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NEWS |
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IT’S ON AGAIN - The Lake 2012 -
29th June-8th July - Lake Cullulleraine, VIC Philosophy
of the Lake |
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Dateline 15.01.2012 NEW WEATHER FORECAST SERVICE FROM THE BurEAU OF MEteOROLOGYThe Bureau of Meteorology is providing several new and useful weather predictions services including computer prediction modelling of winds, not only at 10m AGL (Surface) as previously available but also the Gradient Wind, 850hPa (5000ft/1500m) AMSL, 700hPa (approx.. 10,000ft/3000m). These are shown up to 200hPa 2 days in advance at 3 hour intervals. The page linked below shows the predicted surface wind for 5am this morning, Sunday 15 Jan 2012.
You can check the winds and other predicted weather in your intended flying location using your known latitude and longitude. My thanks to Graham Kerr of Balloon Joy Flights Canowindra for advising me of this new and valuable balloon flight planning tool, which he now uses regularly for balloon commercial flight planning along with other weather briefing data. He has so far found this new service to be a reasonably accurate prediction of local conditions. This is available via your regional forecast page under the heading Graphical Forecasts / Weather and Wave Maps. Also available on the BOM website in the same section is “Forecast Explorer” which provides 3 hourly surface (10m) wind and weather forecasts for one day only but with greater local detail, including town names. This is accessed by clicking on the state map. A sample page is linked and shown below:- http://www.bom.gov.au/forecasts/graphical/public/nsw/orange.php
Below are the links as shown on the NSW weather page http://www.bom.gov.au/nsw/?hdr Graphical Forecasts
3-hourly forecasts via
interactive map |
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Dateline
13.01.2012 Vale ALAN BLOUNT
Alan Blount From CIA President JC Weber Dear Ballooning Friends, |
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(Alan attended the 2004 World Championship
in Mildura, joining our overland tour from Sydney via Canberra to Mildura.
Editor) |
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Dateline 21.12.11 Great news from Canowindra Challenge Inc.!
Latest News CANOWINDRAInvitations are out
Invitations have been
extended to officials for the 2012 event.
Don Whitford has also accepted and we are getting positive
responses from other invitees. |
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ObserversWe are keen to
gain the services of the great observers from the 2011 Championship event and
ask if you could not only confirm that you will join in again in 2012 but
will also "Invite a friend". We are sure you can talk about the fun
and excitement of being involved.
Make it even better with a few friends along as well. Email us on
Canowindra Challenge 2012 web@canowindrachallenge.org.au this
e-mail address is being protected from spambots.
You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to let us know if you can join us in
2012 and if you can 'Bring A Friend" It is planned
to have a meeting mid-January for locals to discuss training and other
related news. New WebsiteThe new site has been built on a different platform and while all
the members from the 2011 event site have been transferred to the new site we
request you log in and check your details and amend where appropriate. Please
advise if you can't log in or have any other issues. The site is
still under construction and will have information added on a regular basis,
keep an eye on it. Keep Up To Date by EmailWe have incorporated a FeedBurner email subscription into the web site so you
can subscribe and get the latest information direct to your inbox. On the front page of the site look for
Email Subscription, enter your email address and confirm your subscription. Canowindra Additional Events
For
balloonists we are making a major effort to gain a major sponsor for a Key-Grab. Regardless we will hold a key-grab but the size of
the prize will depend
on sponsorship. For
Visitors and Locals we are planning a major market event to follow the
Key-Grab task. All businesses and residents will be invited to participate in
the markets. More news to follow shortly. Sponsors.
MAJOR NEW SPONSOR
CCI will allocate free of
charges this propane equally across all competitors pro-rata based on the
competition flights undertaken. Final allocations will be
advised when all balloon registrations are received. |
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We are pleased to advise that a number of 2011 sponsors
are back on board.
Plus we are assured of the ongoing support of Cowra
Tourism and the Age Of Fishes Museum and Visitor Information Centre. |
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Dateline: 21.12.11 LES SPRINGETT WINS 2011 GREAT AUSTRALIAN LONG JUMPTwo time previous winner Les Springett in “Volare”
his Kavanagh C77 (AX7) has again triumphed in the 2011 Long Jump with a
flight of 133km from Cudal NSW (30km north of Canowindra) to Currawong 10km
north of Harden NSW. This is Les’ second longest flight and required
flying for 4.5 hours at altitudes of 2,000 – 4,000ft at speeds up to
37kph to a gentle low speed landing.
He was hoping to go 200 kms on faster winds. Initially calm conditions and a fog in the vicinity of
Canowindra made the prospect of flying any distance at all unlikely but a
pibal balloon launched from high ground at nearby Cargo convinced the pilot,
if not the crew, that a decent distance might be achievable, though the due
south direction was not good from Cargo. Relocation to launch from Cudal, to
the North West proved fruitful with an initial direction to the south-west
towards Mt Nangar (picture below) at 20-30kph followed by a southerly flight
direction to a safe landing near Harden.
The retrieve crew of Wendy Friezer and Michal Gavernik did
an excellent job, arriving in the landing area before the balloon after four and
half hours of cross-country driving skirting 3 mountain ranges, rivers and
forests. The success of the flight showed both the value of
preparation and local knowledge. The launch point was at the absolute top
edge of the Canowindra Competition map, which allowed nearly half the flight
to be conducted over known territory from a pre-selected launch area, while
the team was equipped with all required maps including broad-area maps, GPS,
radio and computers to assist in-flight planning and retrieve. Even though
the decision to go was spur of the moment, the
preparation and pre-planning made the flight safe and successful. Les had flown each of the segments of the flight in either
the same or in the opposite direction and was confident of the retrieve crew,
the balloon and his equipment. Les has donated $200 of the $450 jackpot prize to a
perpetual Long Jump Trophy. Planning of an improved handicap system to allow
a single category for all sizes of balloons, rather than a simple two-class
division between AX1-7 and AX8-12 balloons is under discussion. |
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Dateline: 2.11.11 From the
Operations Manager
Civil Aviation Order 95.54 (Manned balloons and hot air airships - private operations) 2011Compliance to the new CAO is Mandatory This
instrument commences on the day after it was registered. 6th August
2011. The new CAO may be accessed
through the Operations page of the ABF website or directly from the CASA
website. ABF
members are strongly encouraged to forward any concerns about the content of
CAO 95.54 2011 by email to the Operations Manager Ian Robinson via email - bflights@bigpond.net.au -
prior to the 3rd of November to enable responses to be
collated prior to the next Sport & Recreational Aviation Standards Sub-committee
Meeting on 10 November 2011. Please
remember that a non-response to this indicates to the ABF that members are
content to operate under Civil Aviation Order 95.54
(Manned balloons and hot air airships
- private operations) 2011 as written. Safety
first followed by fun, Ian
Robinson Operations
Manager, Australian
Ballooning Federation Dateline 29.10.11
CASA STATEMENT ON THE FUTURE OF SPORT
AVIATION
It is important that all ABF members recognise the change taking place in ballooning and sport aviation generally as we move towards self-administration. ABF Committee members and officers spend a significant amount of time and dedication working towards this important milestone and all members should be fully aware of the significances of this work. Click on the button below for an audio presentation by Dr Jonathan Aleck of CASA concerning CASA’s current proposals for Part 149 (self-administration of sport aviation organisations) on an “Approved Organisation” Model. The presentation is 44Mb and approximately 35 minutes in duration including question time.
Paul Gibbs – Acting
ABF President.
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Copyright
ABF 2012
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