Powerline Safety

What To Do

By Tom Hamilton

Powerlines! No other single word in the English language should strike more fear in the heart of a balloonist. We've heard it beforepowerlines kill. But how prepared are you in the event you and your balloon should strike powerlines? Have you worked out and practiced an emergency drill with your regular crew? Do you discuss the possibility of a powerline strike with crew picked up at out-of-town rallies so they are clear on what you want them to do? Remember you are the pilot-in-command, you're the team leader. What would happen if you become incapacitated by injury following a powerline strike? Can your crew take command of the situation?

Do you practice by simulating a powerline strike? Hopefully we all know to rip out if powerline contact appears imminent, but have you ever done that? Some pilots we know recommend rehearsing a powerline rip out. How do you do that? Pick any peaceful routine flight and have one of your crew or another pilot fly with you as a passenger. Arrange in advance for them to shout, without warning, "powerlines" and practice your rip out procedure. Naturally the person chosen for this task should understand ballooning enough to pick a moment when the balloon is in an open area, clear of hazards, and at an altitude where the rip out will not cause injury. The point is to practice an emergency maneuver, not risk damaging the equipment or persons on board. An appropriate moment might be just moments after lift off, while doing practice approaches etc. The crew can even get involved by role-playing their duties, locating the pole number, calling for help, managing crowd control, etc.

Have you ever wondered why are we trained to rip out instead of burning when powerline contact seems imminent? The "rip or burn" question has to do with the correct way to contact powerlines. As strange as that may seem, there is a correct way to strike powerlinesnamely above the equator of the balloon. If the balloon takes the powerlines above the equator the force of the collision will likely drive the balloon toward the ground, especially if you've ripped out. Sure ripping out at 150 feet means a hard landing, but the options are worse. Burning, and striking the lines below the equator, puts the powerline contact much closer to you and your passengers. Arcing lines could sever the basket cables. Burning puts the fuel tanks in much closer proximity to the powerlines increasing the chance of fire, and there's the possibility of the balloon's lift causing it to break through the lines leaving you airborne with injuries, an onboard fire, or worse.

Aerostar International published the results of a three year powerline accident study in Technically Speaking, May/June 1988. Part of that survey examined 39 specific powerline accidents where it was possible to ascertain the pilot's actions. In 19 of those the pilot executed a conscious decision to "burn immediately" upon realizing a powerline strike was imminent. In the other 20 accidents the pilots ripped out. What were the results?

In the 19 contacts where the pilot burned, 26 percent involved fatalities and 47 percent involved serious injury. Of the 20 rip outs, none involved fatalities and only 30 percent involved serious injury.

Avoiding powerline contact is a primary concern of every pilot. Contacting powerlines can definitely ruin your day. However, should you as pilot or your balloon as crew contact powerlines, knowing what to do becomes very important. The pilot and crew responses in the box below were originally developed by the Public Service Company of New Mexico for use by pilots in Albuquerque.

Powerline Safety

Pilot

Before you launch, make certain you and the chase crew are coordinated on an emergency plan. These plans should include review of the information given below, and should include phone numbers to call for help if your balloon comes in contact with electric powerlines, and the action to be taken by pilot and chase crew.

If your balloon should collide with powerlines, keep a level head and follow these procedures outlined by PNM for pilot, passenger, and chase crew safety:

1. Stay in the basket, unless there is a life-threatening emergency, such as a fire.

2. Remain as still as possible in the basket. Don't attempt to push away from the powerline or make contact with the line. Don't assume the line will de-energize after contactit could still be hot.

3. Your priority is to instruct your chase crew or spectators to call the power company right away. They will send someone trained to help get you and your balloon down safely. When notifying them, the caller should describe as specifically as possible the balloon's locationstreet intersections if in town, or if in a rural area, the number on the power pole nearest the balloon.

4. Keep your chase crew and spectators away from the balloon and powerlines. Their efforts to help could endanger lives.

5. If conditions are such that you have no other choice than to make an emergency exit, jump clear of the line, including an escape ropeeven it could be a conductor to the ground. Don`t try to free the balloon.

Chase Crew

Before you chase, make certain you and the pilot are coordinated on emergency plans. These plans should include review of the information below, and phone numbers to call for help if your balloon comes in contact with electric powerlines, and the action to be taken by chase crew and pilot.

1. Don't try to free the balloon. You can endanger yourself, as well as the pilot and passengers.

2. Your priority is to call the power company right away. They will send someone trained to help. Describe as specifically as you can the location of the trapped balloon. Give street intersection if in town, or if in a rural area, tell them the number on the power pole nearest the balloon.

3. Let the pilot and passengers know help is on its way immediately.

4. Keep the crowd under control and away from the balloon and lines. Check with the power company in your flight area and find out what their telephone numbers are and procedures they recommend following. Plan Ahead! It can save time and lives later.