Other Helpful information not included in the manual

*What do I do if I lose contact with the pilot?

If you loose contact with the pilot, stay calm. Continue to drive in the direction that you last spotted him. It is possible that you will be able to spot him this way. If the pilot has radioed that he is landing or has landed and you still do not see him be patient. The pilot is very skilled and can land without you. It is always best before launch of the balloon that both the pilot and crew have each other cell numbers for such an instance. DO NOT call the pilot during flight as the pilot is busy flying the balloon. Only call after you confirm he has landed and you still do not see him and have lost radio contact with him.

*What channel do you use?

We regularly use channel 14 sub channel 1 while flying. During flight if that channel has a lot of traffic we will switch channels. Make sure you know how to switch the channel before liftoff.

*What if someone asks for a ride in the balloon?

You, as crew, are not allowed to make decisions as to the ability to take passengers in the balloon. If one asks, tell them politely that you do not have the answer and if they are curious to follow behind you and wait until the balloon has landed and pack up has begun. The person can then ask the pilot this information.

*What to do in an emergency?

Although we never expect an emergency to arise, it is necessary to know what to do. In the event of emergency such as power line strike, KEEP EVERYONE AWAY FROM THE BALLOON. This includes police until the power company has confirmed the power is shut off. Power companies will keep sending voltages onto the line until the problem is cleared. The reason for doing this is 99.9 percent of the time the problem causing a power outage is a tree branch. The more voltage applied will finally blow the branch off the line and power can resume. When you call rescue personnel, notify them you are crew for a hot air balloon. Tell them your location and have them contact the power company. After making the call, determine if the road is safe for all traffic. If not position your vehicle so no one can get through. Set out flares and have flaggers assisting with traffic. The media may arrive. DO NOT talk with the media about the incident. Let only the pilot or crew chief take care of this. Both are trained in media relations.

*I am ready to become part of the I'll Fly Away Team, what do I do next?

We always love having crew members when we fly. Send Greg or Cory

an email by clicking on their names and we will get back to you with more information.