Uroš Sobočan – Page 2 – 24th FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship 2022

First official flight of Slovenian special shape hot air balloon “ROTO wastewater treatment plant”

At the airport in Murska Sobota, Slovenian balloonists performed the “first ceremonial flight” of a new Slovenian special shape hot air balloon “ROTO wastewater treatment plant”.

Although the new ROTO special shape hot air balloon was already shown to the public for the first time in Kranjska Gora, it was necessary to prepare an official first ceremonial flight for it and wish it many safe flights and soft landings.

The special shape hot air balloon “ROTO wastewater treatment plant” was created for the purpose of promoting products from the WATER program of the renowned Slovenian company ROTO. Before the balloon rose above the Murska Sobota plain, it was christened with sparkling wine and addressed by the director of ROTO company mr. Štefan Pavlinjek, who wished the balloonists many safe flights. After ceremony new hot air balloon ROTO wastewater treatment plant rose into the air in the company of numerous balloons from all over the Slovenia and colored the sky over Murska Sobota.

Authors of photographs: Nina Lepoša, Simon Ravnič in Matjaž Pavlinjek

HAB2020 postponed to 2022

Dear all!

We would like to inform you that organization team of 24th World Hot air balloon Championship in Slovenia has decided to postpone competition from 2020 to the year 2022.

The reason for decision, is unpredictable epidemic situation, duration of the restrictions, as well taking into consideration the risk of teams, organizers and audience’s health.

Please understand that it was a hard decision, but it was coordinated between everybody involved, including the FAI/CIA, LZS and the mayor of Murska Sobota municipality.

The final dates for the 2022 World Championship have not yet been decided, but will be known by the end of the year. We will inform you about the new dates and details.

The registration fee will be refunded to all of you, who have already paid it. For refund request please fill out this form:

In the sporting spirit of the competition, please continue to follow us. Everybody registered will be invited to the Slovenian Hot Air Balloon Open Nationals. Further information will be known soon.

Thank you for your understanding
ORG Team

Extension of 2nd round deadline

Dear Pilots!

Due to the actual pandemic situation, it is difficult to foresee the duration of the actual restrictions.

Because of that we decided to postpone the 2nd round deadline to June 25th, instead of June 1st 2020.

Final decision GO / No-Go about the event will be published on 18th of June.

After two month of lockdown Slovenia already eases coronavirus restrictions. Now we entered “phase 2” of its lockdown, as companies reopen with social distancing measures in place.

Slovenians must wear face masks on public transportation and in public spaces. Pubs and restaurant are open and can accept the guest in open and closed space now.

Thank you for your understanding.

Best regards,
ORG Team

New Slovenian special shape hot air balloon “ROTO wastewater treatment plant”

Slovenian balloonists proudly welcomes a new member in their hot air balloon fleet. ROTO a worldwide rotomoulding company from Pomurje region, invested into a new special shape hot air balloon – ROTO wastewater treatment plant.

The special shape hot air balloon was presented to public in Kranjska Gora at the Golden Fox slalom event by the organizers of 24th FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship.

The balloon was made by the Czech company Kubicek Balloons, which is one of the leading manufacturer of hot air balloons in the world.

24th FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship Murska Sobota 2020, which will take place from 19 to 26 September 2020 in Murska Sobota will host the best hot air balloon pilots from all over the world. The organizer expects 145 hot air balloons, and more than 800 visitors to experience this amazing event at Pomurje Region.

Pilot presentation – Grega Trček

PILOT PRESENTATION: GREGA TRČEK

The hot air balloon pilot Grega Trček flew across Slovenia almost a decade ago. The flight was one of the longest Slovenian balloon flights. Moreover, Grega was the first to fly over the northern Adriatic Sea. He has been piloting and maintaining balloons for over a decade. If you notice a balloon over Bled, Triglav or Ljubljana, it could be him. We asked him about the start of his career as well as flying over the Alps, which he enjoys immensely …

You have been a pilot for a number of years. Do you still remember your first flight?

Like many other pilots, I began my “ballooning career” as a member of another pilot’s ground team. Every once in a while, the pilot took us for a flight with him. The day when I was to board the basket came, and I experienced my first flight on the Ljubljansko barje. It was a short flight as there were many of us who couldn’t wait to jump in the basket. The pilot was Avi Šorn, who was later my instructor when I trained to become a balloon pilot. The feeling of taking off and floating in the air was incredible but unusual at first because the take off was sudden and you didn’t even feel the balloon lifting up from the ground. Suddenly, you were gliding above the land, not feeling the wind at all, which is normal because the balloon moves with the wind (laughs). In 1989 I began training to be a balloon pilot.

Flying over the Alps isn’t really an everyday event in the life of a pilot. What makes them special for you?

