By Amos M Brock
 
Riding hundreds of feet above the earth in a hot air balloon can be a real thrill. However, like every other adventure sport, hot air balloon ride comes with its share of risks. There have been numerous instances when hot air balloons have crashed and led to the death of riders. So, unless you are very sure about precautionary measures and ensure full protection, you must not go on a ride high up the sky. Here are certain important safety precautions and checks to make before you hitch a ride in a hot air balloon.
Safety equipment

Every balloon should contain basic safety equipment. Make sure to gather information from reliable sources such as ballooning guides and expert websites. As a minimum, you should check whether the balloon has an onboard flint spark lighter, parachutes and fire extinguisher. A flint spark lighter is used in case the flame that keeps the balloon floating goes off in mid flight. The pilot can relight the flame and prevent a crash. Fire extinguisher is necessary for obvious reasons. The standard extinguisher used in most of the balloons is a AB:E 1 kg type.

You should also look for a drop line. In several countries, this is a mandatory inclusion. A drop line is very useful in landing when the pilot cannot steer the balloon effective because of mild wind. Since the balloon runs the risks of damage from the obstructions on the ground, the ground crew use the drop line dropped by the pilot during landing to guide the balloon away from ground obstructions. Typically, a drop line is a 30 meter long sturdy rope.

Maintenance

A balloon that is not well maintained is always unsafe. Regular maintenance is as crucial to balloons as it is for aircraft. The most vulnerable part of the balloon is its fabric. Any small rip or tear can lead to disastrous repercussions during flight. Any such damage should be immediately repaired.

Besides, before you get into a hot air balloon, make sure to check out the basket. It should be clean and meticulously organized. Disorganized baskets are a major indication of inefficient management and maintenance. Check for stains and dirt at the exteriors as well. Sometimes, balloons land in slushy or muddy areas. In such cases, the operator company needs to clean and dry the basket thoroughly. In order to ensure safe landing, the skids provided at the bottom of the basket need to be replaced if damaged. As per protocol, thorough servicing and maintenance is a requisite once every year or after 100 flight hours.
Be alert

When you ride in a hot air balloon, your alertness can be your saviour. Be sensitive to the objects around you when you fly. Always keep a watch out for electrical lines, poles and masts that could collide with the balloon. Sometimes, the pilot might be concentrating on one particular thing and might not pay a lot of attention to obstacles. Deem it as your personal responsibility to alert the pilot in such circumstances.
Listen to what you are told

Before you take off, you are briefed about terms and conditions to be followed during the flight. These rules are for your own good. So, make sure you follow them implicitly.

Cloud 9 Baloon Flights offer hot air balloon rides over the spectacular countryside of Sydney's Hawkesbury Valley or the wine country of the Hunter Valley. They are the only company that pioneered ballooning in the Sydney area and remains the only one with authorisation to do so.

By Graeme S Smith
 
Hot air balloon flights have become popular all over the world. Their main selling point is the offer of a once in a lifetime opportunity to see some of the most stunning views from across the globe.
Whether taking a trip around the Great British countryside or spotting local wildlife on safari in the heart of the African deserts, hot air balloon flights are the perfect for experiencing breath taking views, four thousand feet up in the air.

But not all passengers will have experienced a balloon ride beforehand, and may feel anxious about what lies ahead. So it's important to take some time to put your passengers at ease and help them prepare for their journey in the best ways possible. Take a look at our tips below to learn how to prepare passengers for every possible hot air balloon ride.
Outline The Restrictions Clearly

Hot air balloon flights aren't always possible for all ages or types of people. Generally, no persons under the age of 12 should go on a balloon ride however all balloon companies have their own restrictions. Make sure you outline clearly on your website the restrictions you have in place, so passengers booking hot air balloon flights can be sure they are eligible to fly.
Give Passengers Advice Before Their Flight

For those that haven't experience the thrills of an air balloon before, they may start to panic about what to wear, what time they should arrive and whether they can bring family or friends along with them. So to put their mind at ease and to ensure they do bring the correct items, provide them with a checklist. This can either be sent through the post or email, giving some guidelines about the types of clothing suitable and an itinerary of the day so they know where and when to meet.
Important Points To Include On The Checklist

Guidelines on appropriate clothing should always be included as wearing the wrong thing can ruin hot air balloon flights for the passengers. Many hot air balloon companies offer passengers the chance to have their photo taken whilst in the air to keep as a souvenir. But it's also a good idea to suggest passengers bring their own camera or video camera. That way they can take some snaps of the stunning views they will see to remember forever.

On The Day, Hold A Question And Answer Session

This may sound a little formal, but it will aim to reduce any anxiety or nervousness that passengers may feel before they board their flight. First time flyers won't have experienced a feeling of flying like on hot air balloon flights before, so may want to put their worries at ease by asking the people in the know: the pilot and the ground crew. Preparing your passengers for the flight and putting them at ease is the number one priority, so no matter how silly or repetitive their questions may be, it's imperative that they all be answered.

Graeme Smith is very passionate about ballooning and uses his spare time to write about the many ways of enjoying hot air balloon rides. Visit the website for more information.

There are different ways of ballooning. You could grab a BB gun, strap some weather balloons to a lawn chair and float over restricted air-space. However, if you prefer to truly enjoy your air ballooning experience, you must know what questions need to be asked as well as pointers on how to choose hot air ballooning adventure on the web.
1. You must know how long the hot air ballooning company has been operating. This is a good gauge of safety and customer service and how successful the operations are. Being in the business for a long time suggests that the company has a keen eye on detail, and has been generating satisfied customers. As with any business, the current and potential market will eventually clear out service providers that provide poor service. Poor service meaning, unsafe practices, high margin of accidents, little value for money and a lake of customer focus.
2. Go for locally owned and operated hot air balloon companies, instead of brokers who often than not base their services on the volume of bookings rather than the level of service that is rendered.
3. Check the proximity of the launch site and compare travel distances. A balloon rides can take up to approximately 2.5 hours. Travelling more than the tour time may be fun given that you have the entire weekend to gallivant through the land. It is much advised that you book for flights that will be convenient and accessible.
4. A hot air balloon experience need not be a traumatic experience to you pockets. If you fervently search hard enough, you will discover companies that offer attractively priced packages that will surely delight you. Discounts for certain age groups and number of participants are available especially during off peak ballooning season.
5. Balloon pilots are required to have completed a certain number of flight hours before they are allowed to fly in a hot air balloon. Pilot credentials are an important factor to look at when choosing a service provider. Exceptional skills combined with lots of experience are one of the factors that make companies reliable and safe.
6. Take a look around cyber zone and read on posts and blogs of people who have either tried or are complete enthusiasts of balloon rides. This is where someone else's two cents can be of significance to that perfect adventure you are looking for.
7. Balloon flights are weather reliant. Instead of leaving the weather research to the pilot, you can be a step ahead and learn of what weather and wind conditions the balloons fly best in. Choosing the right atmospheric conditions can define the success or the failure of your flight. Being in the know of all the elements that make up a successful flight can help you choose the best charter that can take your dreams to flight.
In any chosen endeavour, planning and advanced knowledge results to a positive and successful outcome. With the convenience of the internet, data gathering is a cinch. Play it by ear and let your fingers do the walking, after all is set and done, you can then easily look forward to that scheduled adventure that will take your joys to a whole new level of flight.

Harold Gorton is a lover of hot air ballooning. He is also an experienced writer and enjoys sharing information and tips on hot air ballooning with other like-minded people. Harold Gorton has experienced and tried hot air ballooning all around Australia and recommends anyone interested in hot air balloon rides to give it a go!!