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This is the after event poll
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October means one thing to most Balloonist.
It’s Fiesta Time.
I have been watching the postings on Facebook and I get a big smile on my face to hear about everyone going to Albuquerque for the big event! It was many years ago when I went to “The Big One” It is an exciting event and one that can test your skills in a big way. Please BE SAFE. Here are some great things to remember. Not everyone who flies has the same skill level or even recent flight time. Be super alert to all the balloons around you. Some are flying only for the first time at the event and others may only have 5 flights under their belt this entire year! Take an experienced ground crew with you to help keep you aware of everything around you. Heck if you can take another pilot with you, do so! Don’t fly over your head. If you would not fly in the conditions at home don’t fly in them there. If the weather conditions are marginal for your taste you certainly don’t want to be up there with 100’s of other balloons! Fly to have fun and enjoy the experience and NOT because everyone else is. Take the time to talk to your ground team. Make sure they are aware of everything that is going on. Tell them NOT to get in a hurry to chase, drive the vehicle FIRST and worry about the balloon second. One of the things, that occurs way too often and does not make national headlines are the incidents on the ground that do not involve a balloon. While I wish for everyone to have great flights I am hoping that ALL participants are safe, (in the air and on the ground). Look for the Thompson’s Jon is flying for Rainbow Riders and Mom and Dad (Connie and Jim) are lurking around there somewhere as well.
FOR SALE
I have been looking at the different options online for Balloon Equipment. There are several places online, Facebook is the most common place I find things for sale. The issue I run into is what if you are searching for a specific item? A Tank or a Fan or just a Bottom End. That is where most “For Sale” places fall short. There is nearly, no way to find exactly what you are looking for without doing a bunch of sorting or scrolling back over dozens of things you have no interest in. The Equipment 4SALE section on HotAirBalloonist.com is set up so you can find EXACTLY what you are looking for in just a couple of clicks. When we say a couple of clicks we mean TWO. In almost every case you can find a whole section of exactly what you are looking for in two clicks. Here are just a few of the features of using the HotAirBalloonist.com Equipment 4SALE forum.
AS THE SELLER,
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You can post as much descriptive text as you wish.
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You can add as many photos as you like.
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You can include details such as Price, Location, Hours, Shipping Options, Model, Make
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You can also include all your contact information such as Phone, Email, Address, and best way to contact.
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Return to your post and edit in any way you wish. Add more photos, text or even change the price of your item.
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In addition as a member on the site you can take advantage of the “Follow Feature” to be notified whenever someone posts a comment or question about your item.
I encourage you to have a look at the Equipment 4SALE section on HotAirBalloonist.com and see for yourself. If you have equipment for sale, send me an email with all the details and I will create a 4SALE post for you!
BALLOON CUPS
So we are expecting the new custom Balloon cups to show up here at the shop any day! We have another cup in the works and it has 5 spaces left. SO… if you were one of the people who did not get a spot on the first cup but would still like to have your balloon on a custom cup here is your chance. Go to this page.
https://balloons-andbeyond.com/2023-balloon-cup/
Fill out the form with your details, Balloon name and add a real good photo of your balloon. Then when you submit that page it will take you to a page where you can purchase a case of cups. To get your balloon on the cup you are required to pre-purchase a case of cups. A case of cups is $325 and contains 500 cups (that will have YOUR balloon on them) When you purchase a case the price per cup works out to 65 cents a cup. A super cheap souvenir to give to your passengers and crew! Also remember the cups have the Balloonist’s prayer on them! Don’t forget to hide away a sleeve of cups for your own personal collection.
What did I do?
In the last newsletter I described a situation that was, in my mind, a super dangerous situation that could have ended up in a horrible disaster. I asked the question what would you do? This is a great topic at this moment with so many heading to Albuquerque for Fiesta. Here is a reminder of what I was a witness to”
I was up in Helen GA for the Helen to the Atlantic event. My father was going on a Gas Balloon flight at the event. The afternoon flight was a go but things had not calmed down. Everyone was told to use a tie off because of the thermals and very tight launch areas. I figured I would walk down and help in any way I could. As I was walking around the balloons I saw a balloon rolling all over the place in the gusty conditions. I walked over to the basket to see if I could find the pilot. What I saw seriously scared me to death. The pilot had taken a rope tied to their pickup truck. Ran the rope through the basket via one of the tank strap holes around the fuel tank and out the other tank strap hole. So the entire balloon was secured by a rope around a fuel tank and wicker. To make matters worse the parachute line, was lying about 20 up inside the envelope. It was not tied to anything at all. This means that if the balloon started to take off in a gust of wind someone would have to run INTO the balloon to grab that parachute line to deflate the balloon. I have tried to deflate a balloon while riding along inside. It is nearly impossible to get enough friction on Balloon Fabric to pull out a straight pull parachute. Then, LORD HELP everyone if that rope tore that tank out of the basket and severed the fuel line! So what would you do?
