Pilot Registration
Please read carefully!
Invitation
It is our pleasure on behalf of the Board of Directors to invite you to register
for the 29th annual EDS Credit Union Plano Balloon Festival on September 19th,
20th and 21st, 2008. Open registration will be March 15th – June 15th. The
festival will again be held at Oak Point Park. We are also pleased to announce
that Steve Lombardi will return as Balloonmeister.
Qualifications
To participate in the 2008 Festival all persons acting as pilot-in-command must
hold at least a Private Pilot Certificate with Lighter than Air Free Balloon
Rating and a minimum of 75 hours of flight time logged in balloons. All hours
will need to be noted on the application as requested or the application will
be rejected. You will also be required to sign a certificate acknowledging you
meet Festival and FAA requirements at pilot registration. Each pilot must
attend all pilot meetings.
Balloons
All hot air balloons that participate in the Festival must arrive at the event
with a current annual inspection and be air worthy. Proof of insurance must be
received no later than September 1, 2008. All balloons must be properly
equipped (with inflation harness) and ready for potential FAA inspection prior
to each event.
Rooms
The hotel this year will again be the Southfork Hotel in Plano. Pilots
registering as primary pilot will receive free room accommodations for Friday
and Saturday evening, September 19th and 20th. Pilots from outside the Dallas
metroplex who fly in the Media Flight Friday morning (September 19th) will be
provided a room for Thursday night the 18th. Also, pilots from outside the
Dallas metroplex who fly in the Fun Flight Sunday night (September 21st) will
be provided a room on Sunday night.
Room reservations will be part of the on line application.
Please do not contact the hotel directly for your room reservation.
Crew Rooms
Special rates have been arranged for crew and alternate pilots. These
reservations must be made directly with the SouthFork Hotel, 972-578-8555 or
(toll free 866-665-2680). Mention that it is a crew room for the Plano Balloon
Festival to receive the special rate.
Sport Balloons
The entry fee for sport balloon pilots is $50. Primary pilots will be refunded
$50 when you turn in your banner. The entry fee for alternate pilots is also
$50 and is non-refundable. Please mail a check payable to the Plano Balloon
Festival to:
EDS Credit Union Plano Balloon Festival
P.O. Box 867706
Plano, Texas 75086-7706
Your reservation date will be based on the date you submit your application.
However, your entry fee must be received by June 30th to secure your
reservation in the 2008 Festival. If your entry is not accepted for any reason
and you have paid your entry fee, it will be refunded.
Commercial Balloons
Even though sponsorships are handled by Jo Via, please send your pilot
information via the linked application. That way we have it on file and can
work with Jo to make sure we know you are coming.
Special Shapes
Please contact me via email at pbfpilots@sbcglobal.net
if you are interested in bringing your special shape to the 2008 Festival.
Application
The application can be filled out online. Please include your email address when
registering. When you click on the submit button the data will be emailed to me
and you will be registered.
Acceptance
Acceptance emails will be sent out beginning May 1. Additional information will
be provided at that time. We look forward to your participation in the 29th
Annual EDS Credit Union Plano Balloon Festival. If you need to contact us you
can email us at pbfpilots@sbcglobal.net
or contact us at the following number:
Contact: Craig Fahning at 214-675-4035
Summary
Please go to the application even if you are not going to attend this year’s
Festival. First you can tell me that you will not be attending, you can tell me
if you want to remain on the invitation list and you can send me updated
information such as a change of address. Also, if you got to this web site
because of a "snail-mail" invitation, you can send us your email address for
future communications.
We look forward to seeing you in Plano, September 19, 20 and 21, 2008.
Craig Fahning
Vice Chairman Balloon Operations
EDS Credit Union Plano Balloon Festival
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