Much like the Leukemia Society's 'Team In Training' concept, individual AWBC Aeronauts support The AWBC Cause, working directly with students, inspiring academic excellence. This is a non-profit (501-c3) charity event where extraordinary individuals are given the chance to compete with themselves, the Alaskan mountainous environment, and other World Class Aeronauts; in that order.
This is a new exciting concept for balloon competition. Traditional hot-air balloon competition has all the competitors navigating over a common target and throwing bean bag markers for prize money. In this elite World Class Competition, the Aeronauts are encouraged to execute extraordinary flight plans in mountainous areas. To be considered for invitation an aeronaut's proficiency must have evolved well beyond the skills necessary to simply navigate to a target. In this competition, each aeronaut is required to file his or her unique flight plan with the AWBC Judges, carry a GPS, and execute that flight plan with precision and safety. The GPS units document the flight path. Much like the rules for judging Olympic floor routines; AWBC Judges grade the aeronaut competitors on the eloquence of their flight plans and the execution of those flight plans. In AWBC competition, the aeronauts themselves must have the flexibility and the authority to make the best of their options for safety in this unforgiving mountainous environment.