My solution was to immediately create a safe environment and explain to the pilot the issues I saw. I went into the balloon and grabbed the parachute line. Walked out and handed the line to one of the ground team holding open the mouth. I told them if this balloon begins to move again to pull on this line as hard as they could. I then walked over and shut off the fan. I knew this would bring the pilot from where ever they were down to the basket. It worked. The pilot was over at the next balloon to the left talking to another pilot. They came running back to the basket to find out what had happened to the fan. I was there and told them that I had shut it off. I asked them if they thought the rope thru the wicker and around the tank could lift that pickup truck. I then explained that the balloon could. While they were very upset with my actions they also could see my point. If a gust or thermal were to grab that balloon it would rip that tank right out of the side of that basket and there would be no way to stop that balloon. We had a very productive conversation. I then helped them get launched.
I urge each of you to keep an eye on your fellow balloonist. HELP each other be safe. Please not only be alert for potential situations with your own equipment and crew, but the others around you! Additionally, be receptive to constructive advice from others. We know everyone does things differently but maybe, just maybe that other guy might have a good idea. One of the stories I have told in the past and still rings true today. I was a very cocky young pilot. I had way more talent than sense. My parents realized this and did not want to inhibit my drive and passion. My father gave me a great piece of advice I still remember to this day. “Even that guy who does 9 out of 10 things wrong is worth watching because the one thing he does right is something you may not have thought of”
Learn from everyone and always be willing to share and……
Thank you for all you do for the Balloon World.
be safe
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You can post as much descriptive text as you wish.
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Hi Capt. Jeff Thompson, How is everyone doing this year?
I know I say this over and over, but… Thank you all for what you do for the Balloon World. It has now been three and a half years since a stoke, ended my ballooning career, but I still stay involved as much as I can. Remember if there is anything you need and you think I can help send me an email or call me and toss the idea or question at me. I would be thrilled to help in any way I can. This newsletter we will talk about some of the projects I have been working on and some ideas for the future.
I guess I am officially doing basket rehabs.
Tom Warren the Kubicek dealer for the southeast region has been bringing baskets to me to “Fix UP” I use that term lightly since some of them are pretty major overhauls but I am happy to do this. I love breathing new life into a basket that would have been thrown into a landfill, or worse flown to the point of failure. Scott McClinton came down here to Florida to give me a basket that was a real mess. Even my wife looked at me when we brought it into the shop and said “Boy I hope you haven’t bitten off more than you can chew on this one”. I just told her, “One step at a time” Here is a before and after shot of that basket.
There was one little Aurora, I threatened to keep
We have also been manufacturing Competition Targets and Markers for balloon events.
While these targets and markers are built to the exact BFA standards for competition you do not have to be a big time competitor to have some fun target flying at an event. We have made a couple of them for the
Aviation Ranch near Cordele Georgia and they have been sent to balloon events who just want to have some fun and fly at a target and toss a few markers! Contact Tom Warren to ask him if you would like to use a target for the weekend. He will send you a target kit with everything you need including 40 markers. He is just asking that you send the kit back when you are done with it. Check out the event in Anderson SC for videos of them flying at a target for fun or do a search for Aviation Ranch on Facebook. If you are interested in getting a Target Kit of your own you can check them out on Balloons-andBeyond.com under the tab “Event Gear” The kit is super nice and comes with everything you need to set up a target anywhere. Markers are not included but can be ordered there as well.
Speaking of Balloons-andBeyond.com
We are ordering the next set of Balloon Cups! We have just submitted all the artwork for approval from the manufacturer and expect to have our order finalized by mid week this next week. It will be about 4-6 weeks for manufacturing and then we will ship out the cups to each balloonist who is on the cup the very day that they come in. Here are the Balloons on the new 2023 Custom Balloon Cup.
