Competition
Observer
Every ballooning team is assigned an observer: an impartial official who follows the overland journey in their vehicle, or travels in the balloon along with the team. It is the pilot who decides whether the observer is traveling or not in the balloon, because of course they do not need a "voyeur” in the basket. However, sometimes the pilot believes that it is strategically necessary to have an observer onboard, for example when a task should be timed to the second.
The observer notes everything: time and place for take-off and landing, the positions of all released markers, whether they saw them fall or not, a breaching of the rules, etc. To register everything in an organized way, a standard report form is used: the Observer Report Sheet. In addition, an observer must, of course, know how to read maps, know the competition rules, reasonably master English (since the rules are in that language and the meetings are held in that language) and should be able to use appropriate methods to determine the position of a marker on land (actually a simplified version of surveying). At present, the possibility of using GPS is also an advantage. And, of course, an observer should preferably have ballooning knowledge!
After the journey, the ballooning team brings the observer back to the center of the event organization, where he or she, along with another officer, a "debriefer”, thoroughly goes through the entire report form. The positions are then again marked on the competition map and the coordinates are checked – sometimes up to a larger and more detailed map or an aerial photograph. In the event of infringements, the head of the organizing committee assigns penalty points, which will be subtracted from the pilot’s score. This can happen when, for example, the pilot exceeds a time limit or distance, upon coming into contact with the ground (touching a tree branch is a faulty situation, at least while the last marker has not been released), when landing after the setting of the sun or agitating cattle.
Finally, all the data are entered into the computer, which then determines the scores according to a complex formula, a scale of zero to 1000 (whoever doesn’t take off gets a zero and the best score is 1000; the average score is always 500 and the rest is relatively calculated, varying depending on the task accomplished; if the pilots obtain very uniform scores in relation to the objectives, the scores will be forthcoming; if, however, they get just Very Good and the rest Insufficient, the score difference between the first and second place will also be much bigger).
Tasks
15.1 Objective Established by the Pilot (PDG)
15.2 Established by the Judge (JDG)
15.3 Hesitation Waltz (HZW)
15.4 "Fly In” (FIN)
15.5 "Fly On” (FON)
15.6 Hare & Hunting Dogs (HNH)
15.7 "Watership Down” (WSD)
15.8 Memorial to Gordon Bennett (GBM)
15.9 Approach Calculation (CRT)
15.10 Race to an Area (RTA)
15.11 Elbow (ELB)
15.12 "Land Run” (LRN)
15.13 Minimum distance (MDT)
15.14 Shortest flight (SFL)
15.16 Time for Maximum Distance (XDT)
15.17 Maximum Distance (XDI)
15.18 Maximum distance, Double marker drop (XDD)
15.19 Angle
15.20 3D Task
PDG55kb
Objective Established by the Pilot - Rule 15.1
The pilots establish individual objectives (usually crosses) before take-off. This task tests the pilot’s ability to predict speed and wind direction as well as navigate to a location of their choice.
JDG 64kb
Objective Established by the Judge - Rule 15.2
The Director of the Championship/Competition (Task distributor/Master of Ballooning/Judge) sets an objective, usually a cross or other identifiable point. The balloons take off from a common platform and attempt to drop a marker as close as possible to a target, which is situated close to the set objective.
HWZ 68kb
Hesitation Waltz - Rule 15.3
The objective of the Hesitation Waltz consists of a selection and attempt by the pilot during the flight, to navigate to one or more objectives previously established by the Director Championship/Competition. The decision of the pilots on the selection of an objective will be based on the speed and direction of the wind.
FIN 68kb
"Fly In” Task - Rule 15.4
In the "Fly In” task, the pilot selects their own take-off location that will allow them to travel to the indicated target. The take-off location must have a certain distance from the target. This task is usually combined with the "Fly-On” task.
("Honda Ballooning” Grand Prix Diagram - Japan site)
FON 68kb
"Fly On” Task - Rule 15.5
In the "Fly On” task the pilot must select a goal during the flight as well as determine the minimum and maximum distance from the previous objective and which can be traveled upon the completion of the previous task.
HNH 68kb
Hare & Hunting Dogs - Rule 15.6
The Hare balloon, designated by the Director, takes off a few minutes before the competition, then the Hunting Dogs. The role of the Hare is to bring the Hunting Dogs to compete in a race for a certain period of time. The landing site of the Hare becomes the objective of the Hunting Dogs.
WSD 68kb
"Watership Down” - Rule 15.7
A combination of the "Fly In” task and the "Hare & Hunting Dogs” task. Pilots select their own take-off place and establish the minimum distance to the take-off place assigned to the Hare balloon. The Hare balloon takes off at a certain time and flies for a certain period of time. The take-off point of the Hare is the first goal for the Hunting Dogs and its landing site is the second goal.
GBM 73kb
Memorial to Gordon Bennett - Rule 15.8
The competitors attempt to drop the marker as close as possible to the previously established target within the defined scoring area. To make the task more difficult, the scoring area can be triangular or have another irregular shape in whose corner the target is located.
CRT 68kb
Approach Calculation - Rule 15.9
The purpose of this task consists of reaching the target when the nearest area or with the highest score is "open” under the Rules. If a pilot arrives early or late, they can only get a result on the basis of the open scoring area at that time. There may be several scoring areas with different distances from the target.
RTA 68kb
Race to an Area - Rule 15.10
The pilots try to drop the marker in the shortest period of time within a defined scoring area. This task replaces the "Race for a Line” task, in which the take-off time and time for passing the Line are used to calculate the competition result.
("Honda Ballooning” Grand Prix Diagram - Japan site)
ELB 68kb
Elbow - Rule 15.11
After the take-off and flying over a given period of time or a determined distance, the pilots drop their first markers. Then the pilots try to fly a route that deviates as much as possible from the direction of their first stage. The one with the biggest deviation wins the task.
