| What to expect on a hot air balloon ride. | | | | forming exercise for the pilot. Often people will |
| Several factors have made hot air ballooning one of | | | | protest and try and get you into the air. My friends |
| the fastest growing adventure ride items and hottest | | | | and I have a habit of moving those passengers down |
| gift tickets around in the last 20 years. With more | | | | the wait list! |
| than 70,000 passengers flown in the UK alone every | | | | Back to that sticky air, as it slows down it starts to |
| year. | | | | be influenced! The air over a river is colder still and |
| Sir Richard Branson and his well publicized Atlantic and | | | | moves with that river. A wood or dam is cold. You |
| Pacific crossings and numerous round the world | | | | will move with or towards these cool areas and that |
| attempts. All kept hot air balloons in the public eye. | | | | allows you a little bit of steerage. |
| The successful round the world flight of Brian Jones | | | | The balloon can only fly with the wind, that's it. It's |
| and Bertrand Piccard caught the imagination of | | | | up to the pilot to climb and descend into different |
| millions. | | | | layers of air to steer the craft. |
| Balloon operators in Africa have made magic carpet | | | | When the sun has risen it heats the boundary layer |
| rides over the Serengeti and Maasi Mara ecosystem | | | | and it rises and mixes with the gradient wind so the |
| possible for many thousands of people. | | | | balloons track over the ground becomes straighter |
| Perhaps this is why the people of Britain voted hot | | | | and faster. |
| air ballooning as the number 7 thing to do before you | | | | In some parts of the world it is possible to fly in the |
| die! A poll that certainly caused an upward blip in the | | | | evening, think of it as the reverse situation. You start |
| number of passengers flown in the UK. | | | | off flying a very predictable track and then as the air |
| Modern technology has also made taking a passenger | | | | cools and calms you have a chance to play with |
| ride in a hot air balloon much safer. Advanced burner | | | | direction a little. |
| designs, giving more powerful flames. Much better | | | | If you're in a really cold snowy place you can fly all |
| pilot lights that keep burning. Baskets especially | | | | day. |
| designed for the carriage of passengers. | | | | Should your pilot get airborne and the wind increases |
| Above all modern fabrics that are not only stronger | | | | in flight he or she should terminate that flight at the |
| but more able to combat the effects of Ultra Violet | | | | first big field they find. Again disappointing but safe. |
| Light and mould and mildew. Yes the balloons just like | | | | What Should I Wear? |
| your tent if you get it wet, rots. | | | | The heated air in the balloon is at around 100C and |
| At this point I should admit that I am a hot air balloon | | | | you are moving in your own bubble down wind so |
| pilot. | | | | there is no wind chill. It's pretty warm in the basket. |
| Ballooning has been kind to me and taken me to all | | | | People tend to overdress and regret it. Rather go for |
| points of the globe. | | | | layers that can be easily be removed. |
| Australia, Thailand, France, England, Kenya and South | | | | If it's a dawn flight on a summer's day it will probably |
| Africa all balloon flights have similar requirements. | | | | be pretty warm a couple of hours after sunrise. |
| Wherever you are in the world. | | | | The biggest apparel mistake that passengers make is |
| I hope to be able to answer some queries and | | | | in the foot ware department. |
| maybe allay some fears in this article. These are the | | | | Fields are likely to having morning dew on them or |
| questions I am asked all the time. | | | | something less poetic that a cow has left behind. |
| Do you have a pilots licence? | | | | Welly boots or sturdy boots rule when ballooning. |
| Yes balloon pilots have taken written exams just like | | | | The colour white is not the best plan either. |
| their fixed wing friends but they have taken the | | | | How High Will We Fly? |
| flying test in a balloon instead. In some countries, | | | | Ballooning is best enjoyed at tree top height. Climbing |
| notably the United Kingdom and Australia there are | | | | a little to say 2000' helps the view to unfold and |
| also fairly strict commercial pilot's licences and annual | | | | allows the pilot to check what is ahead. |
| flying tests to be undertaken. (You've guessed it I | | | | If it's really calm your pilot might go higher still |
| have UK and Australian licences) Coupled with this in | | | | because there is little else to do! I have taken off |
| most countries the balloon company will also have to | | | | and landed in the same field before. |
