Winter Flight Planning

Balloon Life,November 2000

Ah winter—a cozy fire, a mug of hot chocolate and a few roasted
chestnuts—whatbetter time to goflying?! For manyof Mother
Nature’s creatures this is a time for hibernation,for staying inside
thedenwhereitiswarm,whereonecanwatchthefootball
playoffs, bowl games and the Super Bowl. But for others, winter
istheflying season. The landscapebelow fansoutlike a scene
from holiday greeting card. The super-chilled air means great gas
mileage for almost any balloon and the quiet solitude of balloon
flightismultipliedtentimesover.Yetforallofitsbeauty,
warmth(inspiritonly of course) and holidaycheer,winter can
alsomeantreacherousflyingand chasingconditions,andthe
would-be snowyaeronautand crew had best be prepared.
Flightplanningforawinterflight,especiallyoneofex-
tended distance or duration, will begin much like any otherflight,
withaconcernfortheweather.However,unlikethetypical
balloon flight on a warm, sunny day,one factor that merits serious
consideration, because of the many variables of the flight it will
impact,istemperature.Currentandanticipatedtemperatures
during the flight will effect the balloon’s lifting capability, it will
effect and perhaps limit human endurance of the pilot,passengers
andcrew,itmaycontribute toadrainageof batterypower for
instrumentsand radios, it willimpact road conditions if there is
precipitationenroute, and it certainlywilldetermine how much
and the type of clothing we choose towear.
Howthen do we plan for a winter flight? Following are a few
suggestionsfor your preflightchecklist.Youmaywishtoadd
your own…

Weather Considerations
Certainly we start with the norm—sky condition, visibility,
wind speedand direction, temperature, dew point, and altimeter
setting.Remembertemperatureiscritical.Andnotjustthe
current temperature. What’s goingtohappentothe temperature
asyoufly, willit increase or decrease? Whataboutwindchill
factor? Even a slight breeze of a few knots can make a difference
in thetemperature as it feels to the skin. Not a concern for thepilot
you say, flyingwith the wind,yousay.What if your crew gets
lost? What if you’re down in a fieldfor several hours, or hiking
crosscountryfor shelter? Don’tassume itcan’t happento you,
Remember thatcoldcankill. Remember too thatit iscolder at
higher altitudes. If your flight plan includes mountain crossings
or highaltitudes totake advantage of faster winds for distance,
thetemperatureataltitudewillbemuchcolderthanonthe
surface.
Temperatureisalsoimportanttoyourcrew.Don’tforget
extraprecautionsfor the personworkingthe mouthonthe fan

side inwinter. Seriouswind chillispresent at thatlocation and
injury could result from a simple mistake like forgetting to wear
gloves duringthe inflation.
Good weather information should include an accurate fore-
castof precipitation.Is anyexpectedin the next few to several
hours? If so will it be freezing precipitation? (Againdetermined
bytemperature.)Remembertoothatallprecipitationdoesnot
reach the ground, you could find it snowing or worse at altitude.
If your flight is to be a long one, check the surrounding areas
alongtheanticipatedflightpathforinformationaboutroad
conditionsandpossibleclosures.Willthechasevehicleneed
chainsor snow tires? Is there a possibilityof ice on the road?
Inshort,the currentweatherforthe flightisnottheonly
considerationin winter. Be aware of whatthe weather has been
forthefewdaysprecedingyourflight.Heavysnowfallcould
have pileddrifts upblocking roads, even thoughit’sbright and
sunnyonD-Day.Forecastedweatherisalsoimportant.Ap-
proaching fronts could change the weather dramatically causing
low ceilings, low visibilityandrestricted operations.

Clothing
Nothingcouldbeworsethantobetrapped,standingin
freezing orsub-freezing temperatures for hours without adequate
clothingforwarmth.Forthepilotandpassengersonalong
distancewinterflight,clothingisanimportantconsideration.
Remember that movement will be restricted and the flight could
cover an extendedperiodof time.
For the crew,the concernis slightlydifferent.Their expo-
sure to the cold will usually be of shorter duration, about an hour
or less, given that much of the chase should be spent in a heated
vehicle.Butremember too thata certain amount of dexterityis
neededtoperformvarioustasksandthussometypicalcold
weather gear may notbe suitable.

Chase &Recovery
Of primary concern to the chase and recovery team is to be
there when the pilot needs you—at takeoff, throughout the flight
andupon landing. If your flightplan is tocover great distances
you may wish to consider establishing two crews. One, for launch
and chase, the other to be on hand at the anticipated recovery area.
Driving conditions will be another concern and contingency
plans should be made for blocked roads, lost communications, or
vehicle breakdown. A lost balloon phone number is a must! Cell
phonesdonotworkeverywhere,yet.Mapsoftheareatobe
covered should already be on board anda chase route plottedin
relationto the anticipated flight pathof the balloon.

Winter Flight
Planning

by Tom Hamilton

Balloon Life,November2000

Communications could become criticalif visual sightof the
balloon cannot be maintained at all times. Just a light snowfall
can hide a balloon from a chase crew. Radios should be double
checked and a backup carried if possible.
Finallymake certain there is a firstaidkitanda few blankets
in the chase vehicle. A preflight review of first aid treatment for
cold injuries such as frostbite and hypothermia could be helpful
too.

SurvivalGear
Understand that most of what we’ve talked aboutso far will
applytoanywinterflight,longdistance ornot. Flyinginthe cold,
whether across town or across state(s), requires certain precau-
tionson the part of a safe and prudent pilot and crew.
Then comesthe flightof a more adventurousnature. Perhaps
you’llbe crossing mountains, forests, lakes or other inaccessible
areas. In those instances, you might wish to consider adding a
varietyof survival gear to your equipment on board the balloon.

Insimplestterms thiswouldinclude matches ina waterproof
container,aflashlight (againwith extrabatteries), anextra
blanket or two, a signaling mirror and a compass. On a more
advancedlevel youmight considerinflatablelifejacketsif
crossing large bodies of water. A flashing beacon locator signal
and rescue flares (not those carried in the trunk of your car, but
the type that can be shot intothe sky). The costfor these types of
items canvary widely and they can be purchasedeither individu-
ally or in ready-madesurvival kits. One “threeday” kit we
located included matches, a blanket,water,2400 caloriesof food,
a tentandmore for a mere $20. A likelysource for suchwouldbe
a nearby pilot shop or aviation mail order business.
Winter is a beautiful time of year and a great time to go
flying. The views affordedthe pilotand passengers, especiallyin
snowcountry, can be breathtaking, likean aerialnature walk. But
a winter flight gone wrong can quickly turn into a battle for
survival, and it’s a battle you don’t want to lose.