Albuquerque Aerostat Ascension Association (AAAA)

San Juan River Balloon Rally
2025-06-13 - 2025-06-15 | Bloomfield, NM, Bloomfield, NM, United States
Mass Ascension — Friday, Saturday, Sunday at 6:30 am
Balloon Glow — Saturday evening at 5:30 pm
Lots of Entertainment & Vendors!
Contact the Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce with questions. (505) 632-0880

Balloons Over Angel Fire 2025
2025-06-13 - 2025-06-15 | NM
Watch a field of hot-air balloons at sunrise as they gracefully float up into the cool morning air of the Moreno Valley. Balloons Over Angel Fire is one of the few high-mountain hot-air balloon events in the country. Learn how the balloons work, talk to the pilots, take lots of pictures and spend Father’s Day weekend enjoying the laid-back pace of Angel Fire, NM.

Schedule of Events
Friday
Gates Open 6:00am
6:30am-9:00am Mass Ascension – Angel Fire Airport
9:00am-5:00pm Vietnam Veterans Memorial Open
5:00pm-7:00pm Cool Summer Nights
Free Concert at Liberty Square Park

Saturday
Gates Open 6:00am
6:30am-9:00am Mass Ascension – Angel Fire Airport
9:00am-4:00pm Mimosas on Mainstreet

Sunday
Gates Open 6:00am
6:30am-9:00am Mass Ascension – Angel Fire Airport
10:00am-4:00pm Angel Fire Farmer’s Market – Frontier Park

What You Should Know Before You Go
Angel Fire Weather
The average temperatures in Angel Fire in June range from 60-70 degrees during the day. Nights and early mornings may get down into the 40s but make for great summer grilling and bonfire weather.

How To Dress For The Weather
The best way to dress in the mountains is in layers. Start with a light sweatshirt or sweater over a t-shirt or tank top. Sunglasses, a hat and a raincoat or umbrella will have you prepared for varying weather. All events are outdoors and apparel is casual.

What To Bring To Tailgate At The Angel Fire Airport
The ascension events at the Angel Fire Airport are a bring-your-own-seating and food, type of festivity. Lawn chairs, blankets, strollers and wagons are all acceptable. You are encouraged to tailgate open up that cooler and get fueled up for summer mountain fun.

Prices & Promotions
Balloon sightings, live music, the street fair and the farmers market are all FREE to attend. There will be food and beverages available for purchase, along with local art and produce.

Education Committee Meeting - June 2025
2025-06-09 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Denver) | Via Zoom Only
All meetings take place via Zoom. Please contact the Education Committee Chair for a meeting link.

In-Person Private Pilot Ground School
2025-06-06 - 2025-06-08 | Balloon Fiesta Main Office, 4401 Alameda Blvd NE, Albuque, NM, 87113
Registration for this Ground School is CLOSED.

Balloons & Beverages! — Hot-Air Balloon PAINT NIGHT
2025-06-02 18:30 - 21:00 | Kelly Jo Designs by Wine, 6829 4th St NW, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, 87107, United States
Join us for another great FUNdraiser for AAAA!

Kelly Jo Designs by Wine will donate 25% of class fees and bar sales
to our balloon club. Bring a friend or two and have some fun!
Click Here to Buy Tickets!

General Membership Meeting - May 2025
2025-05-27 18:30 - 19:30 | Anderson Abruzzo Int’l Balloon Museum, 9201 Balloon Museum Dr NE, NM, 87113, United States
Our program for May is still scheduled to be Eric Thomas, the new acting manager from the Albuquerque FSDO. He’s going to give us some insights into his approach to that position, and we’re excited to have him getting involved with the local balloon community.
Come early to socialize with friends!
Zoom link will be sent out via email to members a couple of days prior to the meeting.

Rio Grande Classic
2025-05-23 - 2025-05-26 | NM

Board Meeting - May 2025
2025-05-19 17:30 - 19:30 | NM

Education Committee Meeting - May 2025
2025-05-12 18:00 - 19:00 | Via Zoom Only

AAAA Flying Event - Balloon Fiesta Park
2025-05-11 06:00 - 10:00 | NM
LOCATION: Balloon Fiesta Park
0515 – Registration Begins
0545 – Pilot Briefing
LOCATION – NE Corner of the Fiesta Field, enter off Balloon Fiesta Parkway
Please click on this link to PRE-REGISTER no later than 5 pm on May 9th.
Click here for the Crew Certificate of Understanding (COU).

