Sanctioning is the means by which the FAI maintains control over all major General Aviation Sporting Events world wide. FAI Sanctioned Events include World Air Games, World Championships, Continental Championships, and other 'Special International Events' of a serious sporting nature (such as our Coupe Gordon Bennett Gas Balloon Race).

The general rules and control of these events is set out in the FAI Statutes and the General Section of the Sporting Code; the more specific rules and control being the responsibility of the individual Sports Commissions through their own sections of the Sporting Code (for ballooning, the FAI Ballooning Commission (CIA) and Section 1 respectively). Thus in the past all ballooning World and Continental Championships have been run under a sanction granted by the CIA and approved by the FAI Council, and this will continue for what are known as 'FAI Category One Events'.

Procedures, application documents, sanction fees, contact names and other relevant information can be found on the Events Development Services Web page.

WHY A SANCTION?

For the would-be organisers of FAI Category One Sporting Events there is no option - World and Continental Championships (and certain other special events) cannot be run without a Sanction from the FAI/CIA and the use of the Sanction Application Procedures.

A sanction is NOT necessary for other International ballooning events, and many such events, both large and small, have been and will continue to be run very successfully without any input from the CIA. However there are a number of advantages to the would-be organisers in applying to the CIA for a sanction for their event -

a) The sanction demonstrates to the ballooning world that:

• the event will be run fairly using proper approved rules and regulations;
• the event will be run to approved safety standards and will have a CIA Safety Officer appointed;
• the event will be financially sound and will fulfil its obligations to competitors and officials.

b) The event will be included in the FAI Sporting Calender and publicised to balloonists world wide.

c) The event will receive CIA Medals and Certificates for the winning competitors.

d) The sanction lends considerable status to the event which can be of great assistance to the organisers when negotiating with their local and national governments, and their sponsors

e) By using the services of the CIA Event Planning Advisory Service organisers have access to a vast amount of expertise for the planning and running of their event, which can ensure its success for entrants, officials, sponsors and all other interested parties.

HOT AIR BALLOON MEETINGS - BASIC REQUIREMENTS

The basic requirements for running any Hot Air Balloon Meet (Fiesta or Competition) are as follows. If you can give a positive answer to the following questions in respect of your proposed meeting there should be no problem in setting up a successful event and applying for CIA approval in the form of a Sanction.

LOCATION OF FLYING AREA

• Is the countryside in the proposed location suitable for balloon flying?
  (at least 20 km in all likely flying directions from the launch field is required)
• Is the road infratstructure good enough for easy retrieving of balloons?
• Are there any unacceptable restriction on the area?
  (either landowner, air traffic, or geographical)

LAUNCH FIELD

• Is the launch field large enough for the proposed number of balloons?
  (allow 25 meters x 25 meters for each balloon)

ACCOMMODATION

• Is there sufficient accommodation available for pilots, crews and officials?
  (allow average 4 to 5 person per balloon plus officials and staff)

WEATHER

• Is the normal weather for the location and dates suitable for balloon flying?
• Is acceptable weather forecasting available?

MAPS

• Are good maps of the area available?
  (50.000 scale with a 1 km grid are essential for competition, any good map up to 100.000 scale is OK for fiesta)

PROPANE

• Is propane (or propane/butane mix) available?
  (allow 100 ltrs per balloon per flight average)

COSTS

For further information contact the CIA Events Development Service