Visitor Information

If you have any queries regarding this year's Bristol International Balloon Fiesta please call our visitor information team:

0906 711 2191

Please note calls are charged at 50p per minute including VAT. The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta Ltd is a non-profit making organisation, and entrance to the event is free.

Terms and Conditions of Entry

REGISTRATION/BRIEFING

Balloonist Application Terms and Conditions

Early booking is the only way to avoid disappointment. Applications received after the allocation is filled will be placed on a standby list. All applications will be made online with full payment (including VAT) and on acceptance a VAT invoice will be returned, together with confirmation of the booking. There will be no exceptions to this rule. No registration will take place until completed booking forms are returned with payment. Initial period for expressions of interest will open in early January 2010 and close during February. After this time applications for entries may be placed at BBF discretion on a standby list for review. Please call the office if you have any questions. All pilots wishing to fly a balloon entered in the Fiesta and all Private Entries to the Fiesta must submit a Pilot Accreditation Form with their application. Applications will not be processed without this form. BIBF is under no obligation to accept any application. BIBF reserve the right to refuse any application without giving reasons.

Please note that refundable deposits are not subject to VAT. Please supply a picture of your balloon on entry for inclusion in the programme. In all categories of entry the Fiesta will accept a maximum of two balloons of a similar appearance or with the same logo (with the exception of the main sponsor) except with the written permission of the main sponsor.

It is BIBF's requirement that pilots attending the Fiesta will aim to fly on all available occasions appropriate to their level of skill and experience. It is also BIBF's requirement that balloonists will participate in â??Night Glows' and/or â??Tethering' in the main arena, in order to offer an entertaining show for the public. Tethering slots of an hour each will be available during the event with a tethering kit provided if required. Demand for places at the Fiesta invariably exceeds the number of spaces available. The acceptance of all application is at BIBF's sole discretion and preference may be given to pilots who have consistently done their best at the Fiesta. Decisions about flying are only taken by Flight Control. All pilots must have the appropriate maps, marked-up. All intellectual property rights arising from or in relation to the Fiesta including the name and any logo are vested and remain vested in BIBF and shall not be passed to or otherwise licence or exploited by or on behalf of any entrant without prior written consent of BIBF.

All balloons will enter the Fiesta in one of three categories. If you have any doubt about the appropriate category for your balloon, please contact the Fiesta office for advice. If BIBF feels an accepted balloon entry is made in the wrong category, any place it allocates may be held but entry not confirmed until the category of entry is agreed. The decision of BIBF regarding categories of balloons will be final.

PRIVATE ENTRY/SPECIAL SHAPE (FREE OF CHARGE)

A Private Entry applies to all balloons under 120,000cu.ft and unmarked or sponsored but whose are sponsors do not pay the pilot for his/her services and do not pay anything other than expenses to cover the balloons participation in the Fiesta. The entry is free but a refundable deposit of £100 is required.

A Commercial Entry is applicable to balloons flown by commercial pilots being paid for their services and all balloons under the control of balloon or owned by balloon operating companies and balloons that are flying their sponsors passengers at the Fiesta irrespective of to whom the balloon is lent to or flown by. The Entry Package is currently being finalised and details will be forwarded in due course. The entry fee is £125 (plus VAT) and an additional refundable deposit of £100 is required.

PASSENGER BALLOON (AOC HOLDERS) £225 PLUS VAT

A Passenger Balloon Entry is applicable to all conventional shape balloons of at least 120,000 cu.ft. whether they are flying fare-paying passengers or not. Participation by balloons larger than 120,000 cu.ft. is limited to 20 balloons for reasons of space. The entry fee is £225 (plus VAT) and an additional refundable deposit of £100 is required.

For all categories of entry the £100 deposit may be forfeited in full if there is a significant contravention of Fiesta rules e.g.:
1. The balloon does not attend the Fiesta.
2. The landing cards for each flight are not completed and returned.
3. The balloon is the subject of a compensation claim by a farmer or other third party.
4. The Fiesta basket banner or other banners are not returned.

Balloon Registration and the mandatory Pilots Briefing and Foreign Pilots, special Briefing will take place on Thursday 12th August 2010. Programme of events will run from the 12-15th August 2010. Please advise in writing if you are unable to attend. Pilots are required to attend all other briefings and debriefings.

BIBF reserve the right to alter any element of the Fiesta at their sole discretion without notice. The Site Map is for guidance only, its accuracy is not guaranteed.

There will be one pilot pack only allocated to each accepted balloon entry.

All entrants shall observe and comply with in addition to these terms and conditions, all relevant laws and other directions, codes of practice or guidelines imposed by BBF, and/or any law or other competent authority applicable to the event.