LRN 68kb
"Land Run” - Rule 15.12
After take-off and flying during a certain period of time or a determined distance, the pilot drops their first marker, Point B. This marker, together with a point designated by Director, Point A, forms the A-B side of a triangle. The pilot then continues the flight and drops a second marker, Point C, completing the A-B-C triangle. The pilot who creates the triangle containing a larger area wins.
MDT 74kb
Maximum Distance - Rule 15.13
The purpose of this task is the task opposite of "Maximum Distance”, flying a shorter distance from the common take-off location for a certain period of time.
SFL 3kb
The shortest flight - Rule 15.14
In this task, the competitors have to drop a marker as close as possible to the common take-off point within a determined scoring area.
("Honda Ballooning” Grand Prix Diagram - Japan site)
MDD 74kb
Minimum distance, Double marker fall - Rule 15.15
The competitors have to drop two markers as close to each other in two different areas.
XDT 3kb
(Time) for Maximum Distance - Rule 15.16
In this task, the competitors have to travel the maximum distance from the take-off point within the maximum allowed time before they drop the marker.
("Honda Ballooning” Grand Prix Diagram - Japan site)
XDI 3kb
Maximum Distance - Rule 15.17
The purpose of this task is to fly the maximum distance from the take-off location, within a determined scoring area. The pilot who manages to achieve the maximum distance is the winner.
("Honda Ballooning” Grand Prix Diagram - Japan site)
XDD74kb
Maximum distance, Double marker drop - Rule 15.18
The competitors drop two markers within one or more scoring areas. The one who has the longest distance is the winner.
ANG 3kb
Angle - Rule 15.19
The competitors attempt to achieve an increased change in direction from the pre-determined direction. The change of direction is the angle between the A-B line and the pre-set direction, in which A is the take-off point and B is the landing point of the marker or balloon.
3DT
3D Task - Rule 15.20
The competitors attempt to achieve the longest distance within a determined airspace. The result is the accumulated horizontal distance between the valid trajectory points within the determined area space(s). The one with the best results wins.
The observer notes everything: time and place for take-off and landing, the positions of all released markers, whether they saw them fall or not, a breaching of the rules, etc. To register everything in an organized way, a standard report form is used: the Observer Report Sheet. In addition, an observer must, of course, know how to read maps, know the competition rules, reasonably master English (since the rules are in that language and the meetings are held in that language) and should be able to use appropriate methods to determine the position of a marker on land (actually a simplified version of surveying). At present, the possibility of using GPS is also an advantage. And, of course, an observer should preferably have ballooning knowledge!
After the journey, the ballooning team brings the observer back to the center of the event organization, where he or she, along with another officer, a "debriefer”, thoroughly goes through the entire report form. The positions are then again marked on the competition map and the coordinates are checked – sometimes up to a larger and more detailed map or an aerial photograph. In the event of infringements, the head of the organizing committee assigns penalty points, which will be subtracted from the pilot’s score. This can happen when, for example, the pilot exceeds a time limit or distance, upon coming into contact with the ground (touching a tree branch is a faulty situation, at least while the last marker has not been released), when landing after the setting of the sun or agitating cattle.
Finally, all the data are entered into the computer, which then determines the scores according to a complex formula, a scale of zero to 1000 (whoever doesn’t take off gets a zero and the best score is 1000; the average score is always 500 and the rest is relatively calculated, varying depending on the task accomplished; if the pilots obtain very uniform scores in relation to the objectives, the scores will be forthcoming; if, however, they get just Very Good and the rest Insufficient, the score difference between the first and second place will also be much bigger).
Tasks
15.1 Objective Established by the Pilot (PDG)
15.2 Established by the Judge (JDG)
15.3 Hesitation Waltz (HZW)
15.4 "Fly In” (FIN)
15.5 "Fly On” (FON)
15.6 Hare & Hunting Dogs (HNH)
15.7 "Watership Down” (WSD)
15.8 Memorial to Gordon Bennett (GBM)
15.9 Approach Calculation (CRT)
15.10 Race to an Area (RTA)
15.11 Elbow (ELB)
15.12 "Land Run” (LRN)
15.13 Minimum distance (MDT)
15.14 Shortest flight (SFL)
15.16 Time for Maximum Distance (XDT)
15.17 Maximum Distance (XDI)
15.18 Maximum distance, Double marker drop (XDD)
15.19 Angle
15.20 3D Task
PDG55kb
Objective Established by the Pilot - Rule 15.1
The pilots establish individual objectives (usually crosses) before take-off. This task tests the pilot’s ability to predict speed and wind direction as well as navigate to a location of their choice.
JDG 64kb
Objective Established by the Judge - Rule 15.2
The Director of the Championship/Competition (Task distributor/Master of Ballooning/Judge) sets an objective, usually a cross or other identifiable point. The balloons take off from a common platform and attempt to drop a marker as close as possible to a target, which is situated close to the set objective.
HWZ 68kb
Hesitation Waltz - Rule 15.3
The objective of the Hesitation Waltz consists of a selection and attempt by the pilot during the flight, to navigate to one or more objectives previously established by the Director Championship/Competition. The decision of the pilots on the selection of an objective will be based on the speed and direction of the wind.
FIN 68kb
"Fly In” Task - Rule 15.4
In the "Fly In” task, the pilot selects their own take-off location that will allow them to travel to the indicated target. The take-off location must have a certain distance from the target. This task is usually combined with the "Fly-On” task.
("Honda Ballooning” Grand Prix Diagram - Japan site)
FON 68kb
"Fly On” Task - Rule 15.5
In the "Fly On” task the pilot must select a goal during the flight as well as determine the minimum and maximum distance from the previous objective and which can be traveled upon the completion of the previous task.
