Weekend Update & Fw: Balloon Fiesta Park - Weekly Events for week: March 16 - 22, 2026

[President - DCEF]

Hi All,

Weekend Update:  The Balloon Fiesta Park is OPEN for flying this week thru Thursday. There will be an event set-up going on in D4 on Thursday, so do watch out for folks/vehicles.  We should be OK to fly on Thursday.

   Firefighters will be using the roads these weekdays.  Please respect them.  Friday thru Sunday, Archery will be in D7 effectively closing R/C out until Monday.

BFP Weekly Forecast:  Weather Underground 10 Day

Daily Reminders:  Don't forget to visibly hang your Gate Card from your rearview mirror while you are at the Park.  Check the 2 Runway Barriers/Signs for center position with the signs facing out to block each end of the Runway.  Do respect the Balloonists if they are up and give them full airspace.  Watch for and avoid other park users.  Refrain from flying in the airspace above them.  Remember that the airspace over the Golf Training Center (Driving Range) is a NO FLY ZONE.  Clean up your Area (cigarettes/trash) or Crash Site (all pieces/parts) when you're finished, as well as all broken prop blades.  If you see a broken prop, even if it is not yours, please pick it up and throw it away.  Thanks.

Flight Awareness:  Stand 25' back from the Runway to allow for a Safety Margin and so all Pilots have a clear visual perspective.  All turns from the Runway shall be away from the Pits.  (Always fly to the west of the Runway over D6)  The prevailing wind directs the Flight Pattern.  (North Wind effects a Left Pattern and South Wind effects a Right Pattern at BFP)  Call out Take-Offs, Landings, and any Maneuvers that could affect another Flyer.  Use common sense if performing an unusual Flight Plan or Maneuver.  Communicate with others if flying large or fast aircraft.  Try to stay north of Key Grab (E/W road) so as not to interfere with the gliders.

   Unless everyone agrees otherwise, AIRCRAFT may NOT be flown in or from the Infield (D7 between the Blue Awning and the Runway) while others are using the Runway.

It is OK to fly from the Pits only IF:

A.  You are alone, just you and your plane.

B.  Everyone else agrees, understands, and is doing the same.

   As soon as anyone goes to fly from the Runway, Infield Flying and any Infield Agreement STOPS.  Even if you are already flying, land safely or move to the Runway.  MICROS may use the Infield to the north or south of the North Blue Awning when the Runway is occupied and there is agreement with everyone flying.  However, remember that BFP is primarily for bigger, faster planes because of its fantastic Runway and grass.  Please keep these little wonders well behind the Runway and NOT over any Pilot.  Refer to Protocol.

Los Lunas Indoor Flying:  I'm still waiting on John for an Update about Los Lunas Indoor.  It will be moving to the Senior High School soon.  Stay tuned.

Cumberland Heights Presbyterian Church Indoor:

When:  1st and 3rd Thursday of each month from 6:30-8:30pm

Where:  Heights Cumberland Presybyterian Church

            8600 Academy Rd NE (SE corner of Moon and Academy)

            Park/Enter on North end along Academy Rd.

What:  Anything that fits in the gym: airplane, drone, heli.

Note:  AMA required (sign-up sheet requires your AMA number)

Questions:  Neall Doren - ne...@haughtmail.com

Call/Text:  Neal Doren (505) 681-5998

Cheers,

Greg Rullman

President

Duke City Electric Flyers

Video of the Week:  Enough said!

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Greg Rullman

President

Duke City Electric Flyers

----- Forwarded Message -----

From: Rice, Susan <asr...@cabq.gov>

To: Rice, Susan <asr...@cabq.gov>

Cc: Gonzales, Sarah <sarahg...@cabq.gov>; Martinez, Jimmy <jimmym...@cabq.gov>

Sent: Friday, March 13, 2026 at 12:41:41 PM MDT

Subject: RE: Balloon Fiesta Park - Weekly Events for week: March 16 - 22, 2026

Hi all,

 

If you have random users on your reserved field space, please contact our office; 505-768-6062.

If it is after normal business hours, we may not be able to deal with the situation at the moment, but any information you can leave us will help with preventing the misunderstanding in the future.

Users may walk onto Balloon Fiesta Park with no knowledge of how we all work together to share the space. Please be understanding with them.

 

Thanks,

 

 

SUSAN RICE

recreation services division manager

o  505-768-6050

m 505-228-3144

e  asr...@cabq.gov

cabq.gov/parks