2007 Saga International Balloon Fiesta

Period: October, 31th - November, 4th, 2007

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'2007 Saga International Balloon Fiesta' Event Summary

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1. Event Name
2007 Saga International Balloon Fiesta
'23rd Pacific Cup'
'24th Japan National Championship'
'2007 Hot air Balloon Honda Grand Prix –4th round-'
'2007 SAGA Balloon Masters Cup'
'2007 Balloon Fantasia'
2. Organizer
Saga International Balloon Fiesta Organization (S.I.B.F.O.)
3. Sponsors
The major sponsors for this event will be the Honda Motor Company Limited, Saga Prefecture and Saga City, with other many national and local companies.
4. Event dates
Tuesday, 30th October 2007 to Monday, 5th November 2007
※Competition flights will be from the morning of October 31st to morning of November 4th, 2007.
Schedule (tentative)
Tuesday, 30th October
Official practice flight
Check-in for pilots and observers 9:30 - 12:00
General Briefing and Observer Briefing 15:00 - 17:00
Wednesday, 31st October
First competition task briefing 06:30 -
Sunday, 4th November
Final competition task briefing 06:30 -
Key Grab Race task briefing 14:30 -
Monday, 5th November
Awards Banquet 12:00 - 14:00
5. Location of event
The main launch area is located on the western side of Saga City, Japan on the Kase River bank. A nice flat and green launch site prolonged north to south is available.
Competition flights will be scheduled about 30 km to both north/south and east/west around Saga City.
6. Suitability of location for the event
The Saga area has big flat fields. Rice is the main crop in Japan, and rice will be harvested in October. After the harvest, the dried-up rice fields are used for takeoff and landing.
The north and west of the flight area is surrounded by mountains, not very high but no good for landing due to the thick bushes. East of the area is rather congested with cities and power lines. The Sea of Ariake is on the south. It is a beautiful inland sea. During flight, this is always in sight.
7. Local weather conditions for period of event
Temperatures in Saga during early November are 15 - 25 ℃ for a high and 5 - 15 ℃ for a low.
Generally the climate is mild and the wind is quite calm and variable. During past balloon meetings in Saga, it has been generally calm with winds shifting quite interestingly, and pilots keep flying in the same area for two to three hours. Perhaps because of this complicated island country of Japan, and because of the few small scale inland characteristics, the weather in Saga is quite difficult to read but calm and interesting.
8. Airspace restrictions
There are two international and one domestic airports close to Saga and two airways over the Saga area. We will use 4,000 ft maximum. The Metabaru Base of Japan Grand Self Defense Force is located eastward, and the Saga Airport is located southward of the competition area. We will consult with them during the event.
9. Insurance requirements
A competitor is responsible to cover a minimum of 200 million yen for third parties.
If a competitor wishes to fly with an observer during competition, he shall have insurance for his observer under conditions the organizer decides. A competitor may purchase temporary insurance for the event from the organizer at a reasonable cost after arrival. If a competitor fly without an observer at all times, he doesn’t need to purchase it.
Insurance for observer and pilot on board
Bodily Injury Limit 15 million yen for each person
In Hospital per day 10,000 yen for each person
Out-patient 5,000 yen for each person
※Organizer requires that a pilot who wishes to fly with an observer during the competition, shall have insurance for the observer and pilot.
10. Proposed entry fee and what it includes
Competitors - 30,000 Japanese yen
Fiesta Flyers - 30,000 Japanese yen
※Fuel for balloons during the event will be provided. Other necessary information for flights, including maps, will be provided, too.
11. Number of pilots invited
a) 80 competitors for the 23rd Pacific Cup include maximum 25 overseas pilots
b) 15 Fiesta Flyers
※We will invite total 25 overseas pilots for the Pacific Cup and Fiesta.
12. Prizes for the All Competitors Category (Pacific Cup Category)
Organizer will present the Pacific Cup to the winner in the overall final standings. The top ten pilots will receive cash prizes.
