by Mike Rose
Course 102
So, you have seen balloons in the sky over your house early in the morning and they look beautiful. It looks exciting and you want to become involved, but how do you be started?
You can become involved in several different ways. First, look in the yellow pages of your phone directory under "Balloons - Manned". Many commercial pilots advertise here and they are always looking for crew people. Give them a call and explain that you are interested in becoming part of a balloon crew. You should first determine when you will be available to crew. Some commercial operations fly twice a day, seven days a week. You will want to let them know when you will be available. Usually people want to crew only on weekends, therefore, if you can crew during the week you will have a better chance of being called on to crew.
A second way to become involved is to follow a balloon in flight. The usual length of a flight from take off to landing is about an hour so the worst thing that can happen is that you lose an hour chasing a balloon. When the balloon lands try to identify the pilot and approach him or her when he or she is not busy with passengers or the pack-up process. I do not know a pilot who is not on the lookout for potential new crew people to supplement their present crew. Crew people often come and go for various reasons. As a pilot I have never turned down a prospective crew person that expressed an interest and desire to learn about ballooning.
Another way to be involved is to go to a balloon festival or race. Many festivals have crew training sessions a week or two before a festival so they have trained crew people on hand to help the pilots who travel without their own crew. If you miss the crew training sessions and the festival allows spectators out on the balloon field you can often talk to pilots on the field. You will become involved sooner than you think. NOTE: Try to get to the pilot before the start of the inflation. Once the inflation process begins the pilot is not going to have time to stop and talk to anyone. Above all, do not try to help unless asked. Most crews are like finely tune instruments and an extra helping hand operating without direction can cause a disruption and be dangerous.
One thing to remember is that there is no such thing as an introverted balloon pilot. You have to be an extrovert to fly that huge colorful bag of hot air through the sky. If you want to become involved you cannot be timid. Get out there and talk to the plots and crews. If you hang back in the crowd you will never become involved in this wonderful sport.
What Do I Wear?
You have gotten out, chased down a balloon, met the pilot and they have invited you to crew next Saturday morning. What do you wear? Above all, you should dress for the weather of the day. In the summer time many crew people wear shorts and T-shirts. I do not particularly like shorts because there is always the possibility that the balloon will have to be retrieved from a field filled with tall weeds, brambles or other growth that can cause injury to bare legs. I feel long pants are always more appropriate than shorts. T-shirts are certainly acceptable attire, but should not contain inappropriate messages that could upset people. In the winter time you must wear enough clothing to withstand the cold and wind chill factor. Layered is best and you should always dress for the worst possible conditions that could arise. If you layer your clothing, you can remove one article at a time when it warms up and remain comfortable.
Footwear in both summer and winter should be substantial. Do not wear open toed shoes or sandals. Sneakers are Okay, but boots or shoes are better. If it has rained or snowed recently something waterproof will help you stay dry. Remember, you are not going to be standing up on the road watching the action. You are going to be out in the middle of that muddy field helping. Another thing to take into consideration on morning flights is dew. You are going to be out in a launch field before sunrise and nine times out of ten it is going to be wet. Sneakers will soak through and your feet will get wet. Something waterproof is usually recommended.
A good pair of gloves is essential. I have seen all types of gloves from inexpensive cloth to extravagant asbestos material. Both of these are extremes. Leather is best for handling cables, ropes and propane. A good leather glove can be found at a hardware store for around $12 to $15. Leather gloves come in both smooth and rough surfaces. The choice is yours. The rough leather often gives a little better grip. I personally prefer the smooth because they seem to last longer. Some gloves come with elastic around the wrist while others have a draw string to tighten them. My experience says go with the elastic. The draw strings have a tendency to wear out or break while the glove is still in good condition.
Hats are an option in the summer time, but absolutely necessary in the winter time. Do not let those ears get frost bitten. If you are over six feet tall I recommend that you have a hat at all times. What does height have to do with anything? Well, sooner or later you are going for a ride in the balloon and if you are over six feet tall the hat will protect your head from the heat generated by the burner.
A word of caution on clothing; it is best to avoid outlandish looking outfits. I have seen balloon pilots and crews that looked as if they were dressed for a masquerade party. Go ahead, be an extrovert and dress funnyat parties. When crewing, however, wear something that will blend with the environment. Sooner or later you are going to be face to face with an irate landowner and he is going to be even more critical of you if you look like a punk rocker out for a hot Saturday night. I know several pilots that always fly in bib overalls. They look like farmers and I am sure that is the image they are trying to portray. Blend in with the scenery and you will make it easier on yourself and the rest of the crew. If would probably be a distinct advantage if you looked like a Playboy Bunny, but that is another story.
It is best to avoid man-made fabric like nylon or dacron. These fabrics can generate static electricity that can be dangerous when fueling the balloon system. Go ahead and wear a nylon wind breaker, but when fueling remember to remove it when at the fueling site.
Some commercial pilots that rely on their ride business for income often have uniforms for themselves and their crew. This can consist of a simple T-shirt with a logo, on up to a whole outfit including a jacket and hat. These are usually provided to the crew free of charge. Try to keep these items clean and neat and wear them on every flight if possible. It is good for the pilot's business to have the crew wearing uniforms that advertise the business and the uniforms add to the professionalism of the operation.
While it is not an item of clothing, do not forget to bring along some kind of insect repellent. In various parts of the country you will come into contact with many different types of insects that can really detract from your ballooning experience. The most prevalent include mosquitoes, sand fleas, ticks, chiggers and fire ants. They are all out there waiting for your tender young body and they can leave some real negative after effects. Most of my ballooning is done in Texas and my crew and I frequently come into contact with mosquitoes, fire ants and chiggers. One of the best things we have found that works on mosquitoes is "OFF". Chiggers are microscopic sized insects that leave a large itchy welt. If you treat it yourself it will go away in about seven days and if you go to the doctor for treatment it will go away in a week. The best method is do avoid the bite in the first place. Commercial preparations in spray cans are often effective, but the best thing we have found for chiggers is plain old fashioned sulfur. I buy it in 5 pound bags at the pharmacy and pour it into an old athletic sock that is then tied shut. Just before unloading the balloon at the launch field everyone takes the sock and flails themselves around the pant legs, waist and ends of their shirt sleeves. This keeps the chiggers out and saves us from many long hours of itching and pain.
Fire ants are a different story. They can be found throughout the South and are moving farther North every year. Learn to recognize them and avoid them like the plague. There are no known preparations that will discourage them from stinging if you disturb their nest. The sting is similar to a bee sting and different people react differently to the sting. Also, they seem to have a cumulative effect. The more stings you receive over a period of time, the worse you are going to react in the future. Fifty stings will probably send you to the emergency room for treatment for swelling and pain. There are prescriptions that help after the sting and the best thing to do is avoid them entirely if you can.
Dress for the season, wear something substantial on your feet, have a good pair of gloves and a hat and protect yourself from nature's little jokes and you will be fine.
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