BALLOON FIESTA INTERNATIONAL PILOTS WILL FLY IN 2003!

Thursday, September 25, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: KATHIE LEYENDECKER 505-228-9874

ALBUQUERQUE….ALBUQUERQUE INTERNATIONAL BALLOON FIESTA (AIBF) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PAUL SMITH WAS NOTIFIED LATE THIS AFTERNOON THAT FOREIGN PILOTS HAVE BEEN GRANTED A WAIVER AND WILL BE ABLE TO FLY IN THIS YEAR’S BALLOON FIESTA. THE FAA HAS CLARIFIED THE US CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING FOREIGN BALLOONISTS WISHING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BALLOON FIESTA.

“ WE WANT TO THANK SENATOR PETE DOMENICI, SENATOR JEFF BINGAMAN AND CONGRESSWOMAN HEATHER WILSON FOR THEIR TIMELY INTERVENTION IN KEEPING THE 32ND ALBUQUERQUE INTERNATIONAL BALLOON FIESTA FROM BEING IMPACTED BY A RECENT FAA RULING,” SAID SMITH.

AIBF HAD JUST RECENTLY RECEIVED NOTICE THAT THE FAA CHANGED ITS INTERPRETATION OF THE FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATIONS (FARS), AND THAT FOREIGN PILOTS WOULD BE REQURIED TO COMPLETE A BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW (BFR) BEFORE BEING ISSUED A US LICENSE.

“A SPECIAL THANK YOU ALSO GOES TO TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY NORM MINETA AND FAA ADMINISTRATOR MARION BLAKEY FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. THEIR HARD WORK AND COOPERATION WILL INSURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO OPERATE AS AN INTERNATIONAL EVENT,” SMITH ADDED.

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