ATTEMPT
RULES
Records for ballooning are of three
major types: Altitude (above mean sea level); Distance
(nonstop); and Duration (from takeoff to landing, regardless
of distance and direction). The Sub-Classes for
lighter-than-air records include the following:
AA -
non-pressurized gas balloons
AM - gas / hot-air
balloons (Roziere)
AN - ammonia gas
AS - pressurized gas balloons
AX
- hot-air balloons
BA - gas airships (without
rigid framework)
BR - gas airships (with rigid
framework)
BX - hot-air airships
OUTSIDE HELP
It is prohibited, after the take-off
and before the landing, to take on board fuel, lifting gas, or
any other physical supply provided by helpers external to the
aircraft.
AIR LAW AND REGULATIONS
Violations in laws or regulations may disqualify the
offender in all FAI events. A conviction for an infringement
of aviation law during a record attempt will invalidate the
record, if the infringement made a substantial contribution to
the achievement.
ACCURACY
A performance shall, if possible, be determined with the
following overall margins of error. Altitude : +/-
1%
Distance : +/- 1% or 500 m whichever is less
Time : +/- 0.1%
Speed : +/- 1%
DISTANCE RECORDS
Normally the distance certified shall be the great circle
distance between the take-off point and the landing point
during a single flight, regardless of the real distance
covered by the aerostat. If a pilot claims a record using
multiple legs, the following rules apply :
The distance certified shall be the sum of great circle
distances between consecutive position check points along the
flight path. The take-off and landing points are check
points.
The distance between any two consecutive position check
points must be not less than 3185.5 km (half earth radius),
and the average such distance must be not less than 6371 km
(earth radius).
The Federation Aeronautique International oversees
the sport through its International Ballooning Commission
(C.I.A.). Ballooning competitions are supervised in the U.S.
by NAA through its affiliate, the Balloon Federation of
America (BFA), P.O. Box 400, Indianola, IA. 50125, (515)
961-8809.
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