| have an Air Operators Certificate. This or its | | | | How long will the flight last? |
| equivalent is issued by the local aviation authority. An | | | | Most balloons fly with fuel sufficient for 1 and a half |
| inspector will have checked all the aircraft and pilot | | | | hours' safe flight. Now call me old fashioned call me a |
| paperwork and made sure that the company | | | | fool but it's best to leave some for in case so one |
| employs safety systems. | | | | hour is generally the time you fly for. |
| Run a Google check on your particular country and if | | | | The only time you can have too much fuel is when |
| the person that you ring for a flight cannot assure | | | | you are on fire. |
| you that all paperwork is in place don't fly with them. | | | | Now if a perfect field arrives underneath the balloon |
| Better still ring the aviation authority ask for the | | | | at 50 minutes it makes sense to land. |
| person responsible for balloons because there will be | | | | If you fly on because you have passengers insist |
| one. | | | | that they want their hour in the air and hit power |
| Ask them if they know of the person you are going | | | | lines that's your indaba. |
| to contact for a flight. | | | | It has happened and aviation authorities take a |
| You would not believe the number of unlicenced | | | | pretty dim view of pilots that do that sort of thing. |
| operators there are out there. As a rule of thumb a | | | | Now if you can remember right back to the beginning |
| pilot with 500 flying hours and 5 years of experience | | | | when I said the lighter the basket the better the fuel |
| should know what he or she is doing. | | | | lasts... Well it's very true. Maybe because you didn't |
| How many people will be in the balloon? | | | | bring the kitchen sink with you the pilot is getting |
| These days it is unusual to have less than 4 people in | | | | good consumption and will take you well over the |
| a passenger ride balloon. Unless the client has paid a | | | | hour. |
| considerable sum of money it does just not make | | | | Another tip here, if you show interest and seem |
| economic sense for the balloon operator. | | | | enthralled every good pilot will try and make the |
| Probably a good average would be eight passengers. | | | | flight last longer. If you are late to the flying site |
| You will not all be in together. There would probably | | | | carry the world on board and are rude you might get |
| be five compartments. One in the middle for pilot and | | | | a short flight. That's life. |
| gas. Two either side each containing two passengers. | | | | How far will we fly? |
| This means in the event of a fast landing you don't | | | | It's back to the wind speed thing again. Flights in the |
| all fall on top of each other. | | | | evening normally go further than the morning. |
| Important to note here that there are no overhead | | | | As a very general rule you fly somewhere in the |
| lockers so try and keep luggage to a minimum. A stills | | | | order of 12km on a flight. |
| and video camera is really all you need. Remember | | | | Where will we land? |
| the heavier the basket the shorter time the fuel | | | | From even before the pilot takes off he or she |
| lasts. | | | | should be thinking about the landing. Refining the |
| Why so early or late?? | | | | position continually throughout the flight. |
| Most balloon flights take place first thing in the | | | | Your landing almost certainly will not be back where |
| morning, at or just before sunrise. | | | | you started. It can be sometimes but that's very |
| This is for the important reason that the air is at its | | | | rare. |
| best behaved at that time of day. | | | | It will probably be the aforementioned farmer's field |
| It has had a chance to cool down over night and in | | | | with four legged things in or nearby. |
| simple terms get heavy or sticky. Trees, buildings, | | | | If you happen to be flying with me in Kenya it will be |
| stuff all help slow down the bottom sticky air and | | | | one flipping big field with furry four legged things |
| the wind drops. | | | | about. |
| Hot air balloons do not cope with high speed winds | | | | Sometimes on the edge of built up areas pilots might |
| very well. | | | | land on football pitches or school yards. That's |
| It's all about the stopping. | | | | perfectly normal. |
| At the end of a flight the pilot will pull a line and open | | | | How will we land? |
| a vent in the top of the balloon, this lets air out. But | | | | Just about everybody seems to have seen footage |
| only as fast as it can go through that vent. If its | | | | of balloons dragging along the ground on their sides. |
| windy the balloon itself or envelope as it should be | | | | Now this is normally in Kenya or Tanzania where |
