Study Manual Revised
On July 1, weather information provided by the Federal Aviation Administration was changed to conform to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) formats (METAR/TAF, Balloon Life, May).
Questions on FAA Knowledge Tests have been changed to reflect the new formats. Balloon Publishing Company has revised their Balloon Ground School Home Study Manual chapter on Aviation Weather Services to reflect this changes. That chapter has been re-written to cover the METAR and TAF reports. New FAA test questions are included.
The Home Study Manual is available for $35. For those who already own the manual and would like the purchase just the new chapter it is available separately for $6. First Class postage included.
To order or for more information contact Balloon Publishing Company, 1241 High Street, Oakland, CA 94601 or call (510) 261-4222.
Balloon Insurance
Urbine Insurance Agency, the oldest balloon insurer in the U.S., has announced that it now offers a competitive rate for balloon insurance from a domestic "A" rated company.
For more information or a quote, contact Rob Schantz, PO Box 51591, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32240-1591, phone (903) 223-4362, or fax (904) 223-6963.
Speedvision, Stamford, Connecticut, announced on June 27, the largest aviation film deal in the history of television. Over 200 episodes of aviation programming are scheduled as part of the line-up for the first and only 24-hour cable network devoted to the millions of people who love airplanes, cars, boats, and motorcycles.
Providing 200 episodes of programming, much of it "never before seen" is The Network Group, recognized for producing most of the world-renowned Wings program, now in its ninth year with the Discovery Channel. Wingspan, a division of The Network Group, will also provide a weekly 30 minute Aviation News program for worldwide distribution.
Walter Boyne, aviation historian and Chairman of Wingspan notes that "The focus of Wings was necessarily limited by the more diverse demographics of the Discovery Channel. With the much more targeted audience of Speedvision, Wingspan’s programming will be aimed at the true aviation aficionado."
Speedvision will initially be carried by Cox Communications Inc., Continental Cablevision and Comcast Corp., as well as Direct TV. Werner anticipates that the network will be available to more than six million homes by the end of this year. For more information contact Speedvision at (203) 406-2500 in the east, (310) 268-2100 in the west.
Early Times
Early Times Whiskey launched their new special shape balloon in April at the Kentucky Derby Festival Great Balloon Race in Louisville, home of the company’s corporate headquarters. The 140 feet tall balloon was appropriately christened just prior to take-off, by a company executive with a bottle of Early Times broken against the basket.
Early Times has one of the longest running commercial balloon programs in the world and it continues to grow, this being their fourth balloon and third special shape. The first Early Times balloon, a standard round shape was launched nearly 20 years ago. In 1989 they ordered their first bottle shaped balloon. The new balloon, built by Cameron UK, feature’s the product’s newly redesigned label.
The balloon is operated by Jerry & Kathy Copas of Clarksville, Indiana and can be seen this year at balloon festivals and sporting events nationwide.