We did have many pilots who sent in photos but never purchased a case of cups or sent in their information after we had sold all the spots. We believe the demand for custom cups could be great enough for us to have a second run. A custom run of cups is 50 cases. We must make a substantial investment to get them run and then sell off the extra cases over time. The last run took us more than two years to use up. So we require 14 pilots to pre-purchase a minimum of one case (500 cups) to get their balloon on the cup. A case of cups is $325. This means that if you purchase a case your, per cup cost will be about 65 cents. A super cheap souvenir to give to a passenger after the flight and they are perfect for the traditional champagne toast!
We sold out of spots on this run and still had a few others who wanted to be on it. We limit the number of balloons to 14 so the cup does not look over crowded and that each balloon is large enough that there is no doubt that it is their balloon on the cup. You can see a nice animation of the first cup HERE. Once we get this cup into production we will see if there are enough pilots to place another order. We have also been contacted by several balloon clubs about having a cup done just for their club pilots. We also could do a cup run for an event. I am happy to answer any questions you may have.
I had a couple of our local pilots stop by my shop last week (as they often do).
We talk about all sorts of stuff and quite often I tell them stories about ballooning in the 70’s and many of the hard lessons we learned. They had a great idea. What about doing a "Talkinar". I know that is not a real word but instead of a Safety Seminar what about a Safety Talkinar? You cant get into ballooning without making a few dumb mistakes! Over the years some (most) of us up with many stories of what went well as well as, what went wrong.
I have often been told that I should write down some of the stories and maybe I should.
What about getting a group of pilots together and talk specifically about how YOU do things and things you have done wrong or situations you have seen.
Here is an example.
I was up in Helen GA for the Helen to the Atlantic event. My father was going on a Gas Balloon flight at the event. The afternoon flight was a go but things had not calmed down. Everyone was told to use a tie off because of the thermals and very tight launch areas. I figured I would walk down and help in any way I could. As I was walking around the balloons I saw a balloon rolling all over the place in the gusty conditions. I walked over to the basket to see if I could find the pilot. What I saw seriously scared me to death. The pilot had taken a rope tied to their pickup truck. Ran the rope through the basket via one of the tank strap holes around the fuel tank and out the other tank strap hole. So the entire balloon was secured by a rope around a fuel tank and wicker. To make matters worse the parachute line, was lying about 20 up inside the envelope. It was not tied to anything at all. This means that if the balloon started to take off in a gust of wind someone would have to run INTO the balloon to grab that parachute line to deflate the balloon. I have tried to deflate a balloon while riding along inside. It is nearly impossible to get enough friction on Balloon Fabric to pull out a straight pull parachute. Then, LORD HELP everyone if that rope tore that tank out of the basket and severed the fuel line! So what would you do? I will tell you what I did..
In the next newsletter.
Thank you for all you do for the Balloon World.
Please get a paid membership to the site.
Fly Well, Have FUN and BE SAFE.
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Classic 2023 V1.3 Test
This is version 1.3 Test File
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Submitter
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Submitted07/31/2023
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Classic 3D PZ version
New in version 1.4
An area north west of town what was changed in Version 1.3 to be all RED has now been enlarged. Please update your maps.
This is the test version of the PZ map. This is 3D 1.2
New in Version 1.3
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Submitter
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Submitted07/29/2023
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Version 1.2
This is a test file of Version 1.2
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Submitter
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Submitted07/29/2023
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Classic update V 1.1
This is Version 1.1 Here is what has changed.
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Submitter
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Submitted07/28/2023
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Category
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Targets by Numbers
I must give credit for this idea to Todd Hastie.
We all know that there are a BUNCH of potential targets at the National Balloon Classic. Sometimes while using the HotAir.app it is rather difficult to figure out exactly which target pin you are trying to fly at. While the recently added feature called the “Long Tap” gives you the ability to place a target on the map while you are flying and it draws a line from where you are to the target (See page 7 of the HotAir.app tutorial) you still must figure out what target pin you are flying at! Todd’s idea was to create a KML file for each of the targets therefore allowing you to turn on only the targets you are going to be flying at on that flight. While I have great admiration for the time and effort Todd has put into making a separate KML file for each of the 140 targets! The process of downloading 140 separate KML files to use in your HotAir.app is something most would never do BUT….