General Membership Meeting - April 2025
2025-04-22 18:30 - 19:30 | Anderson Abruzzo Int’l Balloon Museum, 9201 Balloon Museum Dr NE, NM, 87113, United States
Come early to socialize with friends!
Zoom link will be sent out via email to members a couple of days prior to the meeting.
At the April meeting, we’re pleased to welcome Lt. Col Andrew Metelko from the Air Force Safety Center here in Albuquerque. He’s an aviation physiologist and will share some of the techniques the Air Force has developed for managing risk in aviation. He’ll use the Balloon Fiesta as an example case.
We’re also expecting the new manager for the ABQ FSDO, Eric Thomas, to introduce himself. Eric will be back in May to give us his vision for the local FSDO going forward.

Top Gun Monthly Flying Event
2025-04-19, 2025-02-15 06:30 - 08:30 | NM

Board Meeting - April 2025
2025-04-14 17:30 - 19:30 | NM

AAAA Flying Event - Rio Rancho
2025-04-12 | Rio Rancho, Rio Rancho, NM, United States
LOCATION: Westside and 10th across from Joe Harris Elementary School
5:45 am – Registration Begins
6:15 am – Pilot Briefing
Please click on this link to PRE-REGISTER before Saturday morning.

Education Committee Meeting - April 2025
2025-04-07 18:00 - 19:00 | Via Zoom Only

General Membership Meeting - March 2025
2025-03-25 18:30 - 19:30 | Anderson Abruzzo Int’l Balloon Museum, 9201 Balloon Museum Dr NE, NM, 87113, United States
Come early to socialize with friends!
Zoom link will be sent out via email to members a couple of days prior to the meeting.

Board Meeting - March 2025
2025-03-17 17:30 - 19:30 | NM

Top Gun Monthly Flying Event - Day 2
2025-03-16 06:30 - 08:30 | NM

Top Gun Monthly Flying Event - Day 1
2025-03-15 06:30 - 08:30 | NM

St. Patrick's Day Balloon Rallye ~ Belen, NM
2025-03-15 - 2025-03-16 | Belen, NM, Belen, NM
The 39th Annual St. Patrick’s Balloon Rallye is right around the corner!

When: Saturday and Sunday, March 15th – 16th, from 7am – noon

Where: Eagle Park, 305 Eagle Lane. Please use Christopher Road to enter the park area.

There will be food trucks and vendors, and you’ll be able to visit the Veterans Veterans Information Center and Belen’s Eagle Park Veterans Memorial!

*Please note, all activities are weather permitting

Education Committee Meeting - March 2025
2025-03-10 18:00 - 19:00 | Via Zoom Only

AAAA Flying Event - Balloon Fiesta Park
2025-03-09 06:30 - 10:00 | NM
* REMEMBER THE TIME CHANGE *
LOCATION: Balloon Fiesta Park – We will meet in the NE corner, entrance off Balloon Fiesta Parkway.
0630 – Registration
0700 – Pilot Briefing
Be sure to get your COUs filled out… go to this link to access the form.

AERCO Annual LTA Safety Seminar
2025-03-01 | Sid Cutter Pavilion, 4900 Balloon Fiesta Pkwy NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87113, United States

General Membership Meeting - February 2025
2025-02-25 18:30 - 19:30 | Anderson Abruzzo Int’l Balloon Museum, 9201 Balloon Museum Dr NE, NM, 87113, United States
NOTE – This month, we will be in the FIRST FLOOR meeting room of the museum, due to the elevator being out of commission.
This month’s program will be Barbara Fricke and Peter Cuneo giving us a recount of their experience with the Coupe Aeronautique Gordon Bennett that ended with some astonishing landings in Portugal.
Come early to socialize with friends… doors open at 6pm!
We will also be on Zoom for this month, although be looking for changes to the Zoom option in the upcoming months. This month’s Zoom link can be found in the membership email from 2/22/25.

PRIVATE Pilot Ground School (In-Person)
2025-02-21 - 2025-02-23 | Balloon Fiesta Main Office, 4401 Alameda Blvd NE, Albuque, NM, 87113
[SOLD OUT]
Are you looking to become a Private Hot Air Balloon Pilot? This is the place to get the ground instruction you need to pass the written FAA Knowledge Exam.
With this Ground School you will be provided with the following manuals:

Test Prep (ASA) Private Pilot – 2025 Version
ASA Rotating Plotter
Current Denver Sectional
AAAA Weight/Temperature Calculator
Class Notebook which contains all the slides and handouts
Students Endorsement to take the FAA ‘written’ knowledge test

Thank You…
AAAA Education Committee
Ground School Agenda

FRIDAY EVENING

5:30 — 5:45
Registration
Mike Voorhees

5:45 — 6:00
Introductions, Overview & Housekeeping
Mike Voorhees

6:00 — 9:00
Sectional Charts and Airspace
Beth Wright-Smith

SATURDAY

7:15 — 7:30
Sign in & Review of 1st day
Mike Voorhees

7:30 — 8:30
Fundamentals & Altimetry
Neal Smith

Break

8:45 — 9:45
Navigation/Plotting
Ken Beebe

Break

10:00 — 12:30
Regulations / FAR’s (14 CFR)
J D Huss

12:30 — 1:45
LUNCH (on your own)

