DROPLINE February 2016 - Balloon Society of Kentucky

Executive Committee:
 President - Matt McClinton
 Vice President - Derek Browning
 Secretary - Sue Greene
 Treasurer - Janet Smith
 Newsletter Editor - Wayne Gerding
Safety: Don Smith, Michael Stinson
Social: Lisa Carrico, Denise McClinton
Public Relations: Brian Beazly
Historian: Jerry Copas
Land Owner Relations:
Steven Bennett
Billy Green
Awards: Terri Hoge
Newsletter Contributor: Bill Smith
Membership meetings start at 7:00 PM
at the Aero Club at Bowman Field.
Primary means of distribution for Monthly newsletter is via Email. USPS Mail for
members that have requested hard copy.
Email newsletter material to
penway@mis.net or snail mail to 871
Avenstoke Road, Waddy, KY 40076
DATES TO REMEMBER
January (2nd Thurs): Membership Mtg
February (by 2nd Thurs): Newsletter Sent
15th: Last day to re-register to be
included in the Roster
March 1: Roster published
(2nd Thurs): Membership Mtg
April (by 2nd Thurs): Newsletter Sent
May (2nd Thurs): Membership Mtg
June (by 2nd Thurs): Newsletter Sent
July (2nd Thurs): Membership Mtg
August (by 2nd Thurs): Newsletter Sent
September (2nd Thurs): Membership
Mtg
October (by 2nd Thurs): Newsletter Sent
November (2nd Thurs): Membership Mtg
Odd numbered years: Officers election
December (by 2nd Thurs): Newsletter
Sent
31st: Memberships expire
Dates to
Remember
NEXT MEETING
March 10th
DROPLINE February 2016
Bimonthly Newsletter
Balloon Society of Kentucky, Inc.
PO BOX 7661
Louisville, KY
WWW.BSOK.ORG
Committed to Education, Safety and Fellowship!
The BSOK Annual Safety Seminar will be held on Saturday February 13th. Advance registration was requested due to seating. Late comer’s welcome but may
need to bring a lawn chair. Registration starts at 7:30, programs run from 8:00
AM to 5:15 PM Lunch is provided around 12:15. Location is at the SkyCab Balloon Promotions Warehouse, 1200 Truman Park Drive, Suite 200.
The annual Balloon Society of Kentucky Chili Cook Off will be Saturday February
20th. We will start at 6 PM at the Aero Club. Please bring ladles as well as any
other items needed to accompany your chili.
Please RSVP by February 13th to Alex Freeman or Matt McClinton. Advise
on number attending and if you are bringing Chili or a snack, side dish or dessert.
2015 Landowner Gift Certificate Winners
Twenty lucky landowners received a $25 dinner gift certificate and thankyou letter in the mail in January for welcoming balloonists to use their
property in 2015. Each year the club has a drawing from the landowner
appreciation cards that were returned from locations where balloons had
landed. This year, BSOK members were also asked to nominate their favorite landowner who allowed balloons to launch from their property. Sixteen names were drawn from the returned cards and four were nominated.
Congratulations to all. The winners are:
Landowner
Address
City
BSOK Member
Austin Bailey
Jennifer Beaven
Paula Blankenship
Charles Brown
Ted Creed
Patricia Dentinger
Daniel & Ayden
Glidewell
Clark Station Rd
Persimmon Wood Trl
Pine Meadow Dr
Billtown Rd
Bridlegate
Old Clark Station Rd
Fisherville KY
Fisherville KY
Simpsonville KY
Louisville KY
Louisville KY
Fisherville KY
unmarked
Scott McClinton
Randy Oates
Chuck Brown
Randy Oates
Matt McClinton
Braided Tail Ct
Louisville KY
Bill Smith
Harrell & Carole
Jack & Sandy
Knapp
John Metts
Bill Priddy
Willie Joe Slattery
Lee Stinson
Don Talley
Jackie Trueblood
Albert Van Vooren
Daryl Watson
Kathy Wallace
Steve Wayne
Jim Whitaker
Taylorsville Rd
Fisherville KY
Terri Hoge/Roy
W. Grandview Rd
Webb Rd
Crawford Ln
Evergreen Rd
Aiken Rd
Chapman Ridge Rd
S. Becks Mill Rd
Conner Station Rd
Birch Bend Circle
Fisherville Rd
Watch Hill Ln
Pounds Lane
Salem IN
Simpsonville KY
Stanford KY
Frankfort KY
Louisville KY
Fisherville KY
Salem IN
Simpsonville KY
Fisherville KY
Finchville KY
Louisville KY
Simpsonville KY
Michael Stinson
Adam McClinton
Dan Hoehler
Tom Steinbock
Bill Smith
Brian Beazly
Mike Stinson
Frank Stevenson
Randy Sizemore
Stephen Bennett
Brian Beazly
Janet Smith
DROPLINE
A Bimonthly publication of the Balloon Society of Kentucky, Inc.
