SOME MAJOR RESTRICTIONS FOR PILOTS AT THIS YEAR’S ALBUQUERQUE INTERNATIONAL BALLOON FIESTA REMAIN IN PLACE, DESPITE A MEETING BETWEEN SANDIA PUEBLO AND BALLOON FIESTA OFFICIALS MONDAY
SANDIA PUEBLO SAYS NO BALLOONS WILL BE ALLOWED TO LAND ON THE RESERVATION EXCEPT IN AN EMERGENCY. SCOTT APPELMAN, PRESIDENT OF RAINBOW RYDERS HOT AIR BALLOON COMPANY, SAYS THAT TAKES AWAY A HUGE POTENTIAL LANDING AREA. HE SAYS IT’S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF LAND, NEARLY 40 SQUARE MILES GOING UP TO BERNALILLO.
APPELMAN SAYS SANDIA HAS ALSO IMPOSED ALTITUDE RESTRICTIONS FOR BALLOONS FLYING OVER THE RESERVATION. ANOTHER MEETING BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES IS SET FOR LATER THIS WEEK.