An opening flight from a City Centre location has been a traditional opener to the Fiesta since its inception. For 2010 BIBF will be considering a fresh approach to the â??curtain raiser' for the 2010 Fieta. However it is anticipated that any equivalent event could take place between 2nd and 11th August 2010 inclusive depending on the weather. BIBF wishes to have all categories of balloons represented and will invite balloons to create this mix. BIBF also tries to invite pilots who have not had the opportunity to fly from these city centre sites in recent years. Numbers are strictly limited and participation is by invitation only. As a condition of participation in the City Centre Flight all passenger spaces are assigned to the Fiesta and are allocated to civic dignitaries, press, media and other VIP's, by BIBF.

Aerial displays and stunts are subject to prior written agreement with the Fiesta office only.

The Fiesta office allocates all press to individual balloons at the City Centre Flight and the Friday Fiesta press morning. Balloon operators must not enter into prior arrangements for these events with any local, regional or national media. The Fiesta office must be notified in advance, in writing, of any media that operators wish to bring to the Fiesta. If you would like the opportunity to fly accredited Press please contact the office. All pilots and operators must comply with the Press terms and conditions.

For the 2010 Fiesta BIBF plans to stage two night glows. The first will be held on Thursday 12th and the second on Saturday 14th August. Participation is by invitation only but pilots are expected to participate in one night glow if required. All balloons entering the Night Glows must be equipped with VHF radios allowing reception on 122.475 MHz.

The Thursday Night Glow will be preceded by a Special Shapes Rodeo and all special shapes are invited to participate. Free flying or tethering of other balloons will not be permitted, other than by the event sponsor or by the direction of Flight Control.

There is limited camping space at the site for balloonists and accredited balloon team members only, allocated on a â??first come - first served' basis and subject to rules of use. There will be WC's and showers in the campsite area, or as near as possible, depending upon ground conditions.

In the interests of safety, the number of people on the Launch Field is regulated and limited. Passes will not be available at the Fiesta and must be ordered in advance. Please note that young children must be supervised and buggies and pushchairs will not be allowed in the arena. Dogs are not allowed on the Launch Field. Each entrant will receive five wristbands and if more are required, they can be requested subject to availability. One Balloonist Pass will be issued for the balloonists' vehicle. Limited extra Vehicle Passes, Privilege Car Passes and Boarding Passes can be requested subject to availability by contacting the Fiesta office by email. Requests for excessive numbers of passes will be refused.

BIBF reserve the right to prohibit the launch of any balloon that, in their opinion, is not airworthy. A current Certificate of Airworthiness is required for balloons flying at the Fiesta.

Valid insurance cover (minimum of £500,000 public liability insurance) with an insurer of repute must be effective during the whole of the Fiesta. Evidence of such cover satisfactory to BIBF must be produced to BIBF on request at any time and a copy of cover must be brought to the Fiesta for inspection.

Limited general security will be on site from 2nd August until the morning of 16th August 2009. Specific security requirements can be arranged by contacting the Fiesta office, in advance, for a quotation. Participants are responsible for the insurance and safekeeping of all equipment or articles brought onto the site and no responsibility is accepted by BIBF.

Cancellation must be made in writing to the Fiesta office. Before 1st May 2010 all fees and deposits will be refunded in full, less an administration fee of £30 plus VAT. On or after this date until 1st June 2010, 50% of the fee will be refunded, less an administration fee of £30 plus VAT and any other non-cancellable costs. No refunds will be given after the 1st June 2010. If the Fiesta is cancelled or fails to occur in whole or part for any reason no refund or other payment or compensation will be given.

BIBF, its officers, employees, agents and representatives shall have no liability whatsoever in respect of all and any action, claim, demand, proceedings, costs, expenses, fines, penalties loss or damage whatsoever arising out of or connected with the participation by any person, firm or company in whatever capacity in the Fiesta including but not limited to arising or resulting from or connected with the loss injury or damage sustained by or to any third party, any refusal by insurers to meet in full or in part or at all any claim or the seizure or taking of possession of any balloon or equipment. This shall not operate or be construed to operate to exclude or restrict the liability of the Company for death or personal injury caused by its negligence. Each entrant for itself and all those from whom it is directly or indirectly responsible shall indemnify and hold BBF harmless from and against all costs and expenses of whatever nature, actions, proceedings, claims, demands and damages made against BIBF, its officers and or representatives arising from any breach of its obligations to BIBF or from any acts or omissions on the part of the entrant and/or for those for whom it is so responsible.

The data we gather and hold is managed in accordance with the data protection act (1998). BIBF will not disclose or share personal information supplied by you with any third party organisation without your consent.