Page 2
President’s Corner - Matt McClinton
VOLUNTEERISM
It is the middle of winter, and usually we are all
getting cabin fever around this time. A quick
glance at the club’s Facebook page it is clear that
a handful of our members have already kicked off
the 2016 flying season. Since our first meeting on
January 14th I have thought long and hard about
what I want to write in this article. For inspiration (or as a way to procrastinate) I searched through old emails and
read various newsletters dating all the way back to April of 2009. Several things stood out to me about that newsletter but none more than
how strikingly similar the goals outlined by then-president Bill Smith
are to the initiatives I recently proposed to the club.
Fast forward seven years to January’s meeting where the executive
committee announced two strategic club goals for 2016. First, we are
going to make a push to get current members to fly more by bringing
back the summer evening flight series and adding a fall weekend series. The second, but perhaps more important, goal for 2016 is to recruit new members to the club and to the sport.
Prior to concluding the meeting I asked for volunteers to help get the
ball rolling on several initiatives, one of which was forming an exploratory committee tasked with deciding the feasibility of a club-produced
balloon glow in 2016. As of this writing, I am still looking for volunteers. Our club is run by volunteers and at the end of the day it is all
about sharing out passion for the sport of ballooning and having fun. I
think organizing an event could be both a fun and worthwhile cause.
By far the most important question is whether or not the club is invested in this venture. If anyone has any interest at all in stepping up
and taking on the task of organizing a balloon glow please let me
know. My email is dmcclint3@aol.com.
Old Business Note—At the January meeting it was mentioned about obtaining Trading Cards to publicize BSOK to the community. To the left is cards
that were drafted by Jerry Copas. Discussion will be held at future
meetings. If anyone has recommendations or proposals let the Executive
Committee know.
At our January
meeting we
helped Joanne
Beazly celebrate
the anniversary of
her 50th birthday.
Balloon Society of Kentucky, Inc., is a non-profit incorporated organization. Opinions presented in this newsletter through contribution, articles, letters
and editorials are solely the opinions of the authors and do not express the official views of BSOK the editor or, officers or chairpersons.
DROPLINE
A Bimonthly publication of the Balloon Society of Kentucky, Inc.
Page 3
NTSB Mishap Reports
On Thursday, October 08, 2015 in Albuquerque, NM, a Kubicek 300 made a hard landing which resulted in serious
injury to a passenger. Fourteen others were uninjured. According to the pilot, after diverting to an alternate landing
area due to adverse wind conditions, the pilot maneuvered the balloon to land on a nearby soccer field. The pilot stated that he engaged the smart vent, touched down, bounced, and the balloon touched down a second time and came to a
halt. He reported that during the second touchdown, a passenger's knee struck the calf of a fellow passenger, and that
the passenger who was struck sustained a broken fibula. No further injuries resulted and damage was not sustained
to any portion of the balloon. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to or during
the flight that would have prevented normal flight operation.
On September 27, 2015 a Lindstrand 69A experienced a hard landing near Albuquerque, NM. The pilot sustained serious injuries and the pilot-rated passenger was not injured. The balloon was not damaged. The pilot reported the purpose of the flight was to get current in landings and to practice steep approaches, the kind she might need to make to
get into small clearings between houses and trees during the upcoming Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.
She said before the flight she checked the weather with Flight Service and the forecast she received was good. She
also said that the balloon she flew that day was a standard balloon, which was different from the Lindstrand 90 racing balloon that she usually flew. She said the racing balloon climbs and descends faster than the standard balloon.
