Hot Air Ballooning Crew
Published by admin on January 11th, 2008 in Hot Air Balloon Flights
No Hot Air Balloon would get off the ground without them they are the unsung heroes of ballooning; they are the ground crew, some times referred to as the chase crew. They are there to assist the pilot which includes setting up the balloon, helping to make sure the basket is arranged and stocked with those things the pilot likes to take along, and to help achieve a safe lift off, then they follow the balloon as closely as possible in a chase vehicle, which can take up to three hours.
When the time comes for the pilot to land he will usually find a nice field and will inform them, normally by radio, and they will try to be there before he actually lands with plenty of time in hand to assist in any way, pack the balloon away and then arrange to take the passengers back to the arranged launch site.
If you are interested in becoming part of a chase crew, contact one of them on launch, or follow a balloon in flight, but remember to allow them to do all their work before approaching them, usually they will point you to the pilot of the Hot Air Balloon who will likely sign you up there and then!