What if we made the KML files so they were grouped in “Tens”? For example; A KML for targets 100-110 and 111-120 and 121-130 and so on. In some cases like target group (301-310) there are only 3 targets in that range or (371-380) has only 2 targets in that range. So for example let’s say you have a flight where your targets are #274, #258, #102, #159, & #136. Then you would go into your Custom KML overlays and turn on KML files 100-110, 131-140, 151-160, 251-260, & 271-280. This would show only 27 target pins on your entire map instead of all 140. This would make finding the exact target you are flying to much easier. Now granted you will still have to download 29 KML’s to do this but that shouldn’t take more than about 10 minutes but it will save that amount of time ten fold during the flight when time is most precious. If you wish to use this process for finding targets select “Download this File” and you will find all 29 KML’s here for you to download.
Currently there are NO TARGETS in the KML files for groups 351-360, 361-370, 381-390, 391-400. So you will not see KML files for those numbers. This leaves you with 29 KML’s to download.
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Submitter
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Submitted07/24/2023
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2023 Classic TARGETS KML 25's
The targets are broken down into numbered groups. These groups are labeled in batches of 25 numbers. There may not be that many targets in each pack. This will allow you to lower the number of targets showing on the screen at one time.
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Submitter
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Submitted07/23/2023
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Targets by the 50's
Here you can download the KML Target files broken down into each group of 50 starting with 100
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Submitter
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Submitted07/23/2023
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Category
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Target KML's 100-109
These are the individual target KML files for targets 100-109
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Submitter
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Submitted07/23/2023
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Download a PZ for HotAir.app
This video tutorial shows how to delete old files and download new files for the HotAir.app here on HotAirballoonist.com.
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Submitter
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Submitted07/22/2023
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Download a KML for an iPad
This video tutorial is for downloading a KML PZ file for use on an iPad or iPad mini.
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Submitter
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Submitted07/17/2023
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Downloading KML files for iPhone
This is a video tutorial on how to download a KML PZ file to an iPhone. This video is for the iPhone and the HotAir.app
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Submitter
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Submitted07/17/2023
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Targets file test
This is a test to see if I get a notice that a new files has been added to the Download Testing forum that I now follow.
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Submitter
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Submitted07/16/2023
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2023 Classic 3D PZ KML
This is the National Balloon Classic 3D PZ (KML) for 2023
REMEMBER: This is an additional flight aid. The Paper map is the official map for the event. We have gone to great effort to make this map as accurate as we can. We also make a serious attempt to keep this map updated as often as the official "Paper Map" is amended. However the official event "Paper Map" is the official event map.
IMPORTANT!!! Don't forget to check the "FOLLOW" button for this file so you will be notified when new versions have been uploaded.
This is the National Balloon Classic 3D PZ KML. This is version 1.0
Below are two links to video tutorials that will help download these files to your device.
Download to an iPad or iPad mini
UPDATES With before and after photos will be posted below with version numbers.
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Submitter
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Submitted07/14/2023
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2023 Classic PZ KML V 1.0
This is a test version of the 2023 Classic PZ KML Map. Version 1.0
Watch a video tutorial on downloading to your iPad. CLICK HERE
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Submitter
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Submitted07/13/2023
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Classic 2022 KML V1.7
This is version 1.7 of the Classic 2022 KML file. In this version we have added a yellow zone to the map.
Here are the Before and Afters of the addition of the new Yellow Zone.
This is a TEST file. You may download this and save it in the HOT AIR app . Here are the links to the video Tutorials on how to download the files.
Download to an iPad or iPad mini
Thank you for all you do for the Balloon World!
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Submitter
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Submitted07/11/2023
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Classic 22B
This is a test of the classic map from 2022
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Submitter
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Submitted06/22/2023
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I know this newsletter is a few days early but the clock is ticking...
Your Ballooning Christmas Gift from the FAA
It seems ironic to me that, the day after Montgolfier day (Nov, 21st) the FAA decides to introduce the new regulations on the sport I so dearly love. New regulations that will “I believe” harm our industry in ways we cannot even begin to imagine. The Second Class Medical requirement is now on the books and the 180 day clock is counting. In this newsletter we will try to examine the ins and outs of this new requirement and how it applies to YOU and I. SO HANG ON….
It seems our comments did not matter.
According to the press release there were 192 respondents to the NPRM. The FAA broke them down as follows. 15 were considered out of scope. 17 were in favor. 112 were opposed. 142 suggested some sort of change. So what did the FAA do? Exactly what the NTSB recommended. Commercial LTA pilots now must have a second class medical just like other commercial flight certificates. They made no changes or alterations to the recommendation from the NTSB, it seems our comments made no difference at all. Here is a direct link to the press release where you can read the entire 21 page press release. Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 224 / Tuesday, November 22, 2022 / Rules and Regulations
It is unfortunate that the FAA felt as they were forced to make this change and it did not matter as to how many respondents there were. They did note that two industry advocates did make strong statements against this proposed rule change. That would have been the BFA and HAB. I personally made 3 entries to the proposed rule from three different viewpoints. One as the Admin for the HotAirBalloonist.com site. One as a fellow balloonist and one as a Balloon Ride operator.