1:45 — 2:45
Balloon Systems & Propane
Natasha Stanke

Break

3:00 — 4:00
Aircraft Performance
Neal Smith

Break

4:15 — 5:30
Airport Ops, Medical Facts, ADM
Peter Cuneo

SUNDAY

7:15 — 7:30
Sign in & Review of 2nd day
Mike Voorhees

7:30 — 10:30
Weather Theory
David Tennis

Break

10:45 — 11:45
Communications
Ken Beebe

11:45 — 1:00
LUNCH (on your own)

1:00 — 3:00
Weather Services
Barbara Fricke

Break

3:15 — 4:15
Storyboard Balloon Flight
Ray Bair

4:15 — 5:00
Obtaining FAA Pilot Certificates
Beth Wright-Smith & Barbara Fricke

5:00
Turn in evaluations, get sign off for FAA written exam

Board Meeting - February 2025
2025-02-17 17:30 - 19:30 | Siarza, 6100 Seagull Street NE, Suite B201, Albuquerque, NM, 87109, United States

Education Committee Meeting - February 2025
2025-02-10 18:00 - 19:00 | Via Zoom Only

Sunday FLYING — February 9 — Friends & Lovers Rally
2025-02-09 05:45 - 10:00 | The MAC in Rio Rancho, 801 Loma Colorado Dr. NE, Rio Rancho, NM, 87124
PILOT BRIEFING:

The (MAC) McDermott Athletic Center —
801 Loma Colorado Blvd, Rio Rancho, NM 87124
5:45 AM – Doors Open for Pilot Briefing
6:30 AM – Pilot Briefing Begins
Presented by Kristelle Siarza Moon and Ian Whitling
Public address by the 2025 Balloonmeistern
Updates on special events and party details
7:00 AM – All pilots released to their respective launch locations
LAUNCH SITES:
Launch locations will be finalized based on weather conditions and site approvals, with proposed areas including schools and parks in Rio Rancho. Pilots are expected to collaborate and coordinate with one another to ensure their launch windows do not overlap or interfere.
PARKING:
Pilots are encouraged to park at The MAC, while crew members should use the parking areas at the Rio Rancho Library or Lowe’s. Pilots can then pick up their crew from these locations. This system operates similarly to the Balloon Fiesta N-Lot but with a more flexible approach.
PROPANE:
Propane will be available for all pilots participating in the event. Logistics will be determined and released as soon as possible.

Saturday PARTY — February 8 — Friends & Lovers Rally
2025-02-08 10:00 - 14:00 | The BLOCK in Rio Rancho, 7805 Enchanted Hills Blvd. NE, Rio Rancho, NM, 87144
Location:
The BLOCK Container Park
7805 Enchanted Hills Blvd. NE, Rio Rancho – 10am – 2pm
Let’s celebrate our amazing balloon crews with live music by The Nate Fox Band, country and rock & roll hits, and tons of fun! Enjoy a silent auction, raffles, baggie decorating, tailgating games, the Crew of the Year Awards, and more. Food and drinks will be available for purchase, hosted appetizers and drinks — no outside food or beverages allowed. Don’t miss this unforgettable crew appreciation party!
Schedule of Events:

Silent Auction: Closes at 12:30 PM
Live Country Band: Performances from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Merchandise & Raffle Sales: Available throughout the event

On-Site Vendor Specials:

El Chamo Arabe Express
Stackers
KūKri
Los Tacos del Rey
Suga Suga
The Boba Lounge
Thicc Pizza Co.
The Crepe Corner
Tavern on the Green
Link Link
The Mini Bar

Additional Activities:

Baggie Drop-Off and Judging (scroll down for submission guidelines)
Ultimate Tailgating Games
Recognition Ceremony: Celebrating the Crew of the Year and Balloonmeistern

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Baggie Decorating Contest
Submission Guidelines:

Safety First: Baggies must not pose any hazards when dropped from a balloon.
Theme Required: All entries must talk, demonstrate and show love
Extra Points: Use red or pink colors for bonus points.
Weight Limit: Each baggie, including its tail and decorations, must weigh no more than 4 oz.
Tail Specifications: Tails must be between 2 to 4 feet long and include the following information: Balloon Name, Pilot Name, and Crew Chief Name.

Judging & Awards:
The Balloonmeistern will evaluate baggies based on appearance, creativity, and adherence to guidelines. The winner will be announced at the pilot briefing on Sunday.
Additional Details:

Two matching or complementary baggies are required: one for the Pilot (for competition, pending flying events) and one for the crew to use in their competition.
Baggies will be available for pick-up before the Pilot Briefing on Sunday morning.
Show off your creativity and flair while staying true to the theme—good luck, and we can’t wait to see your designs!