The pilot and her friend, a commercial balloon pilot who was coming along to observe her landings for her currency,
took off from the west mesa and she began practicing landings, her goal to land on every dirt road. She said they were
45 minutes into the flight when she made a steep approach to a dirt road and misjudged the descent. She expected the
balloon to react differently than it did. When they hit the edge of the road, both of her knees buckled and she was
pitched forward and downward onto the bolster of the basket. The pilot said she felt like the wind had been knocked
out of her. She said that at that time she did not know she was injured. She got out of the balloon and let the other
pilot continue flying the balloon while she rode in the chase vehicle. After the other pilot completed the flight, she said
she did not help with putting the balloon away, but did go back to the launch site and tail-gate with the other pilot
and the balloon crew. She said that when she got home, she was still sore, so she put ice on her ribs and took a nap,
thinking the pain would go away. When she woke up from her nap, she was still in serious pain and realized something more was wrong with her. She went to an urgent care clinic where her ribs were x-rayed. The doctor told her she
had 7 broken ribs and that because of her age; she needed to go to the University of New Mexico Trauma Unit. There
they did a CT scan of her ribs and told her that two and possibly up to 6 ribs were broken.
The 75-year old female pilot held a commercial pilot LTA certificate. She reported having flown a flight review on October 3, 2014, in a Lindstrand model 69X balloon. She also reported having flown a total of 570.45 hours. The weather
conditions at the Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ,) 6.2 nautical miles east-southeast of AEG, was wind 010
degrees at 6 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, few clouds at 20,000 feet msl and temperature 57 degrees F.
PZ of the Month
.PZ 86 is a new prohibited zone located at 1305 Gilliland Road and is the
residence of Timothy and Marsha
Bixler. The property is distinguished
by a long driveway at the western
dead end of Gilliland Road and is adjacent to the Parklands balloon field
#6 with the red barn. The coordinates
are 16 S 633950 4230492.
Egg Lawn
N
Red Barn
Do not land on the property
Balloon Society of Kentucky, Inc., is a non-profit incorporated organization. Opinions presented in this newsletter through contribution, articles, letters
and editorials are solely the opinions of the authors and do not express the official views of BSOK the editor or, officers or chairpersons.
DROPLINE
Page 4
A Bimonthly publication of the Balloon Society of Kentucky, Inc.
Hey! Kids! Here’s Your Chance for Summer Fun/Learning
BFA Junior Balloonist Camps
Registration is now open for the Balloon Federation of America 2016 Junior Balloonist
Camps. One is being held in Albuquerque, New Mexico (July 9-14) and the other will be in
Kutztown, Pennsylvania (July 10-14).
February
19 Terri Donner
24 Dan Hoehler
March
3 Matt Torgeson
6 Paul Knuth
7 Sam Beazly
10 John Daugherty
Don Smith
Janet L. Smith
11 Daniel Lazar
14 Frank Otte
15 Larry Estep
17 Patrick Koch
19 Stephen Bennett
22 Kevin Witzel
23 Hunter Savells
25 Luke Bean
26 Kathy Copas
Gary Dunlap
27 Peyton Hoge IV
30 Bob Boswell
April
3 Ron Harris
Charlie Hurst
4 Jason Terry
10 George Recktenwald
12 Bart Boroughs
21 Karen Bennett
22 Brian Beazly
29 Terry Metzger
May
2 Dee Knuth
5 Melissa Cowan
17 Terri Hoge
18 Nick Donner
20 Lisa Carrico
22 Kevin Schwecke
29 John Herbst
The camps are open to kids aged 13-18 interested in hot air ballooning. Up to 20 teens
will attend each camp. The camps put an emphasis on all aspects of ballooning. No prior
experience is necessary. The volunteer staff is made up of FAA certified pilots and experienced crew who will be acting as mentors and counselors. Campers will have the chance
for hands-on work with various balloon systems.
Topics covered include crew safety, pilot training, weather, airspace, repair and maintenance, plus mapping and GPS use.
The cost is $425 which includes not only the tuition, but also meals and housing.
To review information on each camp, to check out the scholarship options, and to sign up
go to the BFA website at: http://www.bfacamps.com
Check out the Facebook pages for each camp.
Albuquerque, NM: https://www.facebook.com/RGBC2016
Kutztown, PA: https://www.facebook.com/EasternBalloonCamp
If you wish to donate to the Junior Balloonist Camps, please go to:
http://www.mps.com/donate.html
D.J. Stickler boxed the Parklands on the afternoon
of January 19 in a Head 105. He, Bill Smith and
Carl Schulmann took off at Field 6 by the red barn
and flew northwest at 500', then climbed to 5,000'
to fly southeast.
