GREEN LIGHT FOR SATURDAY LAUNCH FOR BALLOONIST DAVID HEMPLEMAN-ADAMS

BANK OF IRELAND ATLANTIC CHALLENGE 2003
In association with
THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS

Pittsburgh, USA, June 27, 2003- Explorer and balloonist David Hempleman-Adams has been given the green light to launch the Bank of Ireland Atlantic Challenger 2003 balloon on Saturday, June 28, 2003. The launch will take place from Allegheny County Airport, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA on Saturday morning (GMT). David Hempleman-Adams hopes to break the existing distance record for the AM-08 Roziere class by accomplishing a solo flight in a wicker-basket balloon over the Atlantic from the US to Europe. The journey is expected to take about 7 days.

Dr. Dave Owen, the Flight Director at Bank of Ireland's UK headquarters in Bristol, confirmed that after careful analysis of the prevailing weather conditions, the launch has got the go-ahead. The launch will take place between 6am and 11am British Summer Time (1am and 6am Eastern Standard Time) on Saturday. It is then up to launch master Bert Padelt to decide the exact time of take off which will depend on the surface weather conditions at the launch site.

Once airborne, David Hempleman-Adams will fly the balloon north-easterly over the US mainland towards New England. The balloon will be carefully tracked by US Air Traffic Control via transponders fitted to the basket and by VHF radio.

Once the balloon approaches the North American coastline, the Flight Director will select the best wind track that will allow David Hempleman-Adams to begin his record attempt to cross the Atlantic. The Flight Control Centre will be manned around the clock by Dr. Dave Owen, Flight Director, and three flight controllers who will each work in three eight-hour shifts. Belgian meteorologist Luc Trullemans will be in regular communication from the Brussels weather centre.

Since arriving in Pittsburgh in May The Bank of Ireland Atlantic 2003 Challenge team have been busy making final preparations and equipment safety checks which will continue right up until the launch.

Media alerts will be issued upon successful launch and on commencement of the Atlantic crossing. Interim alerts will be issued on any developments in the meantime.

For further information:
Sarah Benefield
Tel: (0)117 943 7109
M: (0) 7703 516 759
Email:sarah.benefield@boiukfs.co.uk

Alex Foley or Anna Thomsen
Tel: (0)20 7352 3144
M: (0)7976 713478
Email:alex@alexfoleypr.com

Nicky Webster
M: (0) 7742 665 428
Email:nicky@coldclimates.co.uk

Notes to editors:
Launch site:
Allegheny County Airport,
Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, USA.

Launch team contact numbers:
001 412 466 6551/2/3

David Hempleman-Adams was born in Swindon, Wiltshire, United Kingdom in 1956. His interest in adventuring was inspired by the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, of which he is a gold medallist. In 1998 he became the first person to complete the Explorers' Grand Slam, a challenge that has seen him conquer the North and South Geographical and Magnetic Poles and scale the highest mountain in each of the seven Continents, including Everest. In 2000 he became the first man to fly a balloon over the North Pole. Amongst many awards this was recognized as the first flight to the North Pole by the Guinness Book of Records in 2001 and was awarded the British Aero Club's only Gold Medal that year for the most outstanding flight in 2000. In April of this year he became the first person to walk solo and unsupported some 300 miles to the Geomagnetic North Pole.

A Roziere balloon uses a combination of helium and hot air. This hybrid principle was devised by Jean-Francois Pilatre de Rozier for use in an attempt to cross the English Channel on 15 June 1785. Unfortunately he and his passenger were killed when the balloon caught fire. Balloons come in 4 categories as defined by the FAI (Federation Aeronautique Internationale): AA - gas balloons (unpressurized), AM -Roziere balloons, AS - superpressure gas balloons, and AX - hot air balloons.

His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh has kindly agreed to be Patron of the Bank of Ireland/Special Olympics Atlantic Challenge 2003 and David Hempleman-Adams will be carrying HRH's colours during the flight.

Bank of Ireland is the premier sponsor of the 2003 Special Olympics World Games and has played a key role in ensuring the success of the Games which are, for the first time, being held outside the United States. The Games will be the largest sporting event in the world this year with over 40,000 athletes, coaches and supporters travelling to Ireland for the event which officially opened on June 21, 2003.