NEWS
IT’S ON AGAIN - The Lake 2012 - 29^th June-8^th July - Lake Cullulleraine, VIC Philosophy of the Lake The Lake is an event for balloonists both new and old to share their knowledge and promote and undertake balloon training.  ‘The Lake’ is what you make it and we encourage your participation on whatever level you can add to make ‘The Lake’ a better learning environment.  If there is something you want on the program, or if there is something that you would be willing to present please let us know. We attempt to keep costs to a minimum, there are no sponsors or VIP’s or anyone pocketing any profits (because there are none) so we simply concentrate on ballooning.  The flying area around ‘The Lake’ is a great environment to ‘build’ skills.  The Lake 2012 This will be the seventh time ‘The Lake’ has been staged by the MIBF and the ABF.  Its success is that its fun, we get results and people keep coming back.  We are very grateful for the continued support of the Examiners as without their support there would be no exams and no check out flights.  In 2008 four new pilots checked out, and in 2006 ten pilots with at least another two checking out soon after.   Once registration forms have been received by the MIBF by 1st June 2012, invoices will be sent out and must be paid by 18 June 2012 i.e. prior to you arriving at ‘The Lake’.  Balloon documentation is also required prior to your arrival by 18 June 2012, please send it by e-mail  kfrankel@sunitafe.edu.au Full details may be downloaded by clicking HERE
Dateline 15.01.2012 NEW WEATHER FORECAST SERVICE FROM THE BurEAU OF MEteOROLOGY The 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. http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/viewer/index.shtml?type=windbarb&level=10m&tz=AEDT&area=NSW&model=A 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 Forecast Explorer™ 3-hourly forecasts via interactive map Land view Marine view Weather and wave maps Short-term forecast map Forecast maps for next 4 days
Dateline 13.01.2012 Vale ALAN BLOUNT Alan Blount From CIA President JC Weber Dear Ballooning Friends, I have the sad duty to report that the ballooning world has lost a good friend, Alan Blount.  Alan was a gentleman and an ambassador for the sport of ballooning. Alan passed away on January 10, 2012. Alan was a long time competitor in hot air ballooning. As his son Trevor said, he was always strong in spirit and competitive in nature.  He was the 1993 World Hot Air Balloon Champion.  Ballooning was always a family sport for the Blounts.  His wife, Char, and their children, Trevor and Sarah, were a team.   Alan was active in all aspects of ballooning.  He served on CIA sub-committees, on committees for the Balloon Federation of America, as well as a term as President of the BFA.  Our heartfelt condolences go to his family and friends. A memorial service will be held at a future date.  JC Weber, president FAI Ballooning Commission
	(Alan attended the 2004 World Championship in Mildura, joining our overland tour from Sydney via Canberra to Mildura. Editor)
Dateline 21.12.11 Great news from Canowindra Challenge Inc.! Latest News CANOWINDRA Invitations are out Invitations have been extended to officials for the 2012 event. Due to personal and work issues Les Purfield has had to withdraw, however we are very pleased to announce David Levin has accepted the role. David will also direct the World Championships in the USA later in 2012 so this is a chance compete under a different director and get world class experience. Click here to read more about David and his achievements. Don Whitford has also accepted and we are getting positive responses from other invitees.
Observers We 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 Website The 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. Check it out here Keep Up To Date by Email We 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 ORIGIN'S LPG division has joined us as event naming sponsor and will supply a substantial volume of the  propane for the 2012 event. 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.
We are pleased to advise that a number of 2011 sponsors are back on board. Balloon Joy Flights Cabonne Shire Council Canowindra Pharmacy Canowindra Trading Post The Old Vic Inn NSW Trade and Investment Essential Energy Inland Technology Plus we are assured of the ongoing support of Cowra Tourism and the Age Of Fishes Museum and Visitor Information Centre.
Dateline: 21.12.11 LES SPRINGETT WINS 2011 GREAT AUSTRALIAN LONG JUMP Two 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.
Dateline: 2.11.11 From the Operations Manager Civil Aviation Order 95.54 (Manned balloons and hot air airships - private operations) 2011 Compliance to the new CAO is Mandatory This instrument commences on the day after it was registered.  6^th 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 3^rd 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. Audio Web Presentation by Jonathan Aleck on the future of Sport Aviation Paul Gibbs – Acting ABF President.
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