After descending back down to
below 500', they reversed direction
again and landed just 500 yards
south of their launch site at Field
5 by the soccer fields. They traveled 7.7 miles in 1 hour and 35
minutes. Temperature aloft was
about 20 degrees. D.J. proved that
you don't need to go all the way to
Albuquerque to fly a box.
Congratulations!
Balloon Society of Kentucky, Inc., is a non-profit incorporated organization. Opinions presented in this newsletter through contribution, articles, letters
and editorials are solely the opinions of the authors and do not express the official views of BSOK the editor or, officers or chairpersons.
DROPLINE
A Bimonthly publication of the Balloon Society of Kentucky, Inc.
Page 5
The Dubai International Balloon Fiesta by Jerry Copas
In November my family and I had the privilege of participating in the first annual Dubai International Balloon Fiesta. My wife Kathy, our 16-year old son Spencer and myself found the experience delightful, insightful, and filled
with sights and experiences we will not soon forget. Also making the journey were BSOK member Rich Lawhorn
accompanied by Holly Young, flying his Humpty Dumpty special shape. It was a real treat to visit such a distant
and mysterious place that we have heard so much about. A gleaming, ultra-modern city, filled with wealth & luxury that you just have to see to believe.
Dubai is an "absolute monarchy", ruled by the Al Marktoum family since 1833. It
is one of seven states, or "emirates" that formed a union in the 70's and called
themselves the "United Arab Emirates". Petroleum exports provided great wealth in
the proceeding decades, but the emirates have looked beyond oil for wealth & security. They have established their countries as world-class tourist destinations and
financial centers. Situated on the shore of the Persian Gulf, Dubai claims to have
hosted 15 million foreign tourists in 2015. Many international companies and investors have located there, resulting in a diverse mix of business & culture. American
brands are everywhere in Dubai, including names like Papa Johns, Coca-Cola, Chilis,
KFC, and of course McDonalds. Islam is the official state religion of Dubai, and one
can hear the calls for prayer five times a day (broadcast from loudspeakers posted all
across the city).
The balloon fiesta was hosted by a development called Global Village. An interesting complex just outside the suburbs I would describe as the Simpsonville Flea Market on steroids. Thousand of locals show up
there each night for the food, amusement rides, and lots of stuff to buy. Our hotel was very nice, although a 20-30 minute drive from
Global Village. Each pilot was issued a small pick up truck for a chase vehicle, and driving was indeed a challenge! The locals drive very
fast, that is until traffic comes to a sudden standstill which happens often. And adding to the challenge, our truck was a stick-shift.
Thankfully, all the traffic signs were in Arabic and English. In fact, English is taught in the schools. We had no issues with language,
except for our appointed crew guys. As near as we could tell, these men were all from locations outside of Dubai and many of them
spoke little or no English. But all were very eager and ready to assist, so we
never suffered from lack of help.
There were approximately 30 balloons participating, many of them special
shapes. About eight pilots were from the USA, with the rest coming from European countries including Holland, England, Germany, and Lithuania. Unfortunately, not all the balloons arrived in time to participate due to shipping and
customs issues. Rich and I were very lucky as our two balloons arrived on time
and in excellent shape.
Flying over the desert was quite beautiful. Obviously very flat, and lots of
sand! We did indeed see camels. And clearly visible for miles around was the
city skyline dominated by the mighty Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building.
Topping out at 2,722 ft. this architectural marvel (well known from that scene
in "Mission Impossible") dominates a splendid skyline of equally impressive buildings. The district is best accessed by riding on the
metro trains, a superb system of gleaming modern rail cars that glide almost silently on elevated tracks through the heart of the city.
The scene looks like something out of a Star Wars movie. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Dubai#Burj_Khalifa>
For a tourist visiting Dubai, there are several "must dos" that we had the pleasure of experiencing. It seems shopping is the national past time...there are extravagant shopping malls filled with
major retailers and high-end boutiques. The Dubai Mall features a huge indoor salt-water aquarium where visitors can rent scuba gear and go diving with sharks. Topping that, over at the Mall of
the Emirates visitors can enjoy skiing or snowboarding on an indoor, snow-covered mountain!