HNH 68kb
Hare & Hunting Dogs - Rule 15.6
The Hare balloon, designated by the Director, takes off a few minutes before the competition, then the Hunting Dogs. The role of the Hare is to bring the Hunting Dogs to compete in a race for a certain period of time. The landing site of the Hare becomes the objective of the Hunting Dogs.
WSD 68kb
"Watership Down” - Rule 15.7
A combination of the "Fly In” task and the "Hare & Hunting Dogs” task. Pilots select their own take-off place and establish the minimum distance to the take-off place assigned to the Hare balloon. The Hare balloon takes off at a certain time and flies for a certain period of time. The take-off point of the Hare is the first goal for the Hunting Dogs and its landing site is the second goal.
GBM 73kb
Memorial to Gordon Bennett - Rule 15.8
The competitors attempt to drop the marker as close as possible to the previously established target within the defined scoring area. To make the task more difficult, the scoring area can be triangular or have another irregular shape in whose corner the target is located.
CRT 68kb
Approach Calculation - Rule 15.9
The purpose of this task consists of reaching the target when the nearest area or with the highest score is "open” under the Rules. If a pilot arrives early or late, they can only get a result on the basis of the open scoring area at that time. There may be several scoring areas with different distances from the target.
RTA 68kb
Race to an Area - Rule 15.10
The pilots try to drop the marker in the shortest period of time within a defined scoring area. This task replaces the "Race for a Line” task, in which the take-off time and time for passing the Line are used to calculate the competition result.
("Honda Ballooning” Grand Prix Diagram - Japan site)
ELB 68kb
Elbow - Rule 15.11
After the take-off and flying over a given period of time or a determined distance, the pilots drop their first markers. Then the pilots try to fly a route that deviates as much as possible from the direction of their first stage. The one with the biggest deviation wins the task.
LRN 68kb
"Land Run” - Rule 15.12
After take-off and flying during a certain period of time or a determined distance, the pilot drops their first marker, Point B. This marker, together with a point designated by Director, Point A, forms the A-B side of a triangle. The pilot then continues the flight and drops a second marker, Point C, completing the A-B-C triangle. The pilot who creates the triangle containing a larger area wins.
MDT 74kb
Maximum Distance - Rule 15.13
The purpose of this task is the task opposite of "Maximum Distance”, flying a shorter distance from the common take-off location for a certain period of time.
SFL 3kb
The shortest flight - Rule 15.14
In this task, the competitors have to drop a marker as close as possible to the common take-off point within a determined scoring area.
("Honda Ballooning” Grand Prix Diagram - Japan site)
MDD 74kb
Minimum distance, Double marker fall - Rule 15.15
The competitors have to drop two markers as close to each other in two different areas.
XDT 3kb
(Time) for Maximum Distance - Rule 15.16
In this task, the competitors have to travel the maximum distance from the take-off point within the maximum allowed time before they drop the marker.
("Honda Ballooning” Grand Prix Diagram - Japan site)
XDI 3kb
Maximum Distance - Rule 15.17
The purpose of this task is to fly the maximum distance from the take-off location, within a determined scoring area. The pilot who manages to achieve the maximum distance is the winner.
("Honda Ballooning” Grand Prix Diagram - Japan site)
XDD74kb
Maximum distance, Double marker drop - Rule 15.18
The competitors drop two markers within one or more scoring areas. The one who has the longest distance is the winner.
ANG 3kb
Angle - Rule 15.19
The competitors attempt to achieve an increased change in direction from the pre-determined direction. The change of direction is the angle between the A-B line and the pre-set direction, in which A is the take-off point and B is the landing point of the marker or balloon.
3DT
3D Task - Rule 15.20
The competitors attempt to achieve the longest distance within a determined airspace. The result is the accumulated horizontal distance between the valid trajectory points within the determined area space(s). The one with the best results wins.
Every ballooning team is assigned an observer: an impartial official who follows the overland journey in their vehicle, or travels in the balloon along with the team. It is the pilot who decides whether the observer is traveling or not in the balloon, because of course they do not need a "voyeur” in the basket. However, sometimes the pilot believes that it is strategically necessary to have an observer onboard, for example when a task should be timed to the second.
The observer notes everything: time and place for take-off and landing, the positions of all released markers, whether they saw them fall or not, a breaching of the rules, etc. To register everything in an organized way, a standard report form is used: the Observer Report Sheet. In addition, an observer must, of course, know how to read maps, know the competition rules, reasonably master English (since the rules are in that language and the meetings are held in that language) and should be able to use appropriate methods to determine the position of a marker on land (actually a simplified version of surveying). At present, the possibility of using GPS is also an advantage. And, of course, an observer should preferably have ballooning knowledge!
After the journey, the ballooning team brings the observer back to the center of the event organization, where he or she, along with another officer, a "debriefer”, thoroughly goes through the entire report form. The positions are then again marked on the competition map and the coordinates are checked – sometimes up to a larger and more detailed map or an aerial photograph. In the event of infringements, the head of the organizing committee assigns penalty points, which will be subtracted from the pilot’s score. This can happen when, for example, the pilot exceeds a time limit or distance, upon coming into contact with the ground (touching a tree branch is a faulty situation, at least while the last marker has not been released), when landing after the setting of the sun or agitating cattle.
Finally, all the data are entered into the computer, which then determines the scores according to a complex formula, a scale of zero to 1000 (whoever doesn’t take off gets a zero and the best score is 1000; the average score is always 500 and the rest is relatively calculated, varying depending on the task accomplished; if the pilots obtain very uniform scores in relation to the objectives, the scores will be forthcoming; if, however, they get just Very Good and the rest Insufficient, the score difference between the first and second place will also be much bigger).
