Document Library

Top Gun Member Document Library

Membership and Document Updates

Electronic Membership Application/Renewal/Update Documents – This is where you go to renew your membership or update your Pilot or Balloon Documents.

Pilot Information

2024 Event Schedule – Includes the dates of all of the scheduled flying events for the calendar year.

2024 Top Gun Competition Rules (5/9/24 updated for change in “P”) – Includes the Competition Rules for pilots competing in Top Gun flying events. For more information pertaining to the Club Waiver, LOA, and Top Gun Flying Event Operations see the links below.

Fly In Goal Listing – A listing of Top Gun’s approved Fly In Goals in various Lat/Long formats including UTM 4×4.

Waiver and Related Documents

2024 Top Gun Signed Waiver – This link is to the combined current year waiver documents including the application, FAA approval, and all attachments.

Waiver Video Training Link – This is a great video on how to comply with the FAA waiver. This includes complying with minimum altitudes, what is considered congested vs less than congested vs sparsely populated airspace. and target approach distances and minimums.

Letter of Agreement (LOA) with Albuquerque Air Traffic Control (AATC) – Top Gun has entered into an agreement with Albuquerque Air Traffic Control (AATC) concerning requirements for operating within Albuquerque Class C airspace without an ADS-B transponder and excepting certain communication requirements normally required. As a member of Top Gun, you have acknowledged your understanding and compliance with the agreement and are included in this agreement.

Maps

Link to Target and PZ Maps – Some of these maps are specific to Top Gun and there are others that link to the maps provided by the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

Pilot Education and Training

A Sample Day (Coming Soon) – Here’s what you can expect to happen on Flying Event Day.

Task Data Sheet (TDS) Explained – This link is to help pilots understand what a TDS is and what it looks like. Also, with the implementation of Watch Me Fly for scoring, the TDS will be available online and viewable for any active event for Top Gun.

TDS Repository – A collection TDS from past events – These TDS sheets are examples from prior Top Gun events as prepared by the Event Director. Beginning in January, 2023 Top Gun began utilizing Watch Me Fly for scoring flying events. Watch Me Fly TDS may be viewed since that date by logging in to https://watchmefly.net/ and clicking on Your Competitions or Past Competitions, finding the event you are interested in viewing, and clicking on Tasks.

Balloon Live for Pilots Video – For those new to competition or anyone needing a refresher, this link is to a video with instructions for using Balloon Live which is the application utilized for tracking your flight and scoring your results within Watch Me Fly during a Top Gun flight. The instructions apply whether your are using a Balloon Live Sensor or a Cell Phone as a tracking device, how to log on, declaring goals, and marker drops.

Event Director (ED) Information

Event Director Basic Instructions
Required instructions for all Event Directors for each flying event.

Approved Target List
Top Gun is limited to this list for hard targets. No deviations. Note: Cabezon, High Range, Loma Colorado Parks are not approved for Saturday flying events.

Standard TG Task Data Sheet
Download this Excel spreadsheet to aid in formatting your event tasks to be sent to the Top Gun Scoring Official.

FAI Competition Operations Handbook (COH)
This is a great resource from the FAI for additional clarification of Top Gun’s Operations Rules. Includes Penalty Guide, See Section A.

ED Training Slides
This is from an old power point and has some good takeaways for performing ED duties.

If you have any documents to publish in the member only site – please forward them to topgunabq@gmail.com.