Gravina in Puglia (Ba), Italy Electronic Noticeboard
Complaint from pilot #5 and answer to it
Response to the complaint
from pilot Gabin PACAUD (#5)
29/08/2026
Dear Gabin,
In response to your complaint, I can only acknowledge that the conditions during the flight were indeed less than ideal. Unfortunately, I certainly did not expect such a change in conditions or such wind speeds, and the forecast did not indicate this, at least not until 9 am. On the other hand, all pilots, with the exception of number 8, which has technical issues, took off successfully and completed their tasks. Not a single one of them, either before take-off or during the flight, informed me via WhatsApp or directly by phone that the weather conditions had deteriorated significantly and that it was becoming unsafe to fly. Had I received such information earlier, I would have cancelled either the final task or even the entire flight and allowing you to find a safe place to land. Personally, I was at the destination of the final task, and the increase in wind speed was only felt once the balloons had approached us, so it was already too late to make any changes. Finally, I would like to remind you that the decision whether to fly or not is ultimately the pilot's. If you decided to fly, you showed that you considered the flight conditions to be acceptable.
Once again, I can only apologise publicly for this flight and promise that I will take your comments into account in the future. As you are not requesting the cancellation of the final task or the flight, I will leave everything as it is and will not cancel the flight or any of the tasks that took place during it.
Event director Eugenijus Komas
Tasks 10 and 13 are CANCELED
Due to strong wind TASKS 10 and 13 are CANCELED.
The official competition rules
Download the official competition rules here.
The Official competition map UPDATED
Dear Pilots,
Please use this link to download the official map. There is no PZ file yet. I will inform you as soon as I have prepared it.
You can download the OZI Explorer file containing the PZ from here.
Event director
BalloonLive sensors
Dear pilots,
The event is approaching and I would like to remind you that you must bring a BalloonLive Sensor (BLS) and a dedicated smartphone with you. If you do not have a BLS and cannot borrow one from a colleague, please write to us as soon as possible and we will try to make one available to rent.
Event Director
Event schedule UPDATED
24 – 29 August | Puglia
Competition center:
Coluni Events Resort Sport and SPA
8 Gravina in Puglia, Metropolitan City of Bari
33T 622044/4517535
General briefind and Opening Cereony Ceremony
23 August
10:00–16:00 – Check-in
16:30 – General Briefing and Official Opening Ceremony
24 - 28 August
05:45 – Flight Briefing
06:12 – Competition Flight
17:45 – Evening Briefing*
29 August
05:45 – Flight Briefing
06:12 – Competition Flight
17:45 – Evening Briefing*
21:00/22:00 – Award Ceremony and Closing of the Competition
30 August (Sunday)
06:18 – Fiesta Flight + Reserve Slot for Competition Flight
* At this time, evening competition flights are not scheduled due to potentially high temperatures and strong winds (which are normal in this part of Italy in late August). However, a decision regarding evening flights will be made just before or during the event. For now, evening briefings are planned to discuss evening activities: night glow, Key-grab flight, etc.