Tasks
15.1 Objective Established by the Pilot (PDG)
15.2 Established by the Judge (JDG)
15.3 Hesitation Waltz (HZW)
15.4 "Fly In” (FIN)
15.5 "Fly On” (FON)
15.6 Hare & Hunting Dogs (HNH)
15.7 "Watership Down” (WSD)
15.8 Memorial to Gordon Bennett (GBM)
15.9 Approach Calculation (CRT)
15.10 Race to an Area (RTA)
15.11 Elbow (ELB)
15.12 "Land Run” (LRN)
15.13 Minimum distance (MDT)
15.14 Shortest flight (SFL)
15.16 Time for Maximum Distance (XDT)
15.17 Maximum Distance (XDI)
15.18 Maximum distance, Double marker drop (XDD)
15.19 Angle
15.20 3D Task
PDG55kb
Objective Established by the Pilot - Rule 15.1
The pilots establish individual objectives (usually crosses) before take-off. This task tests the pilot’s ability to predict speed and wind direction as well as navigate to a location of their choice.
JDG 64kb
Objective Established by the Judge - Rule 15.2
The Director of the Championship/Competition (Task distributor/Master of Ballooning/Judge) sets an objective, usually a cross or other identifiable point. The balloons take off from a common platform and attempt to drop a marker as close as possible to a target, which is situated close to the set objective.
HWZ 68kb
Hesitation Waltz - Rule 15.3
The objective of the Hesitation Waltz consists of a selection and attempt by the pilot during the flight, to navigate to one or more objectives previously established by the Director Championship/Competition. The decision of the pilots on the selection of an objective will be based on the speed and direction of the wind.
FIN 68kb
"Fly In” Task - Rule 15.4
In the "Fly In” task, the pilot selects their own take-off location that will allow them to travel to the indicated target. The take-off location must have a certain distance from the target. This task is usually combined with the "Fly-On” task.
("Honda Ballooning” Grand Prix Diagram - Japan site)
FON 68kb
"Fly On” Task - Rule 15.5
In the "Fly On” task the pilot must select a goal during the flight as well as determine the minimum and maximum distance from the previous objective and which can be traveled upon the completion of the previous task.
HNH 68kb
Hare & Hunting Dogs - Rule 15.6
The Hare balloon, designated by the Director, takes off a few minutes before the competition, then the Hunting Dogs. The role of the Hare is to bring the Hunting Dogs to compete in a race for a certain period of time. The landing site of the Hare becomes the objective of the Hunting Dogs.
WSD 68kb
"Watership Down” - Rule 15.7
A combination of the "Fly In” task and the "Hare & Hunting Dogs” task. Pilots select their own take-off place and establish the minimum distance to the take-off place assigned to the Hare balloon. The Hare balloon takes off at a certain time and flies for a certain period of time. The take-off point of the Hare is the first goal for the Hunting Dogs and its landing site is the second goal.
GBM 73kb
Memorial to Gordon Bennett - Rule 15.8
The competitors attempt to drop the marker as close as possible to the previously established target within the defined scoring area. To make the task more difficult, the scoring area can be triangular or have another irregular shape in whose corner the target is located.
CRT 68kb
Approach Calculation - Rule 15.9
The purpose of this task consists of reaching the target when the nearest area or with the highest score is "open” under the Rules. If a pilot arrives early or late, they can only get a result on the basis of the open scoring area at that time. There may be several scoring areas with different distances from the target.
RTA 68kb
Race to an Area - Rule 15.10
The pilots try to drop the marker in the shortest period of time within a defined scoring area. This task replaces the "Race for a Line” task, in which the take-off time and time for passing the Line are used to calculate the competition result.
("Honda Ballooning” Grand Prix Diagram - Japan site)
ELB 68kb
Elbow - Rule 15.11
After the take-off and flying over a given period of time or a determined distance, the pilots drop their first markers. Then the pilots try to fly a route that deviates as much as possible from the direction of their first stage. The one with the biggest deviation wins the task.
LRN 68kb
"Land Run” - Rule 15.12
After take-off and flying during a certain period of time or a determined distance, the pilot drops their first marker, Point B. This marker, together with a point designated by Director, Point A, forms the A-B side of a triangle. The pilot then continues the flight and drops a second marker, Point C, completing the A-B-C triangle. The pilot who creates the triangle containing a larger area wins.
MDT 74kb
Maximum Distance - Rule 15.13
The purpose of this task is the task opposite of "Maximum Distance”, flying a shorter distance from the common take-off location for a certain period of time.
SFL 3kb
The shortest flight - Rule 15.14
In this task, the competitors have to drop a marker as close as possible to the common take-off point within a determined scoring area.
("Honda Ballooning” Grand Prix Diagram - Japan site)
MDD 74kb
Minimum distance, Double marker fall - Rule 15.15
The competitors have to drop two markers as close to each other in two different areas.
XDT 3kb
(Time) for Maximum Distance - Rule 15.16
In this task, the competitors have to travel the maximum distance from the take-off point within the maximum allowed time before they drop the marker.
("Honda Ballooning” Grand Prix Diagram - Japan site)
XDI 3kb
Maximum Distance - Rule 15.17
The purpose of this task is to fly the maximum distance from the take-off location, within a determined scoring area. The pilot who manages to achieve the maximum distance is the winner.
("Honda Ballooning” Grand Prix Diagram - Japan site)
XDD74kb
Maximum distance, Double marker drop - Rule 15.18
The competitors drop two markers within one or more scoring areas. The one who has the longest distance is the winner.
ANG 3kb
Angle - Rule 15.19
The competitors attempt to achieve an increased change in direction from the pre-determined direction. The change of direction is the angle between the A-B line and the pre-set direction, in which A is the take-off point and B is the landing point of the marker or balloon.