In each of the postings I pointed out issues relative to those positions.
- First as an industry advocate and the potential harm it will do to the industry as a whole.
- Second as a balloonist and the hardships and additional cost if will create personally.
- Third as a Professional Ride Operator and how that would affect the operation and costs to the guests.
I am unsure if more respondents would have made a difference but is would have been nice to have. I feel saddened that out of 4,869 (Page 9) we were only able to produce 192 postings. Even less than that if you account for the fact that some of us posted more than one! This means that only 4% stepped up to respond! Think about that, the next time you are at a safety seminar with 100 pilots or a balloon event with 100 pilots and realize that in that room full of people, only 4 of them bothered to stand up for YOU & ME.
We don’t know how bad this will mess things up but were going to do it anyway.
Here is a paragraph directly from the press release. (page 5) “The opportunity cost (including the time and fees) of seeking a second-class medical certification for some pilots may outweigh the monetary gains of operating commercially, resulting in some pilots opting not to seek medical certification. The FAA does not have sufficient information to predict how the supply of commercial balloon pilots would change as a result of this rule.”
The FAA admits that there are pilots who COULD fly just fine but may not be able to meet the requirements or may not wish to go thru all the expense and time involved to comply and just, more or less drop out. (page 14)
“However, the FAA expects some applicants who would have otherwise been able to operate as commercial balloon pilots may not meet the requirements of a second-class medical certification nor the requirements for a special issuance. Furthermore, the opportunity cost (including the time and fees) of seeking a second-class medical certification for some pilots may outweigh their private gains from operating commercially, resulting in some pilots opting not to seek medical certification. The FAA does not have sufficient information to predict how the supply of commercial balloon pilots would change as a result of this rule.”
There will be no Santa Clause
Apparently one of the commenters made a suggestion that the current commercial LTA operators should be exempt from the new rule. You could call it the Old Farts Clause. The FAA stuck in the following paragraph to make it clear that there would be no Old Farts (Santa) Clause in it for us. (page 6)
“The FAA does not consider the concept of excluding existing commercial pilot certificate holders from having to comply with a medical certificate requirement to be in the interest of flight safety. Existing commercial pilot certificate holders pose a similar medical risk to the NAS as new commercial pilot certificate holders. Such an exception for existing commercial pilots would remove this group from the safety benefit of medical certification without any additional medical risk mitigation.”
The FAA has no evidence?
There is one paragraph that just struck me as either a huge diversion or an out and out lie. They said the following. “The FAA notes that, as a group, older pilots are more likely to have medical conditions that need additional evaluation. The FAA does not have evidence to support the assertion that balloon pilots are as a population older than other pilots.” (PAGE ?
Wait… They can make estimates of the time involved and the costs of getting your second class medical, the overall industry cost (in the millions of dollars) and they cannot look at the actual records they have on file of your birth date? Go ahead and pull out your pilot license, it has your D.O.B. right on the front! They know how old you are and they even stated how many commercially rated LTA pilots there were in the country! (see page 9) They can even tell you how many new commercial pilots are entering the market each year but they cannot figure out the average age of the pilot population? Seems odd to me how they can figure out the complex things that support their actions but gathering the facts that support opposition is somehow something “The FAA does not have evidence to support”.
On page 9 they reported this.
“2021 data from the Airmen Certification database to identify pilots certificated as commercial balloon pilots. There are currently 4,869 commercial pilots with balloon class ratings. During the public comment period, the FAA learned that most insurance providers have required commercial pilots flying balloons larger than 120,000 cubic feet to hold a second-class medical certificate. FAA sources indicate that of the 4,869 commercial pilots with balloon class ratings, 427 balloon pilots (approximately 8.8% of total commercial balloon pilots) fall into this category.20 Therefore, the updated estimated number of balloon pilots without medical certification in 2021 is 4,442”.
The FAA did not divulge how many LTA pilots do indeed have a second class medical. I had hoped that they would have released that information since I am sure they have that data.
The Clock is ticking!
So when do I need to accomplish my medical? Well, according to the press release (Page ?
