Serristori Airfield, Italy Electronic Noticeboard
Complaint from pilot #10 and answer to it
Dear Pilot,
First of all I want to remind you, that formal complaint can be submited only after the results are official, which is not the case this time. In addition, the decision about task cancellation was not oficialy published on ENB, which makes your complaint without legal reason. But because your questions are important not only for you but to all competitors, I decided to responce it.
Firstly, about your request to review my decision to cancel the Task #10 CRAT and particulary explain "sefety reason" cited for the cancellation. Unfortunately, I can't do that, because I didn't mention this reason as a reason for my decision to cancel this task.
However, another reason why the director may cancel a task is a reason beyond the director’s control. Following an analysis of the rules, the COH and other FAI documents relating to competition rules, it has become clear that I cannot apply them, consequently, I have no legal grounds to cancel this task and had revoke my decision. As a result I instructed the scorer to calculate the results in accordance with how the task was set out in the TDS and supplemented by clarifications during the briefing.
In response to your request to ‘investigate and consider how the time and fuel (petrol) spent on completing this specific task influenced our strategy and performance in the subsequent tasks’.
The completion of each task during a flight has some influence, one way or another, on the performance of subsequent tasks. The time and fuel consumed, as well as the tactics employed, depend on the pilot themselves, the condition of the equipment they are using and its technical capabilities. The task in question could have been carried out in different ways, requiring more or less fuel and time; it all depended on the tactics you chose and the decisions you made during the flight. I see no reason for a more in-depth investigation, nor is there sufficient data available; therefore, I regard your question as rhetorical, requiring no specific response on my part.
Event director
______________________________________________________________________
Dear Event Director,
I am writing to formally submit a complaint regarding the intended cancellation of Task10, which we have already flown.
We executed our flight based on a valid, officially published task sheet. Therefore, we respectfully request that our performance be evaluated and scored according to that original task sheet.
Furthermore, we ask you to investigate and consider how the time and fuel (gas) dedicated to completing this specific task influenced our strategy and performance in the subsequent tasks.
We would also like to request a detailed explanation of the "safety reasons" cited for this cancellation. We find it highly concerning that this decision is being made 6 hours after the landing and 2 hours after the provisional results were already published.
Please provide your response and the official justification for the intended cancellation in writing.
Finally, we request that both this complaint and your written reply be officially published on the notice board.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Szabolcs Garab
Team#10
FLIGHT 2 - Extended launching period until 18:15.
Dear pilots,
The launch period has been extended until 18:15. Please respond to the PILOTS group to confirm that you have received this message.
General Briefing Notes
The General Briefing Notes for download.
WhatsApp channels
Dear pilots,
Communication during the competition will take place via WhatsApp channels. The general competition community is the 36th Italian HAB Open Championship. There you will find four groups: Announcements, WIND | Tuscany Balloon Cup 2026, PILOTS | Tuscany Balloon Cup 2026 and Public | Tuscany Balloon Cup 2026.
The Announcments - Official competition announcements, including notification for ENB post by event director only.
The WIND | Tuscany Balloon Cup 2026 group - Wind measurements will be posted here.
The PILOTS | Tuscany Balloon Cup 2026 group - Here, pilots will be able to ask the director questions and respond to his enquiries.
The Public | Tuscany Balloon Cup 2026 group - The ‘Public’ group is for your photos, videos, impressions, comments and thoughts.
Balloon Live – Pilot Preparation
All competitors are responsible for ensuring that their Balloon Live equipment is up to date and that they are familiar with its operation before the event.
Check for updates
Please check that:
The latest Balloon Live App (BLA) is installed — currently v3030.
Your Balloon Live Sensor (BLS) has the latest firmware — currently v4.19.
For the latest information and updates, visit balloonlive.org.
Test and train before the event
Log in to the Balloon Live App with your WatchMeFly account and select "36th Italian Hot Air Balloon Open Championship 2026 / Tuscany Balloon Cup 2026" to download the competition and flight data.
A practice flight is available for testing in the days before the event. Please make at least one test recording with a BLS connected before the General Briefing. Let it run for a minimum of 5–10 minutes; longer recordings are encouraged.
During the test flight, please also practise:
Dropping markers
Declaring goals
Checking the system’s responsiveness
Allowing realistic pauses between selecting a marker or goal and confirming the action
You may record multiple practice flights. After stopping a recording, the flight data can be viewed and downloaded at WatchMeFly.net.
The officials will verify before General Briefing that each pilot has completed a test recording.
Get ready
Please download and read the BLA and BLS Operation Recommendations. You should also review the Balloon Live FAQs and the WatchMeFly Learning Center.
Please ensure that both your primary and secondary BLA devices, if used, are registered for "36th Italian Hot Air Balloon Open Championship 2026 / Tuscany Balloon Cup 2026".
If you experience any issues, first consult the FAQ and Learning Center. If you still need assistance, contact support@balloonlive.org or an scoring official on site.
Contest Area and PZs. UPDATED! /30.09.2026/
Dear pilots,
.plt file with Contest Area boundaries
.plt track files with centre lines of PZ3 and PZ4,
.wpt File with centre points of PZ2,
PZ5-PZ15
are available to download here
Update for the red PZ4: all railroads on the map are red PZs, with an area of 100 m from the centre line of the railroad and an altitude of 1,200 ft. The PZ shape is an arched tunnel.
The official competition rules
The official event rules you can donwload from here.
Competition map
Download the competition map in jpg format here.
Download the competition map in ozf format here.
Download the competition map in rmap format here.
Flights schedule UPDATED!!!
September 29, Tuesday
7:15 Training flight (no briefing)
12.00 Refuelling
14.00 - 17.00 Registration
18:30 General briefing
September 30, Wednesday
06:00 Morning coffee (new time)
06.40 Tasks briefing
07.10 The first competition flight
16.30 Tasks briefing
17.00 The second competition flight
October 1, Thursday
06:00 Morning coffee (new time)
06.40 Tasks briefing
07.10 The third competition flight
16.30 Tasks briefing
17.00 The fourth competition flight
October 2, Friday
06:00 Morning coffee (new time)
06.40 Tasks briefing
07.10 The fifth competition flight
16.03 Tasks briefing
17.00 The sixth competition flight
October 13, Saturday
06:00 Morning coffee (new time)
06.40 Tasks briefing
07.11 The seventh competition flight
17.30 Flight or Tasks briefing *
18.00 Key grab or The final competition flight
xx.xx Closing / Award ceremony
* If two flights and three tasks cannot be completed during the week, the missing flights and tasks will be attempted in the evening on 3 October .