Spencer couldn't resist this. After renting the proper winter clothing, he enjoyed a couple of hours
snowboarding in the desert. He reported that the slopes were well groomed and the temperature
was just below freezing, but the lifts were a bit slow at times. Kathy & I watched this comfortably
from the bar at TGI Fridays that overlooks the snowy scene. We also enjoyed a sunset cruise of
the downtown harbor on Dubai Creek. Which really wasn't like a creek at all, rather a small river
Balloon Society of Kentucky, Inc., is a non-profit incorporated organization. Opinions presented in this newsletter through contribution, articles, letters
and editorials are solely the opinions of the authors and do not express the official views of BSOK the editor or, officers or chairpersons.
DROPLINE
A Bimonthly publication of the Balloon Society of Kentucky, Inc.
Page 6
with cruise boats, luxury yachts, traditional dhows, and water taxis. On our final
evening we reserved a "desert safari" which was a lot of fun. They picked us up
at our hotel in a very nice leather-upholstered SUV. After about a one hour
drive, we tore out into the open desert for some serious "dune bashing" (this
was after our driver had released a bit air out of the tires for improved traction).
After watching the sunset from high atop a towering sand dune, our guide drove
us to a nearby oasis for an outdoor dinner and presentation of traditional dancing. Naturally, Spencer & I had ourselves outfitted with keffiyehs, the traditional
Arab head dress worn in the desert. Although I felt like Peter O'Toole in
"Lawrence of Arabia", I actually looked more like something between an Indiana
tourist and a New York cab driver. The highlight of this evening was the opportunity to take a ride aboard some rather disagreeable camels. I have a newfound
respect for those three wise men
who rode all the way to Bethlehem!
While taking in the sights & sounds of this remarkable country, one can't forget the
nearby turmoil & chaos taking place in this part of the world. Irag & Iran are just across
the Persian Gulf, and Syria & Afghanistan not far away. The UAE hosts coalition air bases, and we observed various jet fighters and bombers in the skies. But as in most cases, it is reassuring to meet the "real people" in
a country like Dubai, and see that we indeed
share so many values. The people we met in
Dubai were all very patriotic...they love their
country and are very proud to show it off.
There are devout, educated, hard workers that
love their families just like we do. On our first
day, our cab driver was so excited to have us
in his cab, visiting his country that he insisted
we all pose for a selfie with his phone!
Since returning, many friends have asked
"Weren't you afraid? Why risk going to a place like that?" I recall hearing the same comments
in 2007 when Kathy, Spencer & I first went to fly the balloon event in Leon, Mexico. That trip
completely changed my preconceived notions of that country. And now we have many BSOK
members that return to Mexico regularly. As ballooning gets more popular in Dubai, I predict
many more of us will take the opportunity to make the trip to this most beautiful and interesting country. We can't wait to go back!
Balloon Society of Kentucky, Inc., is a non-profit incorporated organization. Opinions presented in this newsletter through contribution, articles, letters
and editorials are solely the opinions of the authors and do not express the official views of BSOK the editor or, officers or chairpersons.
DROPLINE
A Bimonthly publication of the Balloon Society of Kentucky, Inc.
Page 7
Standing By for a Long Jump 2016 by Bill Smith
Six months of preparation is complete for this year's long jump flight and Matt McClinton and I are anxious
to go again. Last year we flew from Greencastle, Indiana, to Charlotte, North Carolina, for a distance of 413
miles. This year we have our sights set on the 697-mile record and hope to fly from the Plains states to the
Ohio or Tennessee Valley.
To increase my flight range, I've shed 50 pounds of system weight by switching from an Aurora stretch basket to a smaller Aurora standard basket that once belonged to Mike Ehrler and then Nick Donner. With the
shorter basket, I stacked two lay-down 20-gallon tanks which weigh about 25 pounds less than the ones I
used last year. The fuel system configuration required that I obtain a temporary experimental registration
from the FAA for the Aerostar RX-8 balloon, but the weight savings was worth the paperwork hassle. Also, I
reduced my personal weight by 10 pounds over last year through dieting and exercise. The gross weight of
the entire system will be about 825 lbs.