3DT
3D Task - Rule 15.20
The competitors attempt to achieve the longest distance within a determined airspace. The result is the accumulated horizontal distance between the valid trajectory points within the determined area space(s). The one with the best results wins.
The observer notes everything: time and place for take-off and landing, the positions of all released markers, whether they saw them fall or not, a breaching of the rules, etc. To register everything in an organized way, a standard report form is used: the Observer Report Sheet. In addition, an observer must, of course, know how to read maps, know the competition rules, reasonably master English (since the rules are in that language and the meetings are held in that language) and should be able to use appropriate methods to determine the position of a marker on land (actually a simplified version of surveying). At present, the possibility of using GPS is also an advantage. And, of course, an observer should preferably have ballooning knowledge!
After the journey, the ballooning team brings the observer back to the center of the event organization, where he or she, along with another officer, a "debriefer”, thoroughly goes through the entire report form. The positions are then again marked on the competition map and the coordinates are checked – sometimes up to a larger and more detailed map or an aerial photograph. In the event of infringements, the head of the organizing committee assigns penalty points, which will be subtracted from the pilot’s score. This can happen when, for example, the pilot exceeds a time limit or distance, upon coming into contact with the ground (touching a tree branch is a faulty situation, at least while the last marker has not been released), when landing after the setting of the sun or agitating cattle.
Finally, all the data are entered into the computer, which then determines the scores according to a complex formula, a scale of zero to 1000 (whoever doesn’t take off gets a zero and the best score is 1000; the average score is always 500 and the rest is relatively calculated, varying depending on the task accomplished; if the pilots obtain very uniform scores in relation to the objectives, the scores will be forthcoming; if, however, they get just Very Good and the rest Insufficient, the score difference between the first and second place will also be much bigger).
Tasks
15.1 Objective Established by the Pilot (PDG)
15.2 Established by the Judge (JDG)
15.3 Hesitation Waltz (HZW)
15.4 "Fly In” (FIN)
15.5 "Fly On” (FON)
15.6 Hare & Hunting Dogs (HNH)
15.7 "Watership Down” (WSD)
15.8 Memorial to Gordon Bennett (GBM)
15.9 Approach Calculation (CRT)
15.10 Race to an Area (RTA)
15.11 Elbow (ELB)
15.12 "Land Run” (LRN)
15.13 Minimum distance (MDT)
15.14 Shortest flight (SFL)
15.16 Time for Maximum Distance (XDT)
15.17 Maximum Distance (XDI)
15.18 Maximum distance, Double marker drop (XDD)
15.19 Angle
15.20 3D Task
PDG55kb
Objective Established by the Pilot - Rule 15.1
The pilots establish individual objectives (usually crosses) before take-off. This task tests the pilot’s ability to predict speed and wind direction as well as navigate to a location of their choice.
JDG 64kb
Objective Established by the Judge - Rule 15.2
The Director of the Championship/Competition (Task distributor/Master of Ballooning/Judge) sets an objective, usually a cross or other identifiable point. The balloons take off from a common platform and attempt to drop a marker as close as possible to a target, which is situated close to the set objective.
HWZ 68kb
Hesitation Waltz - Rule 15.3
The objective of the Hesitation Waltz consists of a selection and attempt by the pilot during the flight, to navigate to one or more objectives previously established by the Director Championship/Competition. The decision of the pilots on the selection of an objective will be based on the speed and direction of the wind.
FIN 68kb
"Fly In” Task - Rule 15.4
In the "Fly In” task, the pilot selects their own take-off location that will allow them to travel to the indicated target. The take-off location must have a certain distance from the target. This task is usually combined with the "Fly-On” task.
("Honda Ballooning” Grand Prix Diagram - Japan site)
FON 68kb
"Fly On” Task - Rule 15.5
In the "Fly On” task the pilot must select a goal during the flight as well as determine the minimum and maximum distance from the previous objective and which can be traveled upon the completion of the previous task.
HNH 68kb
Hare & Hunting Dogs - Rule 15.6
The Hare balloon, designated by the Director, takes off a few minutes before the competition, then the Hunting Dogs. The role of the Hare is to bring the Hunting Dogs to compete in a race for a certain period of time. The landing site of the Hare becomes the objective of the Hunting Dogs.
WSD 68kb
"Watership Down” - Rule 15.7
A combination of the "Fly In” task and the "Hare & Hunting Dogs” task. Pilots select their own take-off place and establish the minimum distance to the take-off place assigned to the Hare balloon. The Hare balloon takes off at a certain time and flies for a certain period of time. The take-off point of the Hare is the first goal for the Hunting Dogs and its landing site is the second goal.
GBM 73kb
Memorial to Gordon Bennett - Rule 15.8
The competitors attempt to drop the marker as close as possible to the previously established target within the defined scoring area. To make the task more difficult, the scoring area can be triangular or have another irregular shape in whose corner the target is located.
CRT 68kb
Approach Calculation - Rule 15.9
The purpose of this task consists of reaching the target when the nearest area or with the highest score is "open” under the Rules. If a pilot arrives early or late, they can only get a result on the basis of the open scoring area at that time. There may be several scoring areas with different distances from the target.
RTA 68kb
Race to an Area - Rule 15.10
The pilots try to drop the marker in the shortest period of time within a defined scoring area. This task replaces the "Race for a Line” task, in which the take-off time and time for passing the Line are used to calculate the competition result.
("Honda Ballooning” Grand Prix Diagram - Japan site)
ELB 68kb
Elbow - Rule 15.11
After the take-off and flying over a given period of time or a determined distance, the pilots drop their first markers. Then the pilots try to fly a route that deviates as much as possible from the direction of their first stage. The one with the biggest deviation wins the task.
