PETITION FOR EXEMPTION

Submitted by: David N. Levin, Event Director

20th FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship

2289 Park Lake Drive, Boulder, Colorado 80301

email: davidnlevin@gmail.com tel: 303-588-8828

Exemption requested from Title 14 CFR Sections 61.3(b) and 91.27.

The BFA requests an exemption from Sections 61.3(b) and 91.27 of the FAR to allow certain pilots and 

foreign hot air balloons to practice and participate in the subject World Championship from August 17, 

through August 25, 2012. This will allow invited pilots and their balloons to fly in the Championship

without complying with the pilot certification and airworthiness requirements of these sections.

The petitioner states that the Championship is sanctioned by the Federation Aeronautic Internationale 

(FAI) and the National Aeronautic Association (NAA). The rules require that all pilots and their balloons 

have pilot and airworthiness documentation issued by their country of registration. A waiver has been

requested from the local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) in Grand Rapids, MI. A list of all pilots 

and their balloons will be supplied to the local FSDO in accordance with this order. All pilots will be 

registered and documentation inspected by the organizers. The minimum flight standards set forth in Part 

61 of the FAR for Pilot Certification, Free Balloons.

Invitations were sent, by FAI rules, to all member countries. Entries were received from the following 

countries: Australia, Austria, Brazil, Belgium, China, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, 

France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, 

Norway, Poland, Russia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, 

and the United States.

The BFA states that its exemption request serves the public interest because the BFA, representing the 

NAA, has accepted the responsibility of hosting the 20th FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship. This 

was done on behalf of the United States' recognized role in supporting international sport aviation 

activities. Furthermore, a grant of exemption would be in the public interest to promote international 

good will to relieve otherwise qualified foreign participants from the effort necessary to obtain certain 

pilot and airworthiness certificates required by the FAR.

The petitioner contends that an exemption would not adversely affect safety because before the 

Championship meet, BFA's technical experts will rigidly inspect each participant's pilot qualifications 

and equipment to ensure that they meet at least the equivalent requirements of Sections 61.3 and 91.27 

during the period of the competition.

All flight operations relating to the World Championship competition will be supervised by the 

BFA-designed competition staff following guidelines in the FAI and BFA approved competition 

rules.

A precedent for this exemption is in the 5th World Hot Air Balloon Championship in Battle Creek, issued 

under Regulatory Docket No. 21305 in 1981, and the 7th World Hot Air Balloon Championship in Battle 

Creek, issued under Regulatory Docket No. 24334 in 1985.

The petitioner states that the people responsible for managing this Championships competition are keenly 

aware of the purpose and intent of the FAR. The exemption requested is not to compromise safety, but to 

permit the participation of competitive pilots as designated by the countries involved.
PETITION FOR EXEMPTION (page 2)

The Championship will be conducted with strict rules and conduct as has been shown by the previous 

safety record for BFA sanctioned events. BFA will work closely with local FAA officials in Grand 

Rapids and FAA airspace officials in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek, Michigan.

SUMMARY:

By letter dated July 30, 2012, Mr. David N. Levin, Event Director for the 20th FAI World Hot Air 

Balloon Championship, petitioned for an exemption from Sections 61.3(b) and 91.27 of the Federal 

Aviation Regulations (FAR) to allow certain foreign balloon pilots and foreign balloons to participate 

in the 20th FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship at Battle Creek, Michigan, August 17-25, 

2012, without complying with the pilot certification and airworthiness requirements of those sections.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

For the purpose of the requested exemption, petitioner suggests the following conditions and 

limitations in order to comply with the exemption and provide a level of safety equivalent to that 

provided in FAR.

1. All pilots and balloons must be approved as competent and airworthy by the country 

they are registered as representing;

2. Each balloon pilot and each balloon used in qualification and final competition must be 

registered for the meet with the World Hot Air Balloon Championship;

3. The event organizer, Balloon Federation of America, is responsible for providing FAA 

representatives with a list of all balloon pilots and balloons registered under condition 

No. 2 above. 

4. All flights shall be conducted under visual flight rules (VFR), day only; and

5. FAA representatives monitoring the meet may impose such additional conditions 

considered necessary for the protection of persons and property.