Last year, the rechargeable battery in my Mode C transponder
failed after a brief period of use, so
I've upgraded my battery pack
with powerful military-grade lithium batteries that will power my
electronics for over 20 hours. With
the extra power capacity, I'll be
taking along a charging adapter
for my aircraft radio and cell
phone that will eliminate another
battery problem I had last year
with my communication devices.
Matt will be flying a totally different envelope this year. We borrowed a navy-blue Head AX8-105
from Fred Poole of Meridian, Mississippi. Beneath it will be his small
Lindstrand basket with titanium
tanks for a gross weight of about
940 lbs. Matt's system is a little
heavier than mine, but the larger envelope should perform more efficiently than my smaller balloon. Which
system is best remains to be seen.
Other pilots are also contemplating joining this flight or making a separate long jump "adventure flight"
over the Smokey mountains this winter. Each pilot is preparing his own equipment for the extraordinary
duration of a long jump.
The weather is now the final factor. We want temperatures to be near zero to create the air density the balloon needs to operate at peak efficiency. The flight also requires clear skies to climb unobstructed to 12,000'
and for the envelope to be warmed by solar heating. We also need winds aloft to be in the 80-knot range
to give use the speed to travel 700 miles during the 9.5 hours of daylight we have this time of year. Finally,
the surface winds at launch and landing should be 10 knots or less for safety. Once all of those parameters
come together into a "perfect (non) storm," we'll be on our way. Follow our progress on the BSOK Facebook page and we'll file a report of our flight in the next newsletter.
Balloon Society of Kentucky, Inc., is a non-profit incorporated organization. Opinions presented in this newsletter through contribution, articles, letters
and editorials are solely the opinions of the authors and do not express the official views of BSOK the editor or, officers or chairpersons.
DROPLINE
A Bimonthly publication of the Balloon Society of Kentucky, Inc.
Page 8
Major Changes to Applying for a Student Pilot Certificate Effective April 1. (from Randy Sizemore)
Effective April 1, 2016, the FAA is making a major change to the way Student Pilot Certificates are issued. A
Student Pilot must hold a valid Student Pilot Certificate to solo an aircraft. Currently, a student may apply in
person to the FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) or to a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) to receive
a paper Student Pilot Certificate that will expire after five years (for balloons). One may also apply to an Aviation Medical Examiner for a combination Student Pilot/Third Class Medical Certificate. After April 1, that will
no longer be the process. After April 1, no more “first solos” on the 14th birthday! (16th for airplanes!)
After April 1, a person may apply in person to the FSDO, to a DPE, or to a Certificated Flight Instructor
(CFI) (this does not include a Commercial Balloon pilot with instructor privileges), but the Certificate will not
be issued at that time. The application will be forwarded to FAA Airman Records in Oklahoma City, OK. They
will forward the application to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at Homeland Security. TSA
will conduct a check of the pilot against terrorist watch lists, and if the results are favorable will notify the
FAA, who will then issue the Certificate by mail. This process may take as little as three weeks from application until receipt of the Certificate. Although applications may be made on paper FAA Forms 8710-1, the
speediest way to obtain the Certificate is by applying through IACRA, the FAA’s web-based pilot application
process at iacra.faa.gov.
The new Student Pilot Certificate will be a green plastic card, like other Pilot Certificates, and it will not expire. Flight Instructors will no longer record endorsements on the Student Pilot Certificate, but must make all
endorsements in the student’s pilot logbook. Any paper student pilot certificates issued before that date will
continue to be valid until their normal expiration.
This change is in response to and brings FAA into compliance with the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism
Prevention Act (IRTPA). This requires TSA to vet all individuals against the terrorist watch lists prior to FAA
certificate issuance. As first proposed in 2010, the new rule would have required a current photograph on the
pilot certificate, a $22 fee for issuance, and expiration every eight years (for the purpose of ensuring a current
photo on the certificate.) Fortunately, these requirements did not make it into the final rule.
The most significant part of the change is that after applying it will take at least three weeks to receive your
Student Pilot Certificate. Please plan ahead accordingly.
New Video Highlights Flight Service Developments
Flight Service is moving forward and is encouraging the development of new pilot services and products.
New content delivery methods will make communication with the pilot community easier and faster. The
goal is to help make aviation safer by making weather information accessible where and when you need it.
