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190
Ames Research Center�
Space Administration
National Aeronautics and
Permit No. G-27
NASA
POSTAGE & FEES PAID
BULK RATE
Number 191 April 1995
CCAALLLLBBAACCKK
From NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System�
In many ways, ballooning is not very different from any
other type of flying.
some of the hazards.
share a few of their “hot air” stories with us.
Aeronaut Adventures
The challenges are similar, as are the
Some aeronaut reporters to ASRS
Capricious Winds–and Fortune
More so than in powered flight, hot air ballooning is at the
mercy of the “wind gods” who often offer up capricious winds,
or sometimes no winds at all. A controller’s report provides
evidence:
■ Two hot air balloons departed near the exterior boundaries
of the ATA [Class D Airspace]. Because of winds, they
entered the ATA and became a factor for several aircraft.
These balloonists probably wanted to fly out of the ATA as
much as the controller wanted them to, but most likely
couldn’t tell ATC this. Even though a few balloonists carry
handheld radios, most are incommunicado.
A Kiss, Not a Miss
■ Contact with another hot air balloon...fabric-to-fabric
[and] no damage to either aircraft. I should have looked
closer behind and below.
This no-damage mid-air collision is known as a “kiss,” and
might have been avoided had the reporter given way to the
lower balloon. This incident serves as a gentle reminder to
all pilots to review right-of-way rules–and to see and avoid.
Low-Level Hazards
■ Launched in good VMC conditions. While I was
performing high altitude maneuvers, ground fog started to
form. I maneuvered with reference to objects projecting above
the fog, and began a slow descent. I established ground
contact at approximately 100-200 feet AGL. Primary cause of
the incident was not being more aggressive about landing at
the first sign of fog formation.
Not every pilot has such a benign encounter with unforecast
IMC. This pilot was fortunate to be able to descend without
interference from powerlines, trees, or some other obstacle
hidden in the fog–unlike our next aeronaut:
Another pilot and I were floating up a river [in a balloon]
when we came upon some well hidden powerlines. We
brushed the lines, but no damage occurred.
Powerlines, especially those embedded in trees, continue to
be a hazard to all types of low-flying aircraft. Pilots are responsible
for determining when low-level flight is safe and
appropriate, and when it is simply not worth the risk.
Notable Landings
An unwritten rule for hot air balloonists is never to pass up
a good landing site for a poor one. As such, some aeronauts
recall their notable landing sites.
■ Our flight finally started 50 minutes prior to sunset. I
became concerned with lack of landing sites and closeness to
sunset. Finally, with only 15 minutes before sunset, I landed
in the center of a highway cloverleaf.
Luckily for this reporter, the local police were more curious
than punitive...
■ I landed in a suitable area at a school. The Vice-Principal
approached and advised me that summer school was in
session and the property was off limits.
Some state Departments of Aeronautics strictly control
aircraft landings on school property (usually only K-12),
regardless of whether or not the school is in session.
■ I was flying over the lake, winds went calm...and we decided
to land the balloon in [a friend’s] boat. I elevated the
basket, he slipped under with the boat, and I sat it down in
the boat and collapsed the envelope.
According to our reporter, the need for an ASRS report arose
when “one of the boats reported to the local FAA that the
balloon had ‘crashed’ in the lake...” This was probably not
the first time a balloon has needed a little help getting to
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