“The FAA proposed in the NPRM that compliance with the medical certificate requirement become effective 180 days from publication of the final rule. This would provide sufficient time for the majority of affected persons to comply with this rule by obtaining a medical certificate prior to the effective date. For reasons explained below, the medical certificate requirement will go into effect on May 22, 2023, 180 days after publication of this rule.”
So May 22nd 2023 is the date! So the next question is how do I get this done?
Where do I go?
Several months ago I went to this link online and it did not work. I recently returned to the site and this time it seemed to work just fine. Here is the link where you can find a local AME where you can make an appointment to get your exam.
https://designee.faa.gov/#/designeeLocator
Here is a link to the FAA pages that explain the requirements for a “Second Class Medical” It is a good idea to look over the list and identify any issues BEFORE you go in for your medical so you have an idea of what you will be asked.
CFR 14 - FAA Second Class Medical FAR 67 “Subpart C”
What is involved?
The first thing you need to do is set up an account with the online MedXPress form. Using your email and a password you can set up an account. Then fill in the online form. Once complete you will need to set up an appointment with an AME. They will review the online application and then preform your exam. Sounds simple right?...
(From page 10) “To obtain a second-class medical certificate, an applicant needs to complete the MedXPress form and a medical exam with an AME. Because the second-class medical certificate expires 12 months after the date of the medical exam, the FAA assumes that pilots incur these costs on an annual basis. The FAA estimates the opportunity cost of time for each applicant would include 1.5 hours to complete the MedXPress form, 1 hour for the medical examination, and 1 hour of travel time to and from the exam for a total of 3.5 hours.”
Here is a link to the MedXPress form. The information required is quite comprehensive so get started right away. Bear in mind that you will need any and all medications you are taking and all the doctor visits you have made over the last 3 years! Here are some of the questions you will be asked.
BE PREPARED TO EXPLAIN ANY "YES" response
Depending on the medications you are on and the number of doctor visits you have made in the last three years it may take some time and effort to complete the MedXPress form. Start to make your list before you log into the MedXPress Form.
Can someone pass me a SODA?
So you think there is a problem? You may be able to get an exception. It is called a SODA (see page 7) “Statement of Demonstrated Ability”. Here is A LINK where you can go to read more about what a SODA is and how it applies to your Second Class Medical.
How does this affect a balloon event?
This is a question that may take an entire newsletter to answer! I have sent an email to the FAA asking for clarification on a few issues, primarily flying banners and or sponsors, but here is what I know so far.
If you fly a special shape balloon and are paid to fly at a balloon event that IS a commercial operation, however, if you put the balloon up and stay on the ground it is NOT considered a commercial operation. (see footnote #10 page 4)
A pilot (commercial or private) may also be compensated for attending a balloon event and not be required to have a second class medical (also footnote #10 page 4) (See also Comstock-77) That is why many events have what they call “Show Up Money”. At the time of this righting I am still waiting to hear back about flying sponsors at a balloon event and flying banners for event sponsors. My thoughts are this; if you fly a banner on your balloon but receive no extra compensation then it would hard to prove that to be a commercial flight operation. I believe the same could be said for flying sponsors at a balloon event. If you are not required to fly sponsors and/or do not receive any extra compensation beyond what all the other pilots are receiving then it would be difficult to consider that a commercial flight operation. If you do fly a banner and you are paid extra to fly that banner then you are a commercial flight operation and you need to have a second class medical.
The Nail in my coffin
While I have always hoped that I could return to some form of commercial flying this new requirement pretty much ends my passenger flying days. I hate to admit it but if I had paid closer attention to my medical conditions I may not have had the hemorrhagic stroke that ended my flying. I have made a few flights and did get a flight review this year in August so at least I have that in my log book! It is possible that I could do some flight instruction possibly next spring after my son Noah is done with his cancer treatments for Leukemia. For those of you out there who are still flying, please take care, fly safe, STAY HEALTHY and
Thank you for all you do for the Balloon World.
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I enjoyed very much watching what I could on the internet of the 50th Big One! I was also thrilled to “Not Hear’ about any tragic incidents from the event, other than some soaked balloons. (A big thank you must be made to all the locations that allowed balloons to dry off). A HUGE hats off to all the participants for making this year’s event a safe one! As far as the soaked balloons go, those who have been in that situation know how miserable it is, and how easy it is to damage a soaking wet balloon. I remember one time we had a 105 that was so soaking wet that the lift gate could not get it up into the back of the van. I also remember parking a van with the front wheels up on a curb stop to tilt the van enough so that the water would drain out the back of the van. Hats off to all the pilots, volunteers, zebras, officials, and the ground teams for another spectacular display of man’s oldest and most amazing form of flight.
