Fatal Accident in Phoenix
At approximately 7:49 a.m. on the morning of April 15 a hot air balloon carrying
tourists, who were attending a car dealers conference, attempted to land in the desert
north of Phoenix, Arizona. The balloon drug some 400 to 500 feet before coming to a
stop. In the process the basket "dog housed" trapping the pilot and passengers
inside.
An ensuing fire result in the death of one woman and critical injuries to others. At
least one man was hospitalized with burns over 65 percent of his body. Balloon
Life spoke with a member of the National Transportation Safety Board team that
is investigating the cause of the accident. He declined to speculate as to what caused
the fire which also consumed the basket. Victims ranged in age from 21 to 73.
The balloon, a Cameron 210, had last been annualled on April 3 according to press
reports. Also, the pilots of the balloon operator, Get Carried Away Hot Air Balloon
Company of Scottsdale, Arizona were reported to have attended a safety seminar at
the end of March. The pilot Thos Welsh was reported to have 20 years ballooning
experience.
Several balloons were flying in the vicinity at the time of the accident. The National
Transportation Safety Board is investigating the accident and will determine the
probable cause of the accident.
Aerostar Update
Aerostar International, the world’s oldest manufacturer of hot air balloons, has
made several announcements for 1996.
First, Aerostar has introduced a state-of-the-art computer cutting table that gives it
the ability to create the custom logos and designs that clients want to create on their
balloons.
Second, Aerostar has introduced the AeroFlex, a new flexible upright system that
provides flexibility, durability, and ease of set up. It is available on most models and
compliments the stainless steel rigid superstructure and ergonomic, self-centering
burners that make flying easier.
For more information on North America’s largest manufacturer of hot air balloons
contact Aerostar International, Box 5057, Sioux Falls, SD 57117 or call (605) 331-3500.
Internet http://www.aerostar.com.
Aircraft Radio Licensing
The Federal Communications Commission, in a fact sheet released in April
titled Ship and Aircraft Radio Station Licensing, issued an interim rule
temporarily eliminating the individual licensing requirement for recreational ships and
private aircraft operating domestically which are not required by law to carry a
radio.
On February, 8, 1996 the Telecommunications Act of 1996 was signed into law.
This act gives the FCC discretion to eliminate the individual radio station licensing
requirement. On April 12, 1996 the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rule Making in
WT Docket No. 96-82, FCC 96-145, asking for public comment concerning the
elimination of the radio station licensing requirement.
Under the interim rule balloonists will not need an individual license to operate
certain radio equipment on private aircraft operating domestically. Examples of radios
on board balloons include any aviation-bank radio, navigation equipment, or
emergency alerting equipment.
The term "private aircraft" refers to aircraft that are not required by law to carry a
radio. This includes aircraft weighing less than 12,500 pounds maximum certified
takeoff gross weight which are not operated as air carriers.
Even though a station license may no longer be required, you must continue to
follow the operating procedures for calling other stations, maintaining a safety watch,
and relaying distress messages as specified in the FCC rules. You may identify you
aircraft using the "N" number of your aircraft.
The FCC has set up a toll-free Customer Assistance Hot Line with a recorded
message explaining the latest FCC decision in the proceeding. To hear the message
call (800) 322-1117, press the number "2", then press the number "1."
Airman Medical Standards
The FAA has issued a Final Rule for Parts 61 and 67 titled Revision of
Airman Medical Standards and Certification Procedures and Duration of Medical
Certificates. Effective September 16, 1996 the amendments implement a number
of recommendations resulting from a comprehensive review of the medical standards
announced previously.
The rule has no direct impact on ballooning. For additional information contact:
Dennis McEachen, Manager, Aeromedical Standards and Substance Abuse Branch,
800 Independence Ave, SW, Washington, DC 20591 or phone (202) 493-4075.
Women in Aviation Museum
The Santa Monica Airport [CA] based Palms Chapter of The Ninety-Nines, Inc.,
an international organization of women pilots, has committed itself to create a women
in aviation museum on the second floor of the 99s Headquarters in Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma.
