CaptJeff

I believe I'm in that too many tether hours to count category. It is certainly well over a thousand hours and may be closer to a couple thousand than I care to think. I didn't used to differentiate them in my pilot log. I know some people hate tethers, but I can tell you for certain that corporate sponsors love them, and doing what your client wants is rule number two in corporate ballooning. In the early ballooning days for me, about 30 some years ago, I did mostly static tethers, and was first taught to use a couple top tethers tied off from the upwind direction, fighting against the wind. It was a battle, but being the only thing I had seen done, it seemed to make sense - more like flying a kite than tethering a balloon though, and yes I sure hated doing them like that. Then I started contracting for another commercial pilot, Jim Birk, and we went to do a tether and when he had me position our only extra tie off vehicle (first vehicle is always for the basket) in the downwind position I admit I was confused. When the balloon was inflated and we tied it off so that the balloon went ahead and leaned over with the wind and was tied off to just stay there, it was a light bulb, mind blowing experience! If I forgot to thank ya back then, thanks Jim, but I know he doesn't spend much time on the internet... The next learning experience came with the currently discussed triple top tether system. With a total of six ropes - three going from the crown ring down to the bottom envelope attachments- carabiner, A block or whatever your system uses. The other three going from a floating cababiner riding up and down on the first three ropes, to three tie down points. The best tie down points are large vehicles that can be used to maneuver if conditions deteriorate and a rapid deflation becomes necessary. When properly set up I don't believe there is any better system for doing tethers, especially lifting tethers giving rides. Another really important key, that comes from doing a bunch of them, is to keep the envelope as tight as possible. Putting as much weight as possible in the basket, without exceeding any manufacturers limitations, allows for as much heat as possible to be kept in the envelope. This keeps the envelope tight and helps prevent the envelope from partially collapsing and "sailing". Again remember about manufacturers limitations and it should be obvious that these are going to be hard, life limiting hours for the envelope. If I am using my own system this is exactly why I charge about triple for doing tethers than for doing flights. For corporate programs this is just a given part of the system being used as a tool for obtaining the desired visibility sometimes desired. So, what is rule number one? In corporate ballooning, just like any other ballooning, it is obviously safety. If your client doesn't agree, it is time to find another client. PIC ALWAYS makes the final decisions. Best, Bob Scobee Fly Ohio Ballooning FAA CRS IF5R933M 20724 Wolford Maskill Rd. Marysville, OH 43040-8878 (937)642-9121 fax (937)642-9262 visit our website www.flyohioballooning.com

Here is where you can go and use a map of your area to view all of the observation stations in your area. http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/zoa/mwmap2.php?map=zma Not only will you see the stations around the area you can hover your mouse over the station and a pop up will open to tell you the current conditions. Click on a station and you will be taken to the stations webpage. Here you can see current conditions as well as past condtions. Allow the page a few moments to complete the upload nad you will also see navigation bar at the top appear. Here you can see many other things as well as the forcast for that station written by the staff meterologist at that location. So you can get several different forecasts for your area written by independant meterologists. You can also get the local RUC sounding for that location. A very nice map to have and use. There is now a new web page for this information. It will take some getting used to but it looks pretty good. https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/map/?&zoom=5&scroll_zoom=false&center=40,-97&boundaries=false,false,false,false,false,false,false,false,false&tab=observation&hazard=true&hazard_type=all&hazard_opacity=70&obs=true&obs_type=weather&elements=temp,wind,gust&temp_filter=-80,130&gust_filter=0,150&rh_filter=0,100&elev_filter=-300,14000&precip_filter=0.01,18&obs_popup=true&obs_density=60&obs_provider=ALL

We leave in the morning! Packing for two weeks, cleaning the truck, Oil Change, Tire Rotation, Balance, 3400 boxes for the apartment. Pots, Pans, Paper towels, toilet paper, garbage can and bags.. We also bring the big Tent/Awning we use at Jules, Card Printer, GoPro cameras, Logos and vinyl for Tyler’s Trailer, Luggage, Radio’s, Helium Tank, Balloons, Compass, Download the Competition map… Lawn mowed, Dogs to the vet for Boarding, OMG OMG we have been at this for two weeks getting ready and tomorrow we leave. 4 am we hit the road! We will be at Jules house on Thursday afternoon. When we get to Jules we have to set up the Awning. Then put the war paint on Tyler's trailer. Logos and balloons. I also have an Inflation Fan for Tyler, It is buried under all sorts of stuff. Jeff

Well, Kim McCourt is on the road. He will leave tomorrow to go and visit his son in lakeland and then head north to the northern part of Georgia to visit friends. He will spend a few days there and then head to Kansas City to see his sister and on to Indianola Iowa.

We have new uniform shirts to wear for the Classic. Apparently my nephew Tyler would not wear his uniform shirt because it said Ground Crew on it. He received his pilots certificate last fall. Wont he be surprised when we show up with a whole new set of shirts for him that say Capt. Tyler Thompson... We also got his soon to be wife a set that say Crew Chief. Can not wait to present him with them. More later.

Where to start. Truck oil change, Tire rotate an ballance, GPS files, maps, radios, Chargers, Tent, Fan, and on and on and on. Both my wife Gina and I have been making lists of items we must remember to take. This will be a three thousand mile trip over 13 days with three children in tow. This is only the first of many entries in this blog. Stay tuned for more and some fantastic balloon photos as well. Jeff

Private polling

File Name: BFA Seminar 2013 File Submitter: CaptJeff File Submitted: 24 Jan 2013 File Category: Safety Seminar Info The rest of the downloads for the BFA Online Seminar 2013 Click here to download this file