LRN 68kb
"Land Run” - Rule 15.12
After take-off and flying during a certain period of time or a determined distance, the pilot drops their first marker, Point B. This marker, together with a point designated by Director, Point A, forms the A-B side of a triangle. The pilot then continues the flight and drops a second marker, Point C, completing the A-B-C triangle. The pilot who creates the triangle containing a larger area wins.
MDT 74kb
Maximum Distance - Rule 15.13
The purpose of this task is the task opposite of "Maximum Distance”, flying a shorter distance from the common take-off location for a certain period of time.
SFL 3kb
The shortest flight - Rule 15.14
In this task, the competitors have to drop a marker as close as possible to the common take-off point within a determined scoring area.
("Honda Ballooning” Grand Prix Diagram - Japan site)
MDD 74kb
Minimum distance, Double marker fall - Rule 15.15
The competitors have to drop two markers as close to each other in two different areas.
XDT 3kb
(Time) for Maximum Distance - Rule 15.16
In this task, the competitors have to travel the maximum distance from the take-off point within the maximum allowed time before they drop the marker.
("Honda Ballooning” Grand Prix Diagram - Japan site)
XDI 3kb
Maximum Distance - Rule 15.17
The purpose of this task is to fly the maximum distance from the take-off location, within a determined scoring area. The pilot who manages to achieve the maximum distance is the winner.
("Honda Ballooning” Grand Prix Diagram - Japan site)
XDD74kb
Maximum distance, Double marker drop - Rule 15.18
The competitors drop two markers within one or more scoring areas. The one who has the longest distance is the winner.
ANG 3kb
Angle - Rule 15.19
The competitors attempt to achieve an increased change in direction from the pre-determined direction. The change of direction is the angle between the A-B line and the pre-set direction, in which A is the take-off point and B is the landing point of the marker or balloon.
3DT
3D Task - Rule 15.20
The competitors attempt to achieve the longest distance within a determined airspace. The result is the accumulated horizontal distance between the valid trajectory points within the determined area space(s). The one with the best results wins.
Every ballooning team is assigned an observer: an impartial official who follows the overland journey in their vehicle, or travels in the balloon along with the team. It is the pilot who decides whether the observer is traveling or not in the balloon, because of course they do not need a "voyeur” in the basket. However, sometimes the pilot believes that it is strategically necessary to have an observer onboard, for example when a task should be timed to the second.
The observer notes everything: time and place for take-off and landing, the positions of all released markers, whether they saw them fall or not, a breaching of the rules, etc. To register everything in an organized way, a standard report form is used: the Observer Report Sheet. In addition, an observer must, of course, know how to read maps, know the competition rules, reasonably master English (since the rules are in that language and the meetings are held in that language) and should be able to use appropriate methods to determine the position of a marker on land (actually a simplified version of surveying). At present, the possibility of using GPS is also an advantage. And, of course, an observer should preferably have ballooning knowledge!
After the journey, the ballooning team brings the observer back to the center of the event organization, where he or she, along with another officer, a "debriefer”, thoroughly goes through the entire report form. The positions are then again marked on the competition map and the coordinates are checked – sometimes up to a larger and more detailed map or an aerial photograph. In the event of infringements, the head of the organizing committee assigns penalty points, which will be subtracted from the pilot’s score. This can happen when, for example, the pilot exceeds a time limit or distance, upon coming into contact with the ground (touching a tree branch is a faulty situation, at least while the last marker has not been released), when landing after the setting of the sun or agitating cattle.
Finally, all the data are entered into the computer, which then determines the scores according to a complex formula, a scale of zero to 1000 (whoever doesn’t take off gets a zero and the best score is 1000; the average score is always 500 and the rest is relatively calculated, varying depending on the task accomplished; if the pilots obtain very uniform scores in relation to the objectives, the scores will be forthcoming; if, however, they get just Very Good and the rest Insufficient, the score difference between the first and second place will also be much bigger).
Tasks
15.1 Objective Established by the Pilot (PDG)
15.2 Established by the Judge (JDG)
15.3 Hesitation Waltz (HZW)
15.4 "Fly In” (FIN)
15.5 "Fly On” (FON)
15.6 Hare & Hunting Dogs (HNH)
15.7 "Watership Down” (WSD)
15.8 Memorial to Gordon Bennett (GBM)
15.9 Approach Calculation (CRT)
15.10 Race to an Area (RTA)
15.11 Elbow (ELB)
15.12 "Land Run” (LRN)
15.13 Minimum distance (MDT)
15.14 Shortest flight (SFL)
15.16 Time for Maximum Distance (XDT)
15.17 Maximum Distance (XDI)
15.18 Maximum distance, Double marker drop (XDD)
15.19 Angle
15.20 3D Task
PDG55kb
Objective Established by the Pilot - Rule 15.1
The pilots establish individual objectives (usually crosses) before take-off. This task tests the pilot’s ability to predict speed and wind direction as well as navigate to a location of their choice.
JDG 64kb
Objective Established by the Judge - Rule 15.2
The Director of the Championship/Competition (Task distributor/Master of Ballooning/Judge) sets an objective, usually a cross or other identifiable point. The balloons take off from a common platform and attempt to drop a marker as close as possible to a target, which is situated close to the set objective.
HWZ 68kb
Hesitation Waltz - Rule 15.3
The objective of the Hesitation Waltz consists of a selection and attempt by the pilot during the flight, to navigate to one or more objectives previously established by the Director Championship/Competition. The decision of the pilots on the selection of an objective will be based on the speed and direction of the wind.
FIN 68kb
"Fly In” Task - Rule 15.4
In the "Fly In” task, the pilot selects their own take-off location that will allow them to travel to the indicated target. The take-off location must have a certain distance from the target. This task is usually combined with the "Fly-On” task.
