Opened and the shrieking mass explodes!
As far as I know there have already been over 400 requests come in. That is just scary for being only a few days after the door opened. 550 is the usual cut off! Yes there is a process of choosing Pilots. Yes AIBF will check all requests until the cut off date. Yes I really hope I get in this year.!!!!
Fingers crossed.
The highlight of the week was the Aerco Safety Seminar on Saturday. Aerco put it on and it was a full examination of an aircraft accident evaluation. Since the Texas accident its was a very good insight into what exactly happens to determine why it happened.
Some pictures during the day....
In line to sign in. One of the perks of taking safety courses is that most insurance company's will give you a slight discount on your insurance. Don't jump the line or Carol will point at you forcefully.. hahaha
Many many tables with far too many chairs. Hard chairs.. 8 hours.. hard chairs!
Seat pads.... not enough to pad seats but.. well went without. Paying for it.. sure ..but it was worth it. Certain people brought their own pillows.. I should have thought of that.
A seat with a view! Not the front where you might get called on but not too far that I couldn't hear.... No.. other than some very loud noises the sound system worked fine.
Toys on the table... this is very dangerous to give us toys... they were small and I was thrilled at the restraint after such wonderful things to deal damage to the people around you.
Burner love. Being projected up on the wall.. the new Lindstrand burner sets. Expensive. More than I can afford and unless I could be shown a 40% increase in economy and power over the awesome set I have, not worth the expenditure.but they are very pretty.
Flight reviews and the standards. Got a picture of them even though I had the hand out.
BREAK TIME!!! An abundance of snacks, drinks and conversation on what we are talking about.
No win.... No hat.. no crown line handle... sigh.... any Krispy Kremes left?
Onward and lunch.... Rudy's BBQ. Very nice and how will I make it through the next four hours with this in my stomach??????? Matthew and his wonderful acting as a refueling station owner. Most excellent.
Back to the training and information and more interesting thoughts on how all the points come into making a bad decisions or a good decision to fly.
It ended with a conversation with Scott of Rainbow Ryders who gave us a complete and sobering review of the investigation of the accident in Texas. I believe my decision system is working just fine.
Review of the weather through the week prior to flying, constant updates and decision points, then watching the weather at the launch site ( if worth even going out ). Always choosing on the safe side. ( yeah... not great for flying all the time but safer on passengers and equipment ).
Not as exciting as just going for it but hot air balloon flying is seat of the pants flying all the time... why tempt fate by flying in marginal or poor weather when there is another possibly beautiful weekend right around the corner.
Now... there are many times when you have a great forecast and wonderful indications at the launch site. You lift off and the weather changes for the worse... faster winds mixing down early or just appearing, which has happened a few times or even a lack of winds when you are over congested areas.... What the heck do you do. You fly the damned balloon..look for a place on the ground to get down as safe as possible or fly on until you can find a spot.
One great indication of a good day to stay on the ground is when everyone else is.
Oh... ballooning is very safe when done properly and with all the safety checks in place. Would I fly outside of the US in a balloon.. Only in specific places who have good safety procedures and rules.
Below I have loaded a "Equator Check" shot from a friend. Not a bad one but a good hit on the ground. One of the hardest things to do and one of the main things checked when you are doing your practical flight for your licence is if you can land the balloon. Equator checks are when you hit the ground hard enough to have the envelope fall down about your head. I have seen worse than this but its a good shot of an oopsy. No pain just a hard hit. You can do this if you get target fixation too.
Two major things I took out of this seminar. 1. Don't worry about what others think if you have to deal with an oopsie if it is going to save you or your passengers lives. 2. What is proficient and what does that mean in ballooning where some of use have limited flying time in a year.
I have two envelopes and they are night and day the way they handle in the air. I consider one a maverick ( fast and always needing full control on the reigns ) and the other a Clydesdale ( Beautiful, stately, smooth and grand ). Both will nip you in the ass if you arn't paying attention.
I need to fly more. Proficient in both. Now is the time to get the Racer out and get used to her as well.
Can I fly them both.. you bet. Can I fly other balloons..yep. Am I proficient.....
I will paraphrase a very knowledgeable Pilot ( Buzz )...."If you stop learning from every flight, its time to stop flying". Ill keep learning thank you.. and watching the game tapes.
Oh yes.... One last thing.... The comment was made during the seminar about taking pictures while flying. Hit right at the heart of me there.
My golden and never break rule.... FLY THE BALLOON FIRST FIRST FIRST!
I will take pictures while flying. Never ever when I am processing an evolution ( maneuvering in a specific way ). I will shoot constantly by swinging the camera around and shooting in full automatic mode never putting the camera up to my eye until I am clear and sure of my clearance will the camera come up to my eye. So.. many many pictures and only the best kept. Thousands of out of focus, non centered and crappy shots but safe flying. Just don't do it unless it can be done safely.
PS. Video cameras as set and forget.
Heck I have passed up on a ton of shots and never taken the camera out just because.
Fly safe my friend.