Targeted, flight-specific updates will make it easier for you to stay current on the weather, without the
information clutter. For more information on these developments, watch the new video from Flight Service – “Choices Made EASY” at www.faa.gov/tv/?mediaId=1242
FAA Launches UAS Safety App
Last week the FAA publicly released the B4UFLY mobile application for Apple products
(iOS) following a beta test last year (download here <https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/b4ufly/id992427109?
ls=1&mt=8> ) as well as a beta version of the app for Android devices (sign up here <http://www.faa.gov/
exit/?pageName=downloaded%20from%20Google&pgLnk=https%3A%2F%2Fplay%2Egoogle%2Ecom%
2Fapps%2Ftesting%2Fgov%2Efaa%2Eb4ufly> ). B4UFLY allows UAS operators to check current and upcoming airspace restrictions in areas they wish to fly in. For more information, visit www.faa.gov/uas/
b4ufly/.
Also check out the Angle of Attack department from the latest FAA Safety Briefing <http://
www.faa.gov/news/safety_briefing/> magazine where associate editor James Williams identifies strategies to help us educate our new compatriots in the sky for everyone’s benefit. A drone safety checklist is
also available here: www.faa.gov/news/updates/?newsId=84326 .
Balloon Society of Kentucky, Inc., is a non-profit incorporated organization. Opinions presented in this newsletter through contribution, articles, letters
and editorials are solely the opinions of the authors and do not express the official views of BSOK the editor or, officers or chairpersons.
DROPLINE
A Bimonthly publication of the Balloon Society of Kentucky, Inc.
Page 9
This is a reprint article from Willamette Aerostat
Society Newsletter for December 2015. Not all
pictures were included from the article.
http://www.wasballoon.info/?page_id=28
All photo’s by Cory and Angela Miller.
Thanks for Sharing.
What is the best way to deal with the liquid sunshine we receive here in the Pacific Northwest during the winter
months? Get away for a couple days and soak up some Vitamin D in the form of sunshine. That is exactly what my
wife Angela and I did Jan 14-17. We attended the Havasu Balloon Fest in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.
This is the 6th year that the event has been going on. Thanks to social the event the last 5 years and said someday I
want to attend the event. I started looking for airfare in early October and found a good deal to fly into Phoenix
(about 200 miles from Lake Havasu). We chose Phoenix over Las Vegas (around 160 miles from Lake Havasu) as
Angela’s brother lives in Phoenix so it gave us a chance to visit with him and his family before continuing on.
We left rain and about 37° Thursday, January 14, from Portland and arrived in
Phoenix to sun and 66°. We soon realized that we were dressed for Oregon weather
and needed to shed a few layers. Out came the shorts, flip-flops, short sleeves, and
sunglasses. We toured Phoenix for a couple of hours before meeting with the family
for dinner. After dinner we started our trip to Lake Havasu.
On the Havasuballoonfest.com website, it stated that there would be in excess of
50,000 visitors and traffic could be an issue. We talked to the desk clerk at the hotel
and he also confirmed that traffic would be an issue. We decided we needed to get up
a little earlier to combat the traffic. Friday morning’s alarm came way too fast and we
headed to the field. We got there extremely early and found ourselves with about 30
other people there. The sun began to come out and the sky was red and pink. With no
wind, it looked to be a perfect morning.
About 20 minutes after sunrise, the wind picked up and the flights for the morning
were cancelled. The pictures that I saw on social media of past years were of the London Bridge and were some amazing shots. Since the flights were cancelled and the field looked nothing like the London Bridge, we ventured out to find a location for Saturday’s flight near the bridge.
The London Bridge is second on the list for things to see in Arizona with the Grand Canyon being number one. In
1971, the London Bridge was brought over from London to Lake Havasu City and rebuilt. There are both American
and English flags flying from the bridge. On Friday, I talked to a few people and found
out that the special shapes would be on the field. I still really wanted to be near the
London Bridge for those pictures. Angela and I decided that she would stay on the field
and get pictures of the balloons that were there and the special shapes. I secured my
spot near the bridge. Thanks to the wonderful tool of texting, she let me know that the
balloon carrying the flag has launched. To our surprise, we soon realized that not all
balloons launch from the field, but also launch all through town. I soon began to see balloons inflating close to the bridge and slowly lifting off trying to make the bridge. I began to text her pictures from where I was and she would send me pictures from the
field. It was a great decision as we were able to get pictures from both areas. After the
balloons began to land, I headed back to the field to meet up with Angela. She told me
some of the balloons flew towards the back section of the field. There were many balloons she saw that I never saw and vice versa. Saturday also brought more sightseeing.
