Throughout this issue there are map articles for pilots. Not every pilot bothers to carry a map in the basket, though well they should. Not every pilot provides maps for the chase crew either, though well they should. Many balloon rallies and events provide one map of the area with red zones clearly marked. Of course that means that either the pilot or the crew goes without. Some of these "maps" are simply aerial photographs with key areas marked; it works for the pilot! Thankfully, most throw a local auto club map into the pilot pack as well so the chase crew can use it, but not always. Like so many things that the crew must do, it is up to the crew to make sure that good maps are available.
Okay, what is a good map? The auto club maps are useful for finding major roads and also indicate large open spaces, such as parks. They do not, however, usually show smaller towns in detail, nor such things as high voltage transmission lines. The Thomas Brothers map books are excellent for scale, but again sometimes lack the detail that make them good for a balloon chase. Most real estate offices or title insurance offices offer good line maps of the county in which they are located. These will show detail of the all the small towns, as well as major waterways. In most rural areas of the country, map books are available that show individual parcels of land, complete with the landowner’s name and address. Very handy to have, but very expensive. Then, of course, there are the aviation sectional maps that every pilot should have, but are also useful for crew.
Sectionals are published every six months due to the rapidly changing face of the American landscape. Most balloon pilots do not replace their copy that often as the conditions affecting balloons tend to change less than those flying fixed wing craft. However, I’m sure there are a few pilots that only have the one they used to pass their check rides several years ago, unless they borrowed one for that. Conscientious balloon pilots will replace their sectional every year, or at least every two years when their biennial review comes up. The old map is perfectly good for the chase crew to have.
Sectionals are good to have because they show hazards to aviation, something the motoring maps don’t bother with. Powerlines, tall obstructions, and restricted airspace are clearly shown. The pilot may be too busy flying the balloon to constantly check the map while in the air, but the chase crew can, and should, know what is around the balloon in order to assist the pilot with necessary information. Sectionals have another advantage, too. They show longitude and latitude with hatch marks. With the rapid decline in GPS prices, many balloonists and crews will have GPS units in the basket or chase vehicle. As long as radio contact is maintained, there is no reason to be lost to each other!
At least one portable GPS manufacturer, Trimble, offers a Thomas Brothers map book of the entire United States. By setting the GPS to give "atlas" readings, one can see in the location given as a page number and grid coordinate. Not too precise in wide open country, but there are city maps that are of such a scale that it is not difficult to find a balloon. Using both atlas and position readings, it is easy to pinpoint a downed craft. Though not as useful for a one hour Saturday morning fun flight, a long distance chase under long jump or record attempt conditions can depend on such information to locate the balloon, which can be hundreds of miles in front of the chase crew.
Rallies often try to have some kind of competition for crew. Map reading is an excellent way to improve skills and have fun at the same time. Similar to orienteering courses in the back woods, crew games based on map skills can be used to add a new dimension to scavenger hunts. How many crews would find, "one of the items found piled beneath the lighted obstacle northwest of the pond east of the powerlines where they turn to the west at the northern edge of Class C airspace?" Drag out the sectional and let’s go!
With all the map resources available to a chase crew there is only one reason to get lost: nobody on the crew can read the map. Don’t laugh, there are people who cannot easily read maps. Part of crew training should be the basics of map reading and use of a compass. Of course, few pilots take the time to do this, and it is not one of the top three items of discussion at safety seminars, so once again it is up to the crew members to educate themselves. Know how to read a sectional, locate GPS coordinates, and give directions to the driver, and you will be a very valuable member of the crew. Oh, notice "give directions to the driver." It is generally a good idea to have the person in the right seat doing the observing and map reading. The driver should concentrate on the road and driving hazards.
Chart a course for yourself this winter. Improve you map reading skills. You will be a better crew person come Spring.