Chasing Pi-Bal’s
So, how fast does a Pi-Bal climb? How far up can you see one? How do you know?
As part of our continuing Drone Winds project we have done some experiments using a drone and chasing Pi-Bals. Again my amazing father,
volunteered (or was drafted) to help. We went out about an hour and a half before sunrise. We took a helium tank, some yellow balloons and some small round LED lights. The experiment was to launch some pi-bals with lights in them and literally chase them. Our goal was to get real world answers to the questions above. How long can you see them? How fast do they climb and how far away are they when you lose sight of them. Well, here are some of the specifics. The latex balloon is a standard 12” balloon. The lights are small ½ inch round LED lights that weight 1.88 grams. The balloons rate of climb was between 300-316 ft/min. See a short video of one of the “Chasing Pi-Bals” Flights.
We chose a very special location to perform our experiment. We went to an 8sq mile area with several 250 ft radio towers nearby and directly west of Disney Worlds TFR. This TFR is 3,000 ft tall and 6 miles in diameter. There were several reasons for choosing this location. First, the tall radio tower would allow us to exceed the 400 ft altitude limit for the drone flight. See FAR 107.51 (B) (2) The TFR would add an extra safeguard for other aircraft in the area since they would likely be above the TFR if flying nearby. This means that we would have clear
airspace from the ground up to 3,000 ft AGL. Another reason is that this entire area is under development, and at this moment only has roads that are mostly unfinished so there would be very few lights and almost no traffic in the area. This would allow us to chase the pi-bal, till we more or less lost sight of it. We launched a total of three balloons. We timed them and chased two of them till we lost sight of them. We found that with the 14-15 mph winds aloft, we would lose sight of the balloon in just over 3 minutes. When we lost sight of the balloon it was around 800 to 1,000 feet AGL. We also repeated this test during the day time. Using a Black 12” balloon on an afternoon with winds aloft of less than 6 mph we found that the rate of climb was nearly identical but we could see the balloon for just over 6 minutes before we lost it. That would be just around 2,000 feet. This was on a very light wind day with a light overcast sky. Had the winds been higher we doubt we would have been able to keep our eyes on it as long as we did. Our conclusion is that if you are using a helium balloon to test the winds before your flight you are most likely only viewing the first 1,000 feet of wind off the ground. Even in the daylight in the best of conditions you are most likely not seeing the Pi-Bal much past 1,500 ft.
Getting a good report.
One of the unexpected results of our “Chasing a Pibal” experiment was that we found that the Drone Winds report was skewed. Below are two
Drone Winds reports from that same morning. One was done prior to the “Chasing a pibal” test so we would have a baseline of what the winds were and then the report from the actual event of chasing the pibal. Notice how the winds report was somewhat erratic when the drone was trying to chase the helium balloon. The vertical speed was ranging from 2mph to 5mph and sometimes even 6mph as we tried to keep up with the balloon. This translated into varied readings in our wind report. The conclusion from this was that for a Drone Winds report to be accurate you need to take a very steady and smooth ascent and descent.
Drones can’t go that high!
We mentioned this in one of our previous newsletters. According to 107.5 (B), (1) & (2) If you are within 400 ft of a structure you can go up to 400 ft
above the uppermost limit of that structure. So find a radio tower in your area and use it as your structure. If you can find a local Cell Tower (most are 250 ft) you can take your drone up to 650ft if you are near that tower. Just remember a couple of points. Watch out for the guide wires. Make sure you know where they are so you can stay clear of them. Also try to be upwind of the tower. The tower will influence the wind down wind of the tower and can give you false readings. But if you are perpendicular or upwind of the tower you should get good readings. Also remember that 107.51 (C) requires a minimum of 3 statute mile visibility. For pre-dawn wind checks you should have your drone equipped with lights as well. For lighting guidelines see 107.29. If you can answer YES to (a)(b)(c)&(d) then you may be able to operate without a waiver. With the results from our “Chasing Pi-Bal’s” experiment you are getting results from your drone that may be better than your actual Pibal on those pre-dawn flights. Your altitude is slightly short of what your pibal is showing you but the results the Drone Winds flight is giving you is a much more detailed and precise set of data.