Cash prize will be: 1st place for the Pacific Cup receives 1,500,000- yen, 2nd place is 800,000- yen, 3rd place is 500,000- yen, 4th place is 300,000- yen, 5th place is 200,000- yen, each pilots between 6th place and 10th place are 100,000- yen.
13. SAGA Balloon Masters Cup
SAGA Balloon Masters Cup will be held during the event. Fiesta flyers aged more than 50 years old can enter the Balloon Masters Cup. The task for the Balloon Masters Cup will be held every morning flight.
The top three pilots will receive cash prizes.
Cash prize will be: 1st place for the Masters Cup receives 100,000- yen, 2nd place is 50,000- yen, 3rd place is 30,000- yen,
Organizer will present the special products in Saga Area to the winner of task in fiesta flight in every morning.
14. Headquarters facilities available
We will use the MATE PLAZA building as the Competition Operations Center. This facility will have the Debriefing Room, the Scoring Room, the Chief Observer Room, the Jury Meeting Room and the Competition Head Office. General Briefing and Observer Briefing will be held at the hall of the Competition Operation Center.
15. Headquarters facilities available
Competition Officials
Executive competition officials, including Event director, jury members, Steward(s) and Safety Official(s), will be invited from many parts of the world.
Observers
We will invite approximately 25 international observers and 55 Japanese observers including support from Japan Grand Service Defense Force. The total number of observers will be 85. But this figure depends on the number of competitors entered. Those Observers will be offered hotel accommodations during the event, meal tickets and travel allowance. They will be invited to the Awards Banquet and some other parties.
16. Traveling allowance for Competitors
Normal Balloons
(a) 200,000 Japanese yen for pilots from America and Europe.
(b) 150,000 Japanese yen for pilots from Oceania.
(c) 100,000 Japanese yen for competitors based outside of Japan, but within Asia.
(d) gasoline tickets for only Japanese pilots.
Shaped Balloons for Fiesta category
(a) 400,000 Japanese yen for pilots from America and Europe.
(b) 300,000 Japanese yen for pilots from Oceania.
(c) 200,000 Japanese yen for competitors based outside of Japan, but within Asia.
17. Grants for balloon shipping
If an overseas competitor brings his balloon set or envelope from his country, competitor will receive a sum of grants from organizer.
Amount of grants is following;
Normal Balloons
Shipping for balloon set include envelope, burner, basket
200,000 JP yen from America and Europe
150,000 JP yen from Oceania
100,000 JP yen from Asia
Organizer will provide a fan and 4 tanks with free charge.
Shipping for envelope only without burner and basket
150,000 JP yen from America and Europe
100,000 JP yen from Oceania
50,000 JP yen from Asia
Organizer will provide a fan and 4 tanks with free charge.
Shaped Balloons for Fiesta category
Shipping for balloon set include envelope, burner, basket
400,000 JP yen from America and Europe
300,000 JP yen from Oceania
200,000 JP yen from Asia
Organizer will provide a fan and 4 tanks with free charge.
Shipping for envelope only without burner and basket
300,000 JP yen from America and Europe
200,000 JP yen from Oceania
100,000 JP yen from Asia
Organizer will provide a fan and 4 tanks with free charge.
18. Details of planned Social events
A Parade will be planned on the main street of Saga City on the first day of the event. All teams, observers and officials are invited to participate. After the parade, a small official party will be held.
The Mayor's Reception will be scheduled on the second day of the event. Pilots, chief crews, all foreign people, observers and officials are invited free of charge.
The Awards Banquet will be held from 12:00 (noon) until 14:00 hours on 5th November 2007. All Pilots, Observers and Officials are invited free of charge.
19. Officials
Event Director
Tetsuya Mizoguchi
Assistant Director
(nominated later)
President of International Jury
(nominated later)
International Jury
(nominated later)
International Jury
(nominated later)
Safety Officer
Maco Oiwa
Steward
Sabu Ichiyoshi
Chief Observer
Hiromi Furukawa
Office and useful contacts for inquiry
Saga International Balloon Fiesta Organization
3-7-2 Nabeshima, Saga City, 849-0937 JAPAN
phone +81-952-33-3955 fax +81-952-33-3977
Website: http://www.sibf.info/
Inquiry from Official Website Use Contact Us
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