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By Jerry Cummins, Rotary Club of
Rotarians come from many different vocational
areas and also have equally different and often unusual avocations.
A member’s vocation is important and
frequently very interesting; often their avocation can also be very
enlightening.
I want to introduce my passion to
you—hot air ballooning.
If you are one of those individuals who find
hot air balloons fascinating, you've probably even dreamt of going
for a balloon ride, or maybe even piloting one.
Be
aware a balloon pilot must have a FAA pilot certificate—the first
myth exposed.
The two most frequently asked questions are:
(1) is a balloon safe?, and (2) what
about my fear of heights?
Two simply answers:
Yes, balloons are safe if the pilot
exercises proper safety practices and there is no vertigo in a
balloon so the fear of heights is not realistic—honestly!
A balloon is regulated by the FAA and
must meet stringent safety requirements.
A balloon is a registered aircraft, so
it is governed by government standards similar to those imposed on
fixed wing aircraft.
It's relatively easy to get involved in
ballooning! Getting involved can be as simple as following a balloon
and meeting it at its landing spot.
I
personally like nothing more than to share my hobby with people when
I land.
We will frequently tether people, using
a rope, if weather conditions and fuel levels are right after we
land.
Each year, we also have frequently donated
several full free flight rides or tethered rides at a park to
non-profit organizations that use them for fundraising
opportunities.
We believe it is a tremendous way of
‘giving back’ to our community and having fun at the same time.
There are other ways for people to also get involved, a few of which
are:
The most direct option is to purchase a balloon
ride for yourself or a close friend.
This is often the most frequent method
people chose to instantly learn about the sport. If you take this
route, ask the pilot if you can help with the inflation and
deflation of the balloon--most passengers enjoy helping which
maximizes both your experience and knowledge.
A flight will generally last an hour,
and you should plan to spend about 3-4 hours for the entire
adventure. Flights normally take place near dawn and/or dusk since
that's when the wind is the calmest. However, purchasing a ride is
not my first choice or recommendation.
I suggest crewing for a balloon as my first
choice to learn about ballooning.
There are many pilots throughout the
world.
If you aren’t aware of one in your area,
look at the Balloon Federation of America website which has a list
of pilots.
Call a pilot and tell them you are
interested in crewing. Most balloon pilots are very happy to accept
new crew people. You will help with all aspects of the flight, and
will ride in the chase vehicle as it follows the balloon during
flight. Don't expect to fly immediately, as being a crew member
normally keeps you grounded. Your efforts will be appreciated and
you'll learn all about balloon flight quickly.
Eventually, with many pilots, crew
members will also earn a ride.
Balloon Festivals are also a popular place to
watch balloons fly and to learn more about them. There are hundreds
of balloon festivals around the world each year, with the majority
occurring in the summer or fall. Most festivals allow people to get
up close to balloons.
Again, the BFA website has a listing of
many festivals or events. If you go to a festival, don't be shy --
balloonists are happy to answer your questions, and it’s possible
you'll find a balloonist that lives near you.
Most balloon pilots, including myself, got
interested in becoming pilots only after being a passenger.
That usually is how people get hooked.
Ballooning is a safe sport and one that may be
shared as either a pilot or crew member.
Lift off—a feeling like none other in
the world!
About the author: Jerry
Cummins has been a member of the
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UP,
UP and AWAY!
Our
community has been very generous to our family and this is one way
of “paying back” to the community.