What makes up a balloon team or crew?
Behind every balloon pilot is a capable balloon crew. Ballooning is a team sport and every pilot needs the help of four to six well-trained crew members in the launch and landing of his balloon. Some special shape balloons need up to 15 on their crew. Before inflation and launch each crew member is assigned a job by the pilot or crew chief. One person operates the fan and two others work the ” throat.” One or two are at the “crown,” maintaining a constant pull on the line to control the speed of the envelope as it rises. An efficient crew can inflate a balloon in less than 10 minutes. After lift-off, the launch crew becomes the recovery crew. Because the craft lacks directional control, the crew must follow the craft in the direction the wind takes it. The crew attempts to stay as close as roads permit to anticipate the pilot’s landing site. When a site is selected, one person asks permission to go on the landowners property. Crew members are also responsible for crowd control. Crew me
