Without question, hot air ballooning is a heads-up sport. Whether we're watching clouds for weather or flags for wind, our eyes are often skyward. However, anyone in the vicinity of a launch, engaged in a chase, or on hand for a landing should keep an eye to the ground. That's where the hazards—and crucial crew duties—lie.
Imagine, for example, just one balloon being readied for launch. Among the supplies, you'll recognize the mother of all ankle grabbers, some fifty feet of crown line. Then there's the safety harness, an inflation fan, a drop line, the envelope bag, perhaps a fire extinguisher, a cooler, and a duffel bag or two filled with miscellaneous hoses, tools and fittings. Ground crews know where these obstacles lie; after all, we're the ones who put them there. Few spectators, however, anticipate the perilous paraphernalia at their feet. No wonder an unsuspecting visitor can so easily stumble upon the scene and over an obstacle. Indeed, many of us crew members have tumbled over the equipment ourselves.
To this scenario add fifty balloons. Or one hundred. Heck, let's make it an international hot air balloon fiesta. The sudden ground swell of scattered gear coupled with a multitude of intermingling, eyes-aloft enthusiasts creates a ready invitation to trip. Just imagine hundreds of crown lines and safety harnesses, stretched among thousands of meandering balloon watchers. It's like a mesh of webs, ready to ensnare the nearest passersby.
Most pilots and crew members are vigorous and fit; however, fiesta guests are as diverse as the balloons they view. Spectators span the generations, from toddlers to senior citizens. They also come in a variety of special shapes, not all of which are nimble and quick. A simple slip could mean a stubbed toe for one person but a broken hip for another.
True, a quick trip over a low line is rarely rough, but why bring anyone In for a landing? Even a minor bump is enough to dampen the delight of balloon watching or spoil the excitement of an impending ride. Worse, a fateful misstep over a seemingly harmless balloon accessory can—and has—caused permanent injury.
A coiled or slack rope lying on the ground, for example, may appear Innocuous. If tied to a moving basket, however, the rope becomes a leg lasso, ready to throw a hapless victim to the ground or even lift its prey high into the air. The rare but real risk of serious harm from an otherwise inanimate object must, therefore, be taken seriously.
Prevention of such unplanned trips is patently simple, so let's keep visitors vertical. Ground crews, cruise the ground! Pay attention to guests and gear alike. Minimize and consolidate the equipment. Stack supplies adjacent to the chase vehicle rather than scatter them about the scene. Keep an eye on visitors and alert them to lines, hardware and other low-lying objects.
Obstacle avoidance shouldn't end with the launch. Continue surface surveillance throughout the chase, when unintended ground encounters can be especially dangerous. Too often, chase crew drivers scan the sky while neglecting traffic, street signs, road ruts and other potential hazards. For example, one eyes-high driver pitched the chase truck into a ditch, breaking an axle, injuring a passenger, and stranding the balloon pilot until he was retrieved by another crew.
And don't forget all of those "natural" disasters that can bring you to your knees. During balloon landings, chase crews often dash toward their descending targets at breakneck speed, running across uneven, often tortuous terrain of rugged brush, rocks and burrows. Even gentler sites, such as grassy fields or well-maintained roads, have enough hidden hazards to trip the most attentive traveler. Then there's the proximity/fixation phenomenon: The closer we get to the basket, the less we look at the ground.
The risks don't end with the landings, either, as we slow our pace but fail to focus at our feet. Recently, a passenger from a commercial flight exited the basket to assist the crew in walking the balloon to a nearby road. She positioned herself at the front of the basket, grabbed a handle and began walking backward over the rugged desert terrain. Tripping over a low shrub, she fell to the ground, and barely escaped injury from the oncoming basket.
Basket bumps are all too common, especially when there are more helpers than handles. The basket becomes lined with people on all sides, putting at least someone in harm's way. In a related risk, a moving balloon may pivot, repositioning side handlers to the front and into the path of the basket. During balloon walks, direct any front luggers to get out of the way, fast.
Ground patrol Is more than a safety procedure, particularly when traversing private land. That vegetation on which crew members tread may be someone's prized petunias or a pampered pumpkin patch. As intruders, chase crews must remember that landowners care about what's underfoot, not overhead. So respect their land. Look at it as you jog across it.
To sum it up, and down: Whether you're readying for the launch, participating in the chase, or lending a hand with the landing, just remember to "Look! Down at the ground!"