealing with bylaw changes for the HACD. The possible bylaw changes deal with two issues. The HACD Board supports and recommends these changes.

The goal of the first issue is to align the HACD with the BFA bylaws. This first issue would align HACD membership voter eligibility with that of the BFA bylaws.

The second issue gives the Officials Category members the right to vote for pilot at-large board members. The goal is to allow official members of the division to be a larger part of the organization.

The vote will take place throughout the week starting Sunday, May 10th at 6am CDT to Sunday, May 17th at 10pm CDT. To vote in this special election you must have renewed your BFA and HACD memberships renewed by May 1. To vote in the upcoming general election memberships must be renewed by July 6.

Click HERE to view the bylaw changes

2020 Simplified Rules Posted

The BFA's Hot Air Competition Division (HACD) has released the 2020 version of the Simplified Rules.

These competition rules are used by events desiring to submit scores to be included in the HACD National Eligibility List System. This set of rules can be incorporated into many weekend rally events.

See the complete set of rules at

Simplified Rules

Spirit of Annie Award

“The Spirit of Annie Award”

The “Spirit of Annie” award, established by the Northeast Ohio Balloon Pilots Association in memory of a very special observer, Annie Pryne, will be awarded whenever an observer, organizer, official or event volunteer most typifies the dedication, hard work and love of ballooning and ballooning people that set Annie apart.

BFA Junior Nationals - Young Guns 2020

LONGVIEW, TEXAS – A first-time event attached to one of the premiere balloon competitions is growing to more than twice its size this year and is looking for young and new-to-the-sport balloon pilots to enter the field.

The Young Guns competition debuted at the 2019 Great Texas Balloon Race in Longview, Texas, with six up-and-coming pilots who competed alongside their more-seasoned colleagues. At this coming year’s event, June 19 to 21, 2020, up to 15 Young Gun pilots will take to the skies for a chance to win substantially more prize money but with considerations made for their experience level.

New for 2020, the Young Guns competition will also serve as the Balloon Federation of America's Junior Nationals competition. This national-level event will be part of the qualification process for the top finishers to compete at future FAI Junior World Hot Air Balloon events.

To qualify for the Young Guns competition, pilots must be licensed and be 29 years of age or younger on the first day of scheduled flights.

With a total purse available of $12,100 for Young Gun pilots – not including a possible extra $5,000 for our “Ducks on a Pond” contest – these younger competitors stand the chance of taking home significantly more in winnings this year.

The pilot in first place at the end of the competition will win $2,500, a black cowboy hat, and a six-shooter. Each of the competitors will win something in the competition with winnings as follows:

·         Second place: $2,000

·         Third place: $1,000

·         Fourth place: $800

·         Fifth place: $700

·         Sixth place: $600

·         Seventh though 15^th place: $500 a piece

Young Gun pilots will also be recognized on the Great Texas Balloon Race website (gtbr.net) and at a kickoff event Thursday, June 18, 2020, receive a hotel room during the event, breakfast and dinner each day, pilot shirts, propane for the competition, pilot gift bag and crew if requested.

The goal of the Young Guns competition is to introduce newer and younger pilots to competitive ballooning, and we do it at an event world-renowned for hosting a top-of-its-class competition in what will be its 43^rd year. After only its first year, Young Guns has already created a buzz in the balloon community.

To help accommodate for experience level of the Young Gun pilots, they are allowed time after the pilot briefing each morning to ask questions of race officials after other pilots have left the meeting.

Young Gun pilots will run the same tasks as the other pilots at the Great Texas Balloon Race; however, if a Young Gun pilot misses a target, they will still be scored based on their logger. Young Gun pilots will also take part in the balloon glow at the Great Texas Balloon Race lighting up the night sky for awe-struck onlookers in East Texas, where the balloon glow originated.

Cameron Wall was among the six pilots in the inaugural event at the 2019 Great Texas Balloon.

“Looking back on the event, it is so promising to see a whole event and all of their pilots get behind the next generation of competitors,” Wall said. “The event was a sign of great things to come.”

HACD October Meeting Agenda and Appointments

Agenda for HACD October Teleconference

Follow the US Nationals

The US National Championship has started in Scotts Bluff County, NE.  The event includes two days of practice flights and six days of competition with nine potential flight opportunities.  Forty-five competitors will be vying for the title and a share of $30,000 prize money.

Follow the action

On Facebook: 

https://www.facebook.com/HACD.BFA/

And at WatchMeFly: 

https://watchmefly.net/events/event.php?e=usa2019&v=enb

Women’s Nationals Pilot List

Here is the Women’s Nationals pilot list and banner numbers for 2019.

