Few have experienced the true rush you get being part of the all important ground crew for a hot air balloon. As a crew member, you are a key element in preparing the aircraft for flight and safely securing it on the ground. Airplane pilots have constant communication with the airport control tower. As a ground crew, you are the "control tower". You're not just watching this amazing balloon float by, you are observing every element of the flight, right along with the pilot. From the moment the balloon leaves the ground you are watching for winds, listening for weather, maping out roads, observing potential hazards on the ground, and preparing the landing site. No, you're not just watching a hot air balloon float by, you are charting the flight plan for an aircraft. Think you're ready for the challenge and excitement? Check out a typical duty list for a hot air balloon crew.

Pre Flight

• PIBAL
• Pilot launched balloon
• Helium filled latex balloon used to confirm wind speed and direction
• Launch site selection
• Landowner permission
• Hazards; downwind trees, power/utility lines
• FOD; foreign object debris
• Assembling basket/heater/fuel lines
• Heater assembly rests on top of (4) fiberglass poles extending from the top of the basket
• Secured to steel load cables via carabineers in top ring of heater frame assembly
• Fuel lines will be connected, charged and checked for leaks
• Attaching load tapes/cables
• Lines are attached carabineer to carabineer
• Lines must not cross
• Inspect for frayed, damaged lines
• Extending the envelope
• Once the load tapes are secured to the basket two crew members drag the envelope bag in a downwind direction from the basket and let the envelope lay on the ground as it comes out of the bag.
• Remove envelope straps if so equipped and stow in envelope bag
• Inflator fan *danger*
• One of the most hazardous areas of ground operations
• Keep loose items away from fan when running. This includes hair, unzipped jackets, lanyards, etc.
• NEVER move the fan while the blades are turning. Wait until the fan comes to a complete stop
• Parachute top
• Held in place with Velcro tabs during cold inflation
• One or two crew members will “tab top” while inflation fan is on low
• Used for venting hot air during flight for quick descents and deflation at recovery
• Crown line
• Attached to top of balloon
• One or more crew members place tension on crown line to provide lateral stability
• Allows for a controlled ascent of the envelope once it becomes buoyant
• Cold inflation
• Inflator fan is used at the throat (narrow end of balloon envelope) to force air into the envelope and allow it to take shape
• One crew member on each side of the basket will assist by holding throat open via load cables
• Meanwhile parachute top is fastened to keep air inside of the envelope
• Adding the heat
• Once envelope has taken shape from the cold inflation heaters are ignited and applied to warm the air inside of the envelope
• Once envelope is buoyant crown line crew member(s) will control envelopes ascent allowing it to rise in a smooth manner
• Inflator fan will be turned off at pilots direction and moved clear of the balloon basket once the blade stops moving
• All other crew members will move to put weight on the basket

Flight

• Pack/secure fan and other items
• Leave launch site in better condition than we found it
• Make sure all items and equipment are stowed properly and secured for travel
• Watch for other balloons getting ready to launch; pass upwind if possible
• Seat belts – mandatory for all vehicle occupants
• Headlights on during chase
• Allows pilot to be able to locate chase team a little easier from the air
• Provide added visibility to ground traffic that may be paying attention to other things
• Driver watches road, no cell phone, no radio
• Drive defensively, other drivers may be paying attention to the balloon and not noticing you
• Navigator responsible for communication
• Driver does not need to be burdened with cell phones and radios while operating a motor vehicle
• Have PIBAL(s) ready to report updated ground wind information
• Of particular importance when pilot approaching target or landing

Recovery

• Look for hidden power/utility lines that could be a hazard
• Look again
• Make sure pilot is aware of any potential hazards
• Obtain landowner permission
• Be ready to move to another location in the event of non-accommodating landowners or changes in wind direction
• Only one vehicle on property unless landowner OKs
• If available to assist with landing put weight on upwind side of basket, never downwind
• Do not continue to hang on if the balloon starts to ascend
• Crown line/vent line
• When the pilot is ready to deflate the balloon he will pull a vent line to release the parachute top and initiate deflation
• One or more crew member(s) will pull the crown line in a downwind direction until the envelope is horizontal and laying on the ground, basket should rotate horizontal with the envelope (it may need assistance)
• One crew member will coil the crown line while keeping tension on the top of the balloon while other crew members are “squeezing” the air out of the open parachute top
• “Squeezing” the envelope
• Commonly done by one crew member carrying and squeezing the air out of the top of the envelope and another crew member following behind helping to carry the envelope, working from the throat to the top
• Can also be done by crawling from the throat to the top gathering the envelope fabric into a narrow line
• Bag the envelope
• Most commonly two or more crew members will hold envelope bag open while other crew members feed envelope material into envelope bag, working from top towards basket
• Crew members holding envelope bag will move the bag closer to the basket each time more envelope is fed into it
• Disassembly
• Once most of the envelope is gathered into the envelope bag the carabineers can be disconnected and the rest of the envelope stowed in the bag
• Basket will be rotated upright
• Ensure fuel lines are bled and disconnect
• Disconnect carabineers securing load cables to heater assembly frame
• Four crew members will remove heater assembly frame by lifting fiberglass support poles and moving to one side of the basket where poles will then be removed from frame
• Stow equipment
• Leave launch site in better condition than we found it
• Make sure all items and equipment are stowed properly and secured for travel
• Celebrate with landowners, passengers, crew and pilot