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Ready to Ride?

9/22/2014

You see them flying in the air and you think to yourself "I want to fly in a hot air ballon." Life is short, why not take a flight this year?

Pilots are currently booking passengers for flights at Carolina BalloonFest. Flights are $225 per person. That's a lot of money, you say? We say it is an experience of a lifetime and worth every penny!

There are definitely reasons for the cost. Pilots have to be licensed, and not just a regular pilot's license to take paying passengers. They must also be a commercial pilot, so additional certification is required. They need a ballon, of course, and those cost money. Think price of a car. Some very high priced, though sometimes they can be purchased used. But once a pilot gets the balloon, they have to keep it in top flying shape, with regular mandatory inspections. Then they need a chase vehicle.....something that can hold a balloon, crew, and passengers. Propane for the balloon, gasoline for the chase vehicle, and insurance for both. This is just the tip of the iceberg in ballooning expenses, but get the picture? It is not a cheap sport! It's hard to get rich giving rides.

Most of the pilots who offer rides at the festival, also offer rides outside the festival. It's definitely a unique experience to ascend with many other balloons also in the air beside you. What a photo op! But some prefer the private solitary flight. Either way, you will get the opportunity to float through the skies and see the works from another dimension.

Carolina BalloonFest is a very popular event to mark special occasions. How about celebrating that special birthday, that "cancer free" celebration, that new job, or that special anniversary?

And thinking about popping the question? What an unforgettable engagement story. Most pilots love to help you plan the event. (Just make sure you're pretty confident of their answer, or it makes for an uncomfortable ride!) This year two of our pilots may be able to share your news in a special way. Matt Lidinsky and Sally Mazzochi were recently engaged themselves. They are both booking rides for the festival and would like to share your joy, too. We've even had weddings take place at the festival. Beautiful pictures and a fun story to tell.

So much more to say about rides. There will just have to be a part two! But if you are ready to book, go to carolinaballoonfest.com, to the tab "Pilots and Hot Air Balloons", and you'll find contact information for all of our pilots offering rides at Carolina BalloonFest. You'll also find pictures of their balloons, in case you're going for a certain look, or want to coordinate your outfit! Have fun with it. We hope to see you in the skies!

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Let's Go Chase!

9/15/2014

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There are those who sit on the sidelines, and there are those who become part of the experience.

A festival like Carolina BalloonFest can't operate without many, many volunteers. Since proceeds from the festival help local charities, like the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, volunteering at the festival is a way you can give something of yourself to several local charitable organizations. It's also a good way to be involved with an event that brings over 50 hot air balloons to our Iredell County skies. If you have enjoyed the festival in the past, or want to enjoy it this year from a more involved perspective, we'd love for you to join us and volunteer.

Go to our website carolinaballoonfest.com and check out all of the different volunteer opportunities available under the Volunteers tab.

One of the opportunities listed is Balloon Crew. This year we have some extra needs required in this area. We have some very large special shaped balloons that require very large crews. No experience necessary! The balloon crew helps put the balloon up and take the balloon down, so the ability to do a bit of physical activity is required. It is an activity your whole family can enjoy together. Age is not a big factor, but you have to be able to listen to the pilot and their crew chief and do what they say. When balloons are around, they are the boss, and they need an attentive crew.

If the balloon is flying, you become chase crew! The chase crew not only helps set the balloon up, but they follow the balloon so they can be there to help the pilot take it down when they land. A lot of our pilots are from out of town, so they feel especially lucky when they get crew that know the area. You'll be in contact with them via radio, and sometimes by other technology. Another skill some are looking for is someone to drive their chase vehicle. These come in all sizes and shapes, from trucks to vans to large trailers. If you have special skills in any of these areas, make a note in the comments field of the application.

Balloons fly morning and night throughout the festival, and pilots prefer crew who stay with them throughout. That's Friday night, and Saturday and Sunday morning and evening. If there are times you would not be available to crew that weekend, make sure you note that on your application. We also have needs on Friday morning of the festival, where many of our regular crew may not be available. This is when our media fly and some pilots visit our local schools. If you could lend your hands, they would be appreciated.

Most who crew a hot air balloon enjoy the experience. The balloons are magnificent creations and helping them come to life is probably an experience you will not soon forget. And yes, a few of the hot air balloon pilots are interesting characters who will keep you entertained. So come on! You don't want to sit around that weekend and just watch. Come join us and get involved! Fill out your application today and mark that weekend as "Busy!"

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New Pilots Coming On The Scene

9/1/2014

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Out and about in Iredell County this summer you may have seen a couple of new balloons in the sky, flown by a couple of new faces.

We're excited that Daniel Sasser is a licensed hot air balloon pilot and Madison Sharpe is a student approved to fly solo as he finishes his training. Congratulations to both! It's exciting for us to see young pilots embracing this sport.

You didn't know that balloon pilots have to be licensed? Yes, and it takes many hours of both classroom work and supervised flying to make sure they have mastered the skills and are ready to be certified to fly.

There are schools where some pilots go to train, but the vast majority trade their services as crew to local commercial pilots for instruction time. This means a lot of hours need to be dedicated to the task and they have to really want to learn to fly.

It was in June that I was able to be Daniel's first non-pilot passenger. Would that scare you? It didn't me. I had confidence in the pilots who had taught him (some of the best in the country), I knew how seriously Daniel had taken the training, and I also knew he understood the responsibility of being a pilot with passengers.

We had a wonderful ride in the eastern part of the county and a perfect landing. Some folks saw us flying in the air over their house and when they saw we couldn't land in their neighborhood, they put their children in their car and joined our chase crew in following the balloon. They watched the landing and even lended a hand when we were packing the balloon up. The neighbors in the Spring Forest neighborhood welcomed us with open arms. It's fun when the landowners make landing an impromptu party!

These won't be the last new pilots you see in this area. Others are in training now. Two of our young people who crew for pilots in the area, Duncan Dunavent and Tyler Ayers, attended the Great Eastern Balloon Camp this summer. You just may see these guys as pilots at BalloonFest in future years.

Balloonmeister Sam Parks requires that pilots that fly at Carolina BalloonFest have 100 solo hours under their belt. Those who fly passengers for money must be licensed commercially, with additional training that goes beyond the private pilot's license.

Thinking about taking a flight at Carolina BalloonFest? Check out the Pilots & Balloons page on our where you will find contact information for those pilots who are booking passengers during the event. Flights are $225 per person.

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