The chapter has a two-pronged mission:
First, to gather from donors the funds for the construction and furnishing of the
museum, and to oversee the project to its completion in 1997. Work includes the
interior walls, electrical work, painting, carpeting and lighting, and building of forty
cabinets. Estimated cost: $130,000.
Second, to gather memorabilia of women pilots from balloonists to astronauts. Such
artifacts are trophies, helmets and goggles, scarves, uniforms, along with scrapbooks,
logbooks, photographs, licenses, both published and unpublished memoirs, so
forth.
For complete information, contact Claire Walters at (310) 397-2731 or write her at
13026 Psomas Way, Los Angeles, CA 90066.
ThunderStorm Safety Whistle
The All-Weather Safety Whistle Company, St. Louis, Missouri, has announced
the new ThunderStorm safety whistle. Designed with the sporting enthusiasts, athletes
and outdoor professionals in mind, it provides a compact, powerful, totally waterproof,
even able to work underwater, safety and survival whistle.
The Thunderstorm’s unique shape is easy to hold and its compact size makes it fit
easily into a pocket. The ThunderStorm’s high tech design and patented harmonic
chamber focuses the ThunderStorm’s scream so that the alarm is over twice as loud as
the most popular military or police whistles and can be heard over a half mile
away.
A Balloon Life Hangar Flying article, Preventing Mid-Aires,
February 1995, recommended using a whistle to alert other balloons that cannot see
your balloon.
Available in safety yellow, safety orange, teal and black, the ThunderStorm has a
suggested retail price of $4.75 and is available from catalogues and retail outlets
throughout the world.
For more information contact the All-Weather Safety Whistle Co., P.O. Box 8615,
St. Louis, MO 63126, or call (314) 436-3332.
Plane Stuff
Plane Stuff, The Aeronautical Gift Catalogue, has announced its new
location in Redding, California. The new owners; Audrey Schutte, Cooky Newell, and
John Krawczyk bring the business many years of experience and expertise in
airplanes, helicopters and hot air balloons as well as a love of general aviation. They
have operated UP IN THE AIR, a pilot supply and gift shop in Redding since 1992.
For more information or to receive your new Plane Stuff catalogue, call
(916) 244-2844 or 1-800-451-3574.
International Airship Competitions
The Aéro Club de France, the oldest of its kind, will be celebrating its centennial
in July 1998. Among the many events being held to commemorate this anniversary, the
Aéro Club’s newly founded CIEL Association will be organizing various competitions
designed to promote the "Lighter Than Air" technology used in airships. The first will
take place in France in summer 1998, followed by a trans-European race prior to the
year 2000, and culminating with a round-the-world race planned for the year 2001.
The centenary competition in France-CIEL 98-will be open to both remotely
controlled (demonstrators) and piloted engines (proof concept vehicles) of less than
about 1,500 cubic meters and will appeal to technical and scientific engineering schools
or universities world-wide as well as to amateur or professional airship builders.
Substantial cash prizes will be offered.
Large "prototype" airships such as the Russian Thermoplan and the
German Zeppelin are being invited (but will not be competing).
It is planned that the race will take place near Paris for the demonstrators and in the
area of the Loire Valley for the piloted engines.
The challenge is launched. All interested parties are requested to contact:
Association CIEL, 9, chemin des Heuieux, 78 240 Chambourcy, France, Christian
Theuveny, President. Phone (33 1) 39 79 39 88, Fax (33 1) 30 68 88 48.
National Balloon Museum
The National Balloon Museum in Indianola, Iowa, is putting together a display of
special shape balloon memorabilia. The museum is looking for any donations to this
display.
The museum has found that the small amount of special shape memorabilia they do
have is a big hit with the school tours that come through.
The museum is are looking for photos, posters, pictures, pins, patches, fabric,
video, and information on their construction. If it has to do with special shapes in any
way, they’re interested.
Preferred photos and pictures would be 8x10 or larger; framed is nice but not
necessary. They are planning a separate display for all the special shape balloon
pins.
Even though they are concentrating on special shape memorabilia at the moment,
the museum is always willing to accept any type of ballooning artifacts for display.
For questions or more information call the Museum at (515) 961-3714 or you may
e-mail Mark Ziino at ziino@raccoon.com.