2019 Simplified Rules Posted

The BFA's Hot Air Competition Division (HACD) has released the 2019 version

These competition rules are used by events desiring to submit scores to be included in the HACD National Eligibility List System. This set of rules can be incorporated into many weekend rally events.

See the complete set of rules at

Simplified Rules

US Nationals Prize Fund Annouced

US Nationals Prize Fund

Scottsbluff, NE

The available prize fund of $30,000 guarantees each pilot a minimum of $375 and is broken down as follows:

$10,000: $200 gift card per pilot

$5,000: individual task money to be paid to 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place finishers of each task.  The total available fund of $5,000 will be paid out but until the number of tasks flown is known, we can’t determine the exact payout for each position. 

The distribution matrix will use the following formula:

(P) = [TPF/TF]

P = Payout per task

TPF = Task Prize Fund

TF = Number of Tasks Flown

The payout for 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd will be split as follows:

1^st          45%

2^nd         33%

3^rd          22%

Total      100%

$15,000: Final Standings US National Competitors

RPS Balloon contributes Women's Nationals Prize

Attention Women’s US National Hot Air Balloon Championship Competitors!

RPS Balloon has generously donated $1,500 to create a prize fund for the Women’s National Championship.  Don’t delay, submit your application to the BFA office ASAP!!!

More information available HERE.

2019 US Women’s National Championship Invitation

2020 US Women’s National Championship Invitation

It is our pleasure to invite you to participate in the 2020 US Women’s National Hot Air Balloon Championship in Brookfield, Missouri. The Balloon Federation of America has licensed Green Hills Ballooning Inc. as the organizer. The competitive event officially starts with on-site pilot registration and the mandatory General Briefing on Thursday, September 3. The last competitive flight is scheduled for Monday morning September 7. This flight will be followed by the closing ceremonies and a brunch later that same morning.

The organizer is providing a complimentary hotel room for pilots with check-in starting Thursday, September 3 and check out Monday, September 7.  Pilots wishing to arrive early may do so at their own expense, and may reserve space once acceptance has been confirmed and hotel information is provided. Once you have been accepted in the Championship you will be sent an acceptance confirmation along with your hotel contact information. Propane will be available on the mornings of September 2-3 for pilots arriving early and wishing to fly practice flights. Pilots will be charged a flat fee of $40 for each fill on these dates. Arrive full; leave full. A tentative schedule of events is enclosed.

The Championship is open to qualifying US BFA/HACD member pilots who are in good standing. The event is an “Open Championship” and does not require qualification through the NEL system. Pilots registering are expected to remain and participate for the entire duration of the event as required by the HACD Code of Conduct explained in Appendix A and E Section VI.

Click HERE to access the full details and application form.

2019 US Nationals Invitation

Pilots are invited to participate in the 2019 US National Hot Air Balloon Championship in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. The Balloon Federation of America has licensed the Old West Balloon Fest as the organizer for the 2019- 2021 championships. A prize fund of $20,000 is guaranteed along with a $200 travel stipend to be paid in cash or gift/gas cards. The competitive event officially starts with on-site pilot registration and the mandatory General Briefing on Sunday, August 11, 2019. The organizer and HACD are offering support for two formal training flights to introduce the use of the FAI logger that will be used in this year’s competition - Saturday and Sunday, August 10-11. The last competitive flight is scheduled for Saturday morning followed by a mandatory evening glow that will be the final flight operation of the Championship. The closing ceremony, awards and brunch is scheduled for Sunday morning August 18,2019 allowing all participants to hit the road early for the return home.

Click HERE to download the full letter and invitation.

2019 US Nationals Invitation Order List

With the finalization of the 2018 National Eligibility List, the HACD Board has prepared the invitation order for the 2019 US National Championship to be held in Scottsbluff, Nebraska August 11-18th.

The invitation order is etablished via Appendix E of the 2018 HACD Rules, Regulations, Policies & Procedures.

Click HERE to view the Invitation Order List

2018 National Eligibility List Award Winners

With the close of the 2018 competition season, the BFA HACD Board would like to congratulate this year's NEL award winners.

Thanks to the continued generousity of a member donation, $4,675 was awarded for the following positions:

2019 Rules & Regulations Available

Happy New Year

Best wishes for a safe and prosperous 2019 from the HACD Board. 

The 2019 Rules, Regulations, Policies and Procedures are now available for downloading. You can find the download at the link below.