All of this information is contained in the Drone Winds presentation on HotAirBalloonist.com. Remember Logged in Members can download ALL presentations for FREE!
Things Change
As we do our research reading winds with a drone we are learning a great deal of valuable information. Here are a few VERY USEFUL items to keep in mind when planning your next flight. Things Change! While the “drone wind” readings do a fantastic job of documenting and presenting the wind direction and speeds at altitudes for your flight planning it does not “Forecast” what the winds will do. Knowing the general weather synopsis of your area and having a good idea of what the future trends are expected to do is still a hugely helpful thing to know. Keep in mind when the winds are expected to increase. Are the winds going to be turning right or left as the flight progresses? Will the winds die down? These are all very important things to consider when planning a flight. Things WILL CHANGE.
One of the benefits of using a drone to read the winds is the cost effectiveness of the drone. If you go out and use 5 pi-bals in one morning it will be considerably more costly than if you used one. However, if you make 5 drone flights it does not cost any more. As we discussed above there are ways you can legally get your drone to go a little higher without the need for a waiver and get great results. In this image you see two drone wind reports. Report A was taken at 6:01 am and Report B was taken at 6:21 am. They were taken exactly 2 miles apart. I have highlighted similar altitudes in each for comparison. You can see several things happening just in the 20 minute separation between flights. In Report B the winds appear to be shifting more to the left as time goes on. The upper wind speeds seem to be fairly consistent but the mid layer seems to be slowing some and shifting a little to the lower layers. In the area of Florida where we fly this is a very common trend. We often have brisk winds aloft pre-dawn that settle as the sun comes up. As we mentioned in a previous newsletter the timeframe for getting out your drone, launching it and getting a report is nearly the same as using a Pi-Bal. The primary difference is the overall cost. W
e now have 3 pilots in our area that use drones instead of helium balloons for preflight wind readings and all of them agree that with the cost and availability issues of helium, the drone is the way to go. If you have questions or want to learn more remember we have a very comprehensive presentation available in the Download Center on HAB about using drones to read the winds. How it is done, Costs, Aps and more. Remember to LOG IN, Members can download all files for FREE.
I now have over 400 drone flights, months of comparisons to winds aloft comparisons and even side by side flight logs to compare. If you have questions I am more than happy to help in any way I can. Send me an email at Info@HotAirBalloonist.com and I will try to answer your questions and potentially post information for others. For those of you who have recently purchased Helium or found that you are having a hard time getting helium have a read of this article about shortages. Helium Shortage 4.0
HI WIND WARNING!
As we continue our research each morning to take our Drone Winds report and compare it to the Winds Aloft forecast we had one morning were we were surprised. The drone we are using has the ability to receive ADS-B signals. It alerts us whenever a manned aircraft is in the area. This is a fantastic feature because it helps us keep our drone out of the way of other aircraft. So any time a warning goes off it startles us a little, especially at 6 in the morning in the dark! But this warning was one I had not seen before. This was a HIGH WIND warning.
The Drone had entered a layer of wind at about 600’ that was moving at 29.26 MPH. This prompted us to bring the drone back down. The drones top speed is only 42MPH so it would not have taken much more wind and we would have been flying backwards! Fortunately as we brought the drone back down the winds also became less and losing the drone was not an issue. Had we been out for a flight that morning we would have (most likely) cancelled the flight. If the wind is moving that fast at only 600 feet of altitude then it is not the day to take paying passengers on a flight! We did not launch a Pi-Bal on this morning but it would have been interesting to see if we could have even been able to see the Pi-Bal get into that wind before we would have lost sight of it. More interesting would be if we could have even judged this sort of speed with a pi-bal?
Become a Member
As always we want to encourage you to support the HAB site. Paid memberships help us pay for the server fees and SSL requirements for the internet as well as hosting fees and domain fees and more. I donate ALL of my time to keep the site up to date, eliminate spam, and answer emails and more. If you do not have a paid membership on the site please consider at least a general membership for $20 a year. Log IN and participate. Ask questions and let me know the kinds of things you want to see on the site as well as in the newsletters. I no longer fly but I am incredibly thankful to the balloon community for all it has given me over the years. Thousands of flights, Tens of thousands of passengers, More friends than I deserve and EACH OF YOU, taking the time to read my rantings and allowing me to stay in touch with you, all I can say is,
Thank you for all you do for the Balloon World.
Wadsworth-Delano Katherine
in NOTABLE BALLOONIST BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Posted
Katherine Wadsworth Delano 4-26-22.pdf