So being a pilot of balloons and making my living by taking people flying this has been a bad day. Non-stop coverage on CNN of the accident in Virginia.
While I feel badly for the loss of life it also makes me angry. There is no reason to fly that late in the evening. ALL of us that fly these things knows just how damn dangerous it is to fly in unfamiliar areas with a getting dark dead line to land. Something like 75% of all power line strikes happen in the last few minutes prior to sunset.
What pisses me off? My insurance rates are going to go up AGAIN! And my phones will barely ring for at least two weeks.
There is IMO no excuse for this type of flying, but the public does not know any better so those of us making a living doing this are going to be making a bit less of a living for a while, all while our costs go up yet again.
Sorry people are dead for sure, but still pissed off about the poor judgment of the pilot involved. I want to cry and scream all at the same time.
Sorry for the rant.
Why don't you call CNN, explain your expertise, and give them an alternate viewpoint?
CNN will not be taking any calls from a Californian. [laugh]
Quote from: red baron on May 10, 2014, 03:07:58 PM
CNN will not be taking any calls from a Californian. [laugh]
He's a northern Californian.
Lol @ Californian! No CNN does not take my calls. Our industry trade association does not take a pro-active role in getting truths out there either.
Remember the balloon boy in the silver "UFO" incident? It took me less than five minutes to do the helium/lift calculations to be absolutely certain the kid was not in there. I called CNN several times to explain that in the first hour of the incident. No response. Why? Better ratings chasing an empty balloon for several hours.
Channel 13 came out here in Sacramento and interviewed me but it did not go National.
What upsets me the most about this incident (aside of the dead people) is that the industry recently got some very unwanted attention from the NTSB and now they are recommending the FAA enact more rules and regulations. Most of which would force smaller operators like myself out of business. Even the larger operators will take a huge hit.
It gets old watching people do stupid things and being affected by it. We rarely fly sunsets and when we do it is once or twice a year in our own turf where we know all the landing areas. I still don't like doing them though.
Ballooning is getting "grey" with most of the pilots getting older and slower. The one regulation I disagree with is that balloon pilots (even commercial) are not required to get a medical check. They are allowed to "self-certify". they are fit to fly. This has always been unacceptable to me especially in regards to taking paying passengers. Old eyes do not see power lines as easily....
It is a sad day when people die doing something that should be incredibly safe. Tough times ahead for my industry. Oh and I have already taken over 4k in cancellations due to the coverage. [bang]
That sucks Sky [thumbsdown]
It always sucks when hard working people are affected by somebody else stupidity.
That being said, I would still take a balloon ride despite the bad publicity.
Thanks Lazy, So much for some Ohlins forks this season, gonna have to hold tight to the cash :-\
Had to add ^^ excellent example of trickle down economics....
the hot air industry aint got nothing on the bad press the moto industry gets when it comes to prople doing stupid things to make a safe activity look dangerous..
More people will ride a motorcycle than will ever fly a hot air balloon. Either as a pilot or passenger. We draw from a much smaller segment of the public.
The largest difference as I see it is that a rider will usually kill just themselves and upon occasion kill a passenger or motorist. Balloons usually take several people with them. Balloons on fire also make for better ratings than the aftermath of a motorbike accident.
Last year one of the top manufactures of hot air balloons sold 87 units world wide. That is down 300% from a decade ago. I think most of the motorbike manufactures do a bit better... :)
Between what the NTSB has recommended and the recent number of accidents I am only more driven to build my offshore aircraft carrier for balloons. No more power lines or ground strikes, ever. Luckily the team is coming together and my plans approved by the USCG. Now I just to dig up the two million needed to put it in the water and operate the first year. It will be capable of flying over 60 people per day with none of the risk associated with ballooning over hard terrain and power lines.
Does this mean I can pick my day for a balloon ride?
I'm scared of heights, so I hope I can see over the side from my knees, while tied to the basket.
lol, Most people are not afraid of heights, they are afraid of edges. For all the people I have taken flying that said they were afraid of heights we have never had a single person want to land because of it.
Sounds odd but I will not walk up to the edge of anything without a being a bit afraid. It is easy to fall off an edge. Most people are in that category.
Give me a safety rope and harness I will dangle off of anything. Give me a soaring aircraft and I will go as high as legally allowed. Most people are not in this category, irrational fear gets the better of them. It is partially why I laugh (and cringe) when someone who rides a motorcycle or for that matter drives a car, says they are afraid to go ballooning.
On average 400 people fly in balloons every day and that is just in California. Pretty safe all in all. However, one pilot that pushes it combined with CNN and a rabid irrational media, makes a mess.
Oh well all I can do is keep flying and doing it as well as possible. And of course any DMF folks want to fly I am sure we can work out a deal for you.
Maybe re-title the thread to "Will fly for mods"....... [roll]
You need to get a story out there about how a Girl and her Puppy were rescued from....something by Balloon.
That should get the media focused on that for 5 seconds and maybe the fire ballon will be forgotten.
I'd like to float over a giants game and pee off the side.
Quote from: Deal Emperor on May 12, 2014, 08:33:16 AM
I'd like to float over a giants game and pee off the side.
On the LA Team I hope.
(http://epicsports.cachefly.net/images/9971/300/mlb-stretch-uv-san-francisco-giants-baseball-cap.jpg)
http://wnyt.com/article/stories/s3433752.shtml (http://wnyt.com/article/stories/s3433752.shtml)
I feel bad for all the bouncy house operators now. CNN is gonna go nuts with this.
god help us all if cnn sees the movie up
Love that movie (UP) Not because of the balloons but because of the dogs. Everytime my buddies and I see a hot gal walking down the street the one that notices her first says "Squirrel" and we all forget what we were doing for a second..... ;D