("Honda Ballooning” Grand Prix Diagram - Japan site)
FON 68kb
"Fly On” Task - Rule 15.5
In the "Fly On” task the pilot must select a goal during the flight as well as determine the minimum and maximum distance from the previous objective and which can be traveled upon the completion of the previous task.
HNH 68kb
Hare & Hunting Dogs - Rule 15.6
The Hare balloon, designated by the Director, takes off a few minutes before the competition, then the Hunting Dogs. The role of the Hare is to bring the Hunting Dogs to compete in a race for a certain period of time. The landing site of the Hare becomes the objective of the Hunting Dogs.
WSD 68kb
"Watership Down” - Rule 15.7
A combination of the "Fly In” task and the "Hare & Hunting Dogs” task. Pilots select their own take-off place and establish the minimum distance to the take-off place assigned to the Hare balloon. The Hare balloon takes off at a certain time and flies for a certain period of time. The take-off point of the Hare is the first goal for the Hunting Dogs and its landing site is the second goal.
GBM 73kb
Memorial to Gordon Bennett - Rule 15.8
The competitors attempt to drop the marker as close as possible to the previously established target within the defined scoring area. To make the task more difficult, the scoring area can be triangular or have another irregular shape in whose corner the target is located.
CRT 68kb
Approach Calculation - Rule 15.9
The purpose of this task consists of reaching the target when the nearest area or with the highest score is "open” under the Rules. If a pilot arrives early or late, they can only get a result on the basis of the open scoring area at that time. There may be several scoring areas with different distances from the target.
RTA 68kb
Race to an Area - Rule 15.10
The pilots try to drop the marker in the shortest period of time within a defined scoring area. This task replaces the "Race for a Line” task, in which the take-off time and time for passing the Line are used to calculate the competition result.
("Honda Ballooning” Grand Prix Diagram - Japan site)
ELB 68kb
Elbow - Rule 15.11
After the take-off and flying over a given period of time or a determined distance, the pilots drop their first markers. Then the pilots try to fly a route that deviates as much as possible from the direction of their first stage. The one with the biggest deviation wins the task.
LRN 68kb
"Land Run” - Rule 15.12
After take-off and flying during a certain period of time or a determined distance, the pilot drops their first marker, Point B. This marker, together with a point designated by Director, Point A, forms the A-B side of a triangle. The pilot then continues the flight and drops a second marker, Point C, completing the A-B-C triangle. The pilot who creates the triangle containing a larger area wins.
MDT 74kb
Maximum Distance - Rule 15.13
The purpose of this task is the task opposite of "Maximum Distance”, flying a shorter distance from the common take-off location for a certain period of time.
SFL 3kb
The shortest flight - Rule 15.14
In this task, the competitors have to drop a marker as close as possible to the common take-off point within a determined scoring area.
("Honda Ballooning” Grand Prix Diagram - Japan site)
MDD 74kb
Minimum distance, Double marker fall - Rule 15.15
The competitors have to drop two markers as close to each other in two different areas.
XDT 3kb
(Time) for Maximum Distance - Rule 15.16
In this task, the competitors have to travel the maximum distance from the take-off point within the maximum allowed time before they drop the marker.
("Honda Ballooning” Grand Prix Diagram - Japan site)
XDI 3kb
Maximum Distance - Rule 15.17
The purpose of this task is to fly the maximum distance from the take-off location, within a determined scoring area. The pilot who manages to achieve the maximum distance is the winner.
("Honda Ballooning” Grand Prix Diagram - Japan site)
XDD74kb
Maximum distance, Double marker drop - Rule 15.18
The competitors drop two markers within one or more scoring areas. The one who has the longest distance is the winner.
ANG 3kb
Angle - Rule 15.19
The competitors attempt to achieve an increased change in direction from the pre-determined direction. The change of direction is the angle between the A-B line and the pre-set direction, in which A is the take-off point and B is the landing point of the marker or balloon.
3DT
3D Task - Rule 15.20
The competitors attempt to achieve the longest distance within a determined airspace. The result is the accumulated horizontal distance between the valid trajectory points within the determined area space(s). The one with the best results wins.
The observer notes everything: time and place for take-off and landing, the positions of all released markers, whether they saw them fall or not, a breaching of the rules, etc. To register everything in an organized way, a standard report form is used: the Observer Report Sheet. In addition, an observer must, of course, know how to read maps, know the competition rules, reasonably master English (since the rules are in that language and the meetings are held in that language) and should be able to use appropriate methods to determine the position of a marker on land (actually a simplified version of surveying). At present, the possibility of using GPS is also an advantage. And, of course, an observer should preferably have ballooning knowledge!
After the journey, the ballooning team brings the observer back to the center of the event organization, where he or she, along with another officer, a "debriefer”, thoroughly goes through the entire report form. The positions are then again marked on the competition map and the coordinates are checked – sometimes up to a larger and more detailed map or an aerial photograph. In the event of infringements, the head of the organizing committee assigns penalty points, which will be subtracted from the pilot’s score. This can happen when, for example, the pilot exceeds a time limit or distance, upon coming into contact with the ground (touching a tree branch is a faulty situation, at least while the last marker has not been released), when landing after the setting of the sun or agitating cattle.
Finally, all the data are entered into the computer, which then determines the scores according to a complex formula, a scale of zero to 1000 (whoever doesn’t take off gets a zero and the best score is 1000; the average score is always 500 and the rest is relatively calculated, varying depending on the task accomplished; if the pilots obtain very uniform scores in relation to the objectives, the scores will be forthcoming; if, however, they get just Very Good and the rest Insufficient, the score difference between the first and second place will also be much bigger).