| more correctly called acts like a sail and drags the | | | | balloons fly in slightly higher winds than the rest of |
| basket through whatever might be in the way. There | | | | the world. Because of this basket design has |
| are no brakes. | | | | dramatically changed. Big baskets routinely carry 18 |
| A drag landing is a good time to see why it's a fine | | | | passengers. These baskets have cushion flooring, and |
| idea to make balloon baskets out of wicker. It flexes | | | | seats. |
| and gives; a stiffer material would bend or break. I | | | | For quick landing passengers put their backs to the |
| can't count the number of times I have been asked," | | | | direction of travel sit on the seats and hold onto |
| but why is the basket still wicker". If the passenger | | | | rope handles. The balloon sides are high enough that |
| ends up having a drag landing they soon realise. | | | | their heads will be below the top of the basket. |
| That sticky layer of air is known as the boundary | | | | It's then just a matter of waiting for the thing to |
| layer, air moving above 2000' is what the pilot is told | | | | stop. As the balloon slows the basket will tip so the |
| about by the weather office when he makes his | | | | passengers end up on their backs facing skywards |
| weather check before you fly. This is known as the | | | | normally laughing. |
| gradient wind. It will be faster. | | | | You will have high speed landings in other parts of |
| They will also tell you the surface wind but the | | | | the world but in my 18 years of flying I have not |
| gradient is more accurate. Using the gradient forecast | | | | managed to match East African speeds. |
| the pilot will have made mentally his best guess as to | | | | Very important to keep limbs inside the basket whilst |
| where you will end up from your take off site. | | | | dragging, else you'll break them. Also if you have |
| The pilot will probably release a small helium balloon | | | | anything around your neck like a camera or binoculars |
| before your flight and watch it intently. The harder | | | | tuck them into your jumper or top to stop them |
| and longer the pilot looks at the thing the trickier the | | | | flying up and hitting yourself or friend in the face. |
| flight will probably be for him or her! If he releases | | | | Best really to put them in a case by your feet. |
| stacks of met balloons then there is a good chance | | | | Anybody with long hair should also be careful not to |
| you will be going home. | | | | let it drag under the bottom of the basket. |
| High speed winds also mean you need longer fields in | | | | For the most part it will be a very gentle touchdown, |
| which to stop. Your pilot will thinking well if we go | | | | the basket staying upright. |
| that way what are the fields like. Maybe there is a | | | | Very important not to get out until the pilot says |
| large area of forest or water in that direction. It | | | | though. When your weights gone the balloon may |
| might be possible to fly at higher speeds in certain | | | | take off again and you will be walking home. |
| directions and not in others. | | | | How will we get back? |
| If a balloon pilot cancels a flight because of high | | | | So once on the ground you will probably help the pilot |
| speed winds it's not because he got out of bed on | | | | pack the balloon whilst a vehicle that has been in two |
| the wrong side or that they don't like the look of | | | | way radio contact with your pilot finds out how to |
| you. | | | | get into the field. |
| He or she will have called the flight on because of an | | | | This may take some time. It's not always obvious to |
| earlier forecast and when you get to the flying field | | | | the crew exactly how to get to the balloon. |
| you have the play the hand you are actually dealt by | | | | You will then normally be taken back to the launch |
| Mother Nature. | | | | site. It's often amazing how long this takes and how |
| Balloon pilots usually work on a no flight no fee | | | | far it is. Remember if the balloon you have flown in a |
| system so if they cancel not only will they have | | | | fairly straight line across roads and rail. |
| disappointed you but they won't be getting paid | | | | It might be a torturous windy route back. |
| either. | | | | That might be why it takes the crew several minutes |
| It is always better to go home and try another day. | | | | to find you. |
| It might be a great shame because today was your | | | | Blimey what started as quick notes seems to have |
| birthday or anniversary but it's much better to be | | | | gone on a bit. If you really do have any fears or |
| able to see the next one. | | | | questions you would like answered. |
| Telling 16 people to go home is a real character | | | | |