Flying over the Alps is a special challenge because of the specific weather conditions that come along with the flight. The difference between a “normal” flight and a flight over the alps is also in the altitude the balloon needs to fly at to safely fly over the Alps. The flight needs an altitude of 2500 and 3000 meters above sea level, sometimes even 3500 meters for a shorter period of time. The flight usually lasts between two and a half to three hours, whereas a normal flight lasts about an hour. The take off is usually at Rateče, Planica but the landing area depends on the wind, somewhere between Planinsko polje and Vipavska dolina. We cannot do these flights all year, because of their duration, so they mainly take place during winter, from November to March. What makes these flights so special? When you fly over the Slovenian Alps, you see almost half of Slovenia. Julijce, Jelovica, Ljubljanska kotlina, Trnovski gozd, Tržaški zaliv, Gradež, sometimes even Kvarnerski zaliv and the island Cres. The scenery and feelings when you’re flying over Julian Alps is truly something special.

The main condition for a safe flight are appropriate weather conditions. What sort of weather do we need for flights over the Alps?

For a safe and successful flight over the Slovenian Alps, we need very specific weather conditions, which include the appropriate wind speed and direction, the cloud base at a high enough altitude and of course no rain or snow. The appropriate wind direction is between 320 and 350 degrees, the speed shouldn’t be too low (at least 35-40 kph) and not too high because of potential turbulence over the Alps.

Does the altitude you fly at require any additional equipment?

Flying over the Alps generally doesn’t require any special equipment, because having oxygen for the crew is not required on these altitudes. We do have a PLB, transponder, radio station and other standard equipment. Using oxygen is required on altitudes higher than those we fly at, for example, flying over Austrian Alps, because the altitudes needed for that flight range from 4000 to 5500 meters.

How does flight control monitor your endeavours?

The communication with flight control is standard; filing a flight plan prior to take off, two-way communication at all times and mandatory use of a transponder, so flight control can always see us on a radar screen.

What would be your message to everyone looking at balloons in the sky?

Don’t just look at us in the sky – join us in these unforgettable experiences; flying, sailing in the air. There are three commercial flight operators in Slovenia, who have all the knowledge and permissions from the Civil Aviation Agency of the Republic of Slovenia. They can offer you a safe and unforgettable experience.

Grega, thank your for the talk and best wishes for the future!

Nominations for HAB2020 are closed

Pilots from 39 Countries will participate at 24th FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship Murska Sobota 2020

On 31. 1. we have reached the deadline for NACs acceptance. So far 39 contries have confirmed their participation and have nominated their entrants. On 15. 2. the first round of invitations will be sent out to the nominated pilots.

After the closing date for Round 1, additional invitations will be sent out to the pilots whose NACs responded until 31. 1. and the pilots from their country have already taken two invitations. The FAI Ranking Method will be used to determine invitations for the second round up to the maximum 100 allowed for the event. 5 medal holders will be invited directly by the organiser.

In September 2020, Murska Sobota will host pilots from:

Australia
Austria
Belgium
Brasil
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Great Britain
Greece
Hong Kong
Hungary
India
Italy
Japan
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Netherlands
New Zeland
North Macedonia
Poland
Russian Federation
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States of America

Dear pilots. Registration invitations will be sent to your e-mail adress with which you have been nominated by your organization. Please expect an invitation untill February 15, 2020. After that date, you will be able to log in to our system and submit the necessary documentation to enter the 24th FAI Hot Air Balloon Championship Murska Sobota 2020.

Nominations By Countries

Dear pilots, we kindly ask you to check if your country has already submitted a nomination for the 24th FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship Murska Sobota 2020. If your country is not listed below, please contact your National Airsport Control Organization (NAC) and send us an email at: office@hotairballoons2020.com

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countries apllied from all over the world

Nominations by Countries:

Australia
Austria
Belgium
Brasil
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Great Britain
Greece
Hong Kong
Hungary
India
Italy
Japan
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Netherlands
New Zeland
North Macedonia
Poland
Russian Federation
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States of America

Traditional New Year’s Flight with Balloons 2020

On January 1st 2020, we traditionally lifted ourselves into the air, thus welcoming the new year of 2020. Colorful balloons could be seen above Ljubljana and Maribor. We all wish you peacefully and full of successful ventures in new year 2020.

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St. Nicholas Hot Air Balloon Festival

A number of balloons yet again added some colour to the skies of Murska Sobota on 6th December 2019! They took off in front of Murska Sobota castle and greeted the visitors of the St. Nicholas fair in Murska Sobota – Miklošovo senje v Soboti 2019.

Among the numerous balloons of local clubs and one Austrian club, you could see our Slovenian competitive balloon, Štrkec, which represented our colours and reminded us of what we’re looking forward to next year.