We decided after getting something to eat we would walk through the area and learn
some more about the London Bridge. We stopped into the visitor’s center and they had a
display with many light-houses from all over the country that were in 1/3 scale. Come to
find out, these lighthouses are all around the lake with the ones from the west coast being on one side and those
from the east coast on the other side of the lake. We then decided to try to rent a kayak and see some of the lighthouses.
(Continued next Page)
Balloon Society of Kentucky, Inc., is a non-profit incorporated organization. Opinions presented in this newsletter through contribution, articles, letters
and editorials are solely the opinions of the authors and do not express the official views of BSOK the editor or, officers or chairpersons.
DROPLINE
A Bimonthly publication of the Balloon Society of Kentucky, Inc.
Page 10
(Continued from Page 9) All of the kayaks were rented so we were looking for other ways to see the lake. We happened to walk by an area with a long line of people. Being curious, we decided to see what they were in line for. It was a
line to take a ferry across the lake to a casino in California.
The trip was $2.00 round trip. We bought the tickets and got on the ferry. We were able to see several
of the lighthouses and many areas of the lake that we hadn’t seen. Not being big gamblers, as soon as we got off the
ferry we got right back in line to head back to Lake Havasu, Arizona.
Saturday night, the weather was looking perfect for the glow.
Not wanting to arrive too early (like we did Friday morning)
we didn’t head to the glow until it was almost too late. Saturday night, we saw the crowds of 50,000 plus and traffic was
similar to being in downtown Portland during rush hour.
There was a lot of stop but no go. We kept looking at the time
and knowing how much further we had to go to get to the
parking area, we were getting nervous we might miss it all
together. We finally got to the park at 6:29 (glow started at
6:30). There were close to 20 balloons glowing and the weather was perfect.
Heading back to the hotel, we once again encountered the stop
but no go traffic. Close to two hours after leaving the park, we
arrived back at our hotel. Sunday morning was the last day
of the event for us. We got up and headed back to the park.
On Saturday, we saw many pictures on social media of balloons in the lake behind the park. Today, we decided that we would find an area were we could get good pictures from
this angle.
Again, not all balloons inflated from the field and instead inflated near the lake to fly over. The lake was packed with
boats and kayaks and I thought there would be no way the balloons could do a splash and dash with that amount of
water traffic. I was wrong. As the balloons would come down, the boats allowed them clearance. This was great. It created some great pictures with both boats and balloons. Many of the boats on the water were also towboats for the balloons. If a balloon was getting too far from land, the balloon would toss down a drop line and get a tow back to shore.
As the balloons began to land, we needed to get back to Phoenix for our mid afternoon flight back home.
It was difficult to leave the sunny weather and come back to reality. We are already looking forward to 2017. A few
things if you decide to go to the event for next year. Check the havasuballoonfest.com website to purchase parking and
entry tickets.
Parking was $10.00, and good for the entire event. Entry was $15 per person for the entire event. There are golf cart
shuttles from the parking area to the main gate. There was also free parking with a school bus shuttle. In my opinion,
DPE/CFI Seminar
Louisville Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) is hosting a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) workshop on March
22, 2016 at the Louisville FSDO. Open invitation to all interested CFIs to participate. Seminar will run from 9:00 AM
to 3:00 PM at the FSDO located at 10200 Forest Green Blvd. An email with flyer was previously sent out by Bill
Smith.
This meeting is a wonderful opportunity for CFIs to discuss safety issues with other CFIs, DPEs, and FAA inspectors. Topics to be discussed include the new FAA Compliance Philosophy, changes to Airman Certification and Testing, and Advanced Aviation Technologies. There will be plenty of time for questions about other issues, too. WINGS
program credit will be available to seminar attendees.
Preregistration is requested but not required. If you have any questions about the workshop, feel free to use the contact information on the flyer, or to contact me directly.
Jamie Poppe
AviationSafety Inspector
LouisvilleFlight Standards District Office
(502)498-1657
Balloon Society of Kentucky, Inc., is a non-profit incorporated organization. Opinions presented in this newsletter through contribution, articles, letters
and editorials are solely the opinions of the authors and do not express the official views of BSOK the editor or, officers or chairpersons.