|
Just
because the hot air balloon is the oldest successful form of
human flying technology, doesn't make it the safest!
Hot air ballooning
can be a relaxing and enjoyable sport for professionals and
amateurs alike. However, it is always important to keep safety
in mind.
As hot air balloon
festivals and activities become more popular, people are
increasingly drawn to the benefits of a relatively smooth and
comfortable flight experience. Indeed, the hot air balloon is
quite safe and generally, much safer than some of the other
means for aviation. Still, considering the proper precautions
might save you the greater risk of being involved in an
accident.
The National
Transportation Safety Board reports that; of the 11 accidents
involving hot air balloon fatalities (recorded between 1997 and
2007), four involved contact with power lines, three involved
falling after hanging onto the outside of a rising balloon,
three involved striking an object on landing and one involved an
equipment failure.
Granted that the
number of hot air balloon accidents is nowhere near the amount
of general aviation accidents, when comparing the amount per
hour, balloon accidents are reported to be four times more
likely!
General Aviation
| Year |
# of Accidents |
# of
Fatalities |
Flight Hours |
Accidents per
100,000 Hours |
| 1997 |
1,851 |
641 |
25,464,000 |
7.27 |
| 1996 |
1,909 |
632 |
24,881,000 |
7.67 |
| Total
|
3,760 |
1,273 |
50,345,000 |
7.47 |
Balloons
| Year |
# of Accidents |
# of
Fatalities |
Flight Hours |
Accidents per
100,000 Hours |
| 1997 |
17 |
2 |
48,700 |
34.90 |
| 1996 |
22 |
2 |
68,000 |
32.37 |
| Total
|
39 |
4 |
116,700 |
33.62 |
In order to ensure
the most safe and pleasant ballooning experience, keep in mind
that your security depends on the experience and professionalism
of your well trained pilot. Therefore, it would be best to make
sure that they are FAA certified. It is also good practice to
have confidence in your pilot's insurance liability policy.
Taking such precautions will help protect your rights in case of
an accident.
Otherwise, the
single most defining factor of your balloon flight is the
weather. From take-off to landing; fog, rain, snow, wind,
thermal winds etc. are all key elements to consider when
attempting a successful hot air balloon practice. Before a safe
balloon flight can begin, the pilot must always check the
forecast and select a suitable departure and landing point.
Furthermore, Good pilots always check their equipment before
beginning a flight. They often carry backup tanks of fuel and
other surplus equipment for safety.
Secondly, it is
always important to be aware of your surrounding area. Please
consider that the take-off point must be large enough to lay-out
and inflate the envelope and clear of obstructions such as power
lines and poles, trees, and buildings to allow lift-off under
the predicted wind conditions.
The launch point
must be situated in such a way that allows the predicted winds
to carry your balloon in the direction of a suitable landing
site.
Taking off from a location that is directly up wind from large
bodies of water, metropolitan areas or a large uninterrupted
forest is not safe! If you plan to sight-see over such
locations, always keep track of you fuel supply.
Finally, it might
be useful to know that most hot air balloon launches are made at
dawn or at least two to three hours before sunset. It is best to
launch and land during these times because it is usually cooler
and less windy, making the balloon much easier to handle.
Although this is an intentional safety practice, some of the
benefits of such timing can include a once in a life time
opportunity to catch a glimpse of the sun rising or setting
while in flight.
Overall, safety
first! Once you're sure that all the proper safety precautions
have been taken, you're free to relax and enjoy the ride…Happy
travels!
|
Homepage
