September 2000
(ISSN 0887-6061) is
published monthly by Balloon Life
Magazine, Inc., 2336 47th Ave SW,
Seattle, WA 98116-2331
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MAGAZINE
September 2000
Editor-In-Chief
Publisher
Tom Hamilton
Contributing Editors
Ron Behrmann, George Denniston,
Greg Livadas, Mike Rose,
Alan Sanderson, Peter Stekel
Columnists
Don Piccard
Staff Photographer
Ron Behrmann
Pam Dillon, Jim Ellis
John Larsen, Matt McKee
Glen Moyer, K.L. Thompson
2336 47th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116
Fax: 206-935-3326
e-mail: tom@balloonlife.com
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Phone: 206-935-3649
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association recently recommended to the Federal
AviationAdministrationthattheagencyinstallon-line“weathercams.”Usingthe
power of the Internettoprovide better weather information to pilots. AOPA wants the
FAAtoinstallInternet-accessiblecamerastoprovidereal-timeweatherimagesto
supplement automated ASOS/AWOS reports. In a letter to the FAA’s Aviation Weather
Directorate,DennisRoberts,AOPAvicepresidentandexecutivedirectorofthe
GovernmentandTechnicalAffairsDivision,said,“Video-imagingtechnologyisan
inexpensive andeffective mediumfor givingpilotscriticalweather information.”
This idea hasbeen successfullytested inAlaska, where video cameras have been
placedatairportsandremotelocations.Thecamerasareaimedtoprovidethemost
relevantweatherviewsforVFRpilots.Theviewspermitpilotstoidentifydistant
weather phenomena and make better “go/no-go” decisions. AOPA called this inexpen-
sive technology toenhance weather observations and increase aviation safety. AOPA
wants the FAA toexamine the resultsof the Alaska project and expand the program to
the lower 48states.
Somesmallerairportsinthelower48havealreadyinstalledwebcams.The
popularity of webcams and there locations can be a resource for the balloonist, whether
or not the camera is at an airport. Many balloon flights do not take place anywhere near
anairport.Here in the Seattle area Idrive 30-40miles toreacha suitable flyingarea.
While there are lots of big airports nearby their weather reporting doesn’t always help.
Especiallyifth elimiting
weatherisfoginavalley.
Seatac Airport might be clear,
but the valleythat lies below
it, where balloons fly, can be
sockedin.InthePud get
SoundareatheWashington
StateDepartmentofTrans-
portationhasprovideda so-
lutionthatworks—traffic
cameras.Placedaton/o ff
ramps along majorhighways,
wh ichm ean sth eareais
lighted for those 5 a.m. view-
ing, one canseewhat the real
conditions are before making
the longdrive.
ManywebcamsareavailableontheInternet,setupbygovernment,schools,
airports and individuals. The pictures usually refresh often. It might take some searching
tofind webcamsthat can be useful in your area. Give it a try, the technology might let
you goback to sleep instead of just going outfor thatearlymorningbreakfast.
