All kidding aside (yes, the above paragraph is meant as a joke-so no letters please), our sport and industry is in a serious funk and decline. Several problems do exist. First we as balloonists are getting older while not bringing very many younger people into our sport. Secondly new balloon sales are sagging dramatically!
According to Federal Aviation Administration registration listings for new US balloon registrations, since a high in 1989 of 357 units there has been a steady decline, but most dramatically in 1994 with only 270 units to 1995 with only 238 units (see table on the facing page). This is an erosion of over 30 percent of new sales in seven years.
At some point in the near future is ballooning destined to become like the DODO bird or ultra lites? I hope not, but from a business standpoint there must be a time when it is no longer profitable to build balloons or supply parts, or repair balloons, so when do manufacturers and repair stations quit? I do not know. Can we reverse this trend, I believe so!
In order to resolve any problem or conflict, first we must recognize that there is a problem, then identify possible causes, and finally offer some possible solutions.
Is there a problem, I believe so, so what are the causes? One of the first that comes to mind I do not want to change! I remember when, if we were able to get 250 to 300 hours life out of our envelopes we were ecstatic. My current balloon has almost 600 hours on it and is still going strong. The longer lives of our balloons are directly attributable to the manufacturers, (Good Job Guys!), with the development of better fabrics designed for balloons. What happens is that we do not replace our envelopes as often resulting in less new sales to existing balloonists.
Another cause could be the cost of new balloons. With the cost of a new system going over $20,000.00 it is a huge expense. However, if we compare the average prices of a new balloon in 1979 at about $10,000.00 to 1996 at $23,000.00 and factor in cost of living, research and development, better materials, there is no real increase in actual cost. The up side is if a balloon in 1979 lasted 250 hours for $10,000.00 and in 1996 the balloon for $23,000.00 last 500+ hours there is a real positive improvement in cost per hour! Again, I would not want to change this.
Safety could be another cause, but that does not wash. Years ago we flew with a striker in one hand, another type in a pocket, another pocket full of gopher matches and we relit the burner numerous times each flight. I can not recall the last time I had a flame out. Unfortunately any time there is a balloon accident it is sensationalized in the media. Almost all of the accidents today are pilot error, not so in the earlier days of our sport. I do not know for a fact, but I suspect that if we were to compare the true accident rate of the seventies and early eighties with today and factor in number of balloons, total hours flown, total number of active pilots that the 1990’s are much safer. This is due, in a large part, to our national organization, Balloon Federation of America, our local clubs and many interested pilots and instructors and what they have done to promote safety! All have done a commendable job.
The one possible cause that gives us the biggest problems is the way many balloonists treat the casual visitor to our balloon rallies or when we just go fun flying. How many times have you seen someone walk up to a balloon with their eyes as large as sauce pans just to have someone yell at the top of their lungs-get away, don’t touch, beat it, or even worse. What kind of impression did we just make on the new possible balloonists?
Unfortunately this happens way too often. All segments of our sport are guilty, from sport to competition to commercial to the ride operators. The commercial balloon operators are probably the best at taking care of spectators because of the product they represent. The rest of us are about equally quilty at abusing spectators. What if the next time someone came up to our balloon we greeted them with a smile, answered their questions and perhaps invited them on the chase. Notice I did not say give them a ride. At the very least you have made a positive impression on someone or you may have a new friend or crew person. By the way did I mention, from experience, that a good percentage of new sales comes from our crew people. If you are the ride operator maybe you just got a passenger for your next flight, or if you are operating a commercial balloon a potential client.
This is one of the best ways I can think of to help give us a better image, revive the sport and add new people. Also, I do not know of a balloon dealer that would not happily pay a finders fee to someone for bringing them a client to buy a new balloon. I know that I would gladly do just that again and again!
On final reflection, there is at least one person that could be responsible for all the gray hair or in his case white-Mr. Bill Murtorff of Houston. He had white hair when many of us were in diapers so it could be his fault. I mean the only time he had any color in his beard was when he stopped at that rib place in Kansas City (Arthur Bryant’s) on the way to Indianola, and that color was barbecue sauce!
George Hahn owns AERCO, a repair station and Aerostar Distributor in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Mr. Murtorff is currently out of the country on an extended trip and could not be reached for comment. Editor.
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