Tasks
15.1 Objective Established by the Pilot (PDG)
15.2 Established by the Judge (JDG)
15.3 Hesitation Waltz (HZW)
15.4 "Fly In” (FIN)
15.5 "Fly On” (FON)
15.6 Hare & Hunting Dogs (HNH)
15.7 "Watership Down” (WSD)
15.8 Memorial to Gordon Bennett (GBM)
15.9 Approach Calculation (CRT)
15.10 Race to an Area (RTA)
15.11 Elbow (ELB)
15.12 "Land Run” (LRN)
15.13 Minimum distance (MDT)
15.14 Shortest flight (SFL)
15.16 Time for Maximum Distance (XDT)
15.17 Maximum Distance (XDI)
15.18 Maximum distance, Double marker drop (XDD)
15.19 Angle
15.20 3D Task
PDG55kb
Objective Established by the Pilot - Rule 15.1
The pilots establish individual objectives (usually crosses) before take-off. This task tests the pilot’s ability to predict speed and wind direction as well as navigate to a location of their choice.
JDG 64kb
Objective Established by the Judge - Rule 15.2
The Director of the Championship/Competition (Task distributor/Master of Ballooning/Judge) sets an objective, usually a cross or other identifiable point. The balloons take off from a common platform and attempt to drop a marker as close as possible to a target, which is situated close to the set objective.
HWZ 68kb
Hesitation Waltz - Rule 15.3
The objective of the Hesitation Waltz consists of a selection and attempt by the pilot during the flight, to navigate to one or more objectives previously established by the Director Championship/Competition. The decision of the pilots on the selection of an objective will be based on the speed and direction of the wind.
FIN 68kb
"Fly In” Task - Rule 15.4
In the "Fly In” task, the pilot selects their own take-off location that will allow them to travel to the indicated target. The take-off location must have a certain distance from the target. This task is usually combined with the "Fly-On” task.
("Honda Ballooning” Grand Prix Diagram - Japan site)
FON 68kb
"Fly On” Task - Rule 15.5
In the "Fly On” task the pilot must select a goal during the flight as well as determine the minimum and maximum distance from the previous objective and which can be traveled upon the completion of the previous task.
HNH 68kb
Hare & Hunting Dogs - Rule 15.6
The Hare balloon, designated by the Director, takes off a few minutes before the competition, then the Hunting Dogs. The role of the Hare is to bring the Hunting Dogs to compete in a race for a certain period of time. The landing site of the Hare becomes the objective of the Hunting Dogs.
WSD 68kb
"Watership Down” - Rule 15.7
A combination of the "Fly In” task and the "Hare & Hunting Dogs” task. Pilots select their own take-off place and establish the minimum distance to the take-off place assigned to the Hare balloon. The Hare balloon takes off at a certain time and flies for a certain period of time. The take-off point of the Hare is the first goal for the Hunting Dogs and its landing site is the second goal.
GBM 73kb
Memorial to Gordon Bennett - Rule 15.8
The competitors attempt to drop the marker as close as possible to the previously established target within the defined scoring area. To make the task more difficult, the scoring area can be triangular or have another irregular shape in whose corner the target is located.
CRT 68kb
Approach Calculation - Rule 15.9
The purpose of this task consists of reaching the target when the nearest area or with the highest score is "open” under the Rules. If a pilot arrives early or late, they can only get a result on the basis of the open scoring area at that time. There may be several scoring areas with different distances from the target.
RTA 68kb
Race to an Area - Rule 15.10
The pilots try to drop the marker in the shortest period of time within a defined scoring area. This task replaces the "Race for a Line” task, in which the take-off time and time for passing the Line are used to calculate the competition result.
("Honda Ballooning” Grand Prix Diagram - Japan site)
ELB 68kb
Elbow - Rule 15.11
After the take-off and flying over a given period of time or a determined distance, the pilots drop their first markers. Then the pilots try to fly a route that deviates as much as possible from the direction of their first stage. The one with the biggest deviation wins the task.
LRN 68kb
"Land Run” - Rule 15.12
After take-off and flying during a certain period of time or a determined distance, the pilot drops their first marker, Point B. This marker, together with a point designated by Director, Point A, forms the A-B side of a triangle. The pilot then continues the flight and drops a second marker, Point C, completing the A-B-C triangle. The pilot who creates the triangle containing a larger area wins.
MDT 74kb
Maximum Distance - Rule 15.13
The purpose of this task is the task opposite of "Maximum Distance”, flying a shorter distance from the common take-off location for a certain period of time.
SFL 3kb
The shortest flight - Rule 15.14
In this task, the competitors have to drop a marker as close as possible to the common take-off point within a determined scoring area.
("Honda Ballooning” Grand Prix Diagram - Japan site)
MDD 74kb
Minimum distance, Double marker fall - Rule 15.15
The competitors have to drop two markers as close to each other in two different areas.
XDT 3kb
(Time) for Maximum Distance - Rule 15.16
In this task, the competitors have to travel the maximum distance from the take-off point within the maximum allowed time before they drop the marker.
("Honda Ballooning” Grand Prix Diagram - Japan site)
XDI 3kb
Maximum Distance - Rule 15.17
The purpose of this task is to fly the maximum distance from the take-off location, within a determined scoring area. The pilot who manages to achieve the maximum distance is the winner.
("Honda Ballooning” Grand Prix Diagram - Japan site)
XDD74kb
Maximum distance, Double marker drop - Rule 15.18
The competitors drop two markers within one or more scoring areas. The one who has the longest distance is the winner.
ANG 3kb
Angle - Rule 15.19
The competitors attempt to achieve an increased change in direction from the pre-determined direction. The change of direction is the angle between the A-B line and the pre-set direction, in which A is the take-off point and B is the landing point of the marker or balloon.
3DT
3D Task - Rule 15.20
The competitors attempt to achieve the longest distance within a determined airspace. The result is the accumulated horizontal distance between the valid trajectory points within the determined area space(s). The one with the best results wins.
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