| Frequently Asked Questions |
| Canadian Championship - 2005 Grande Prairie Alberta I finished firmly in the middle and won "Rookie of the Year" (since this was my first competition, I was a "rookie" with over 500 flights as PIC) |
| Air-ristocrat Balloon Rides and Promotions |
"How did you get into this?"
Well, waayy back in 1995 I owned a little pizza place in Calgary, and I needed something to do other than get
up, go to work, go home, go to bed, rinse, repeat.
One day I saw an ad in the paper looking for balloon chase crew, and thought that might be fun. It was.
I did that when I could for the next year, when the owner of the company said to me "You know Gary, if you
wanted to be a pilot, we would train you and give you a job".
Bye bye pizza place.
By 1998, I had a balloon pilot license, enough hours to fly commercially, and was promptly sent to
Saskatchewan to fly the Remax balloon over Regina and Saskatoon for the next 3 years.
In 2002, I went to Winnipeg to fly a larger Remax balloon, in 2003 I flew a travel company balloon, in 2004 I
moved to Alix, bought my own balloon and started Air-ristocrat Balloon Rides and Promotions.
Well, waayy back in 1995 I owned a little pizza place in Calgary, and I needed something to do other than get
up, go to work, go home, go to bed, rinse, repeat.
One day I saw an ad in the paper looking for balloon chase crew, and thought that might be fun. It was.
I did that when I could for the next year, when the owner of the company said to me "You know Gary, if you
wanted to be a pilot, we would train you and give you a job".
Bye bye pizza place.
By 1998, I had a balloon pilot license, enough hours to fly commercially, and was promptly sent to
Saskatchewan to fly the Remax balloon over Regina and Saskatoon for the next 3 years.
In 2002, I went to Winnipeg to fly a larger Remax balloon, in 2003 I flew a travel company balloon, in 2004 I
moved to Alix, bought my own balloon and started Air-ristocrat Balloon Rides and Promotions.
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"Is it safe?"
No matter what you do in life, there is an element
of risk. Ballooning is no different.
Having said that, balloons and their pilots are
regulated and licensed by Transport Canada,
and have to follow the same basic rules as all
other passenger carrying aircraft.
Regular equipment inspections, pilot medicals
and recurrent training are legal requirements.
Recently, there have been some very tragic
accidents that have gotten a lot of publicity.
One of the reasons for that publicity, is that
balloon accidents are so rare.
In 40 years of modern ballooning in Canada,
there have been 5 fatalities.
To put this into perspective, approximately 10
people are killed by lightning strikes every year
in Canada.
No matter what you do in life, there is an element
of risk. Ballooning is no different.
Having said that, balloons and their pilots are
regulated and licensed by Transport Canada,
and have to follow the same basic rules as all
other passenger carrying aircraft.
Regular equipment inspections, pilot medicals
and recurrent training are legal requirements.
Recently, there have been some very tragic
accidents that have gotten a lot of publicity.
One of the reasons for that publicity, is that
balloon accidents are so rare.
In 40 years of modern ballooning in Canada,
there have been 5 fatalities.
To put this into perspective, approximately 10
people are killed by lightning strikes every year
in Canada.
The first thing people want to know is...
The next questions are usually...
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"How big is the balloon?"
My current balloon is 105,000 cubic feet in volume, stands almost 100 feet high, is roughly 60 feet across at the
widest, holds about 2.5 tons of air, and can carry up to 4 passengers plus pilot. As far as balloons go, it is a
relatively small one.
widest, holds about 2.5 tons of air, and can carry up to 4 passengers plus pilot. As far as balloons go, it is a
relatively small one.
"Why do balloons only fly close to sunrise and sunset?"
These times are when the airmass is most stable. Between sunrise and sunset, the angle of the sun hits the
earth more directly causing pockets of air called "thermals" that rise and spin. A balloon is also a pocket of air,
so if it gets caught in a thermal, it will rise and spin with it.
This is not a happy place for a balloon pilot.
earth more directly causing pockets of air called "thermals" that rise and spin. A balloon is also a pocket of air,
so if it gets caught in a thermal, it will rise and spin with it.
This is not a happy place for a balloon pilot.
"Why does Air-ristocrat have a no refund policy?"
Ballooning is very weather dependant, and ALL
clients are cautioned several times to expect
cancellations. Depending on the days you pick
to fly, you could be cancelled 5-6 or more times.
Every time you book a flight means 2-3 hours of
my time to arrange it.
Scheduling crew, preparing equipment and
monitoring the weather are just a few of the
duties that must be done in preparation for your
flight, regardless of you getting in the air.
When you do get to fly, add another 5-6 hours of
time plus all the expenses of the actual flight.
Although most people are OK with the idea that
"If the guy who knows what's going on doesn't
want to go, I shouldn't either", some people are
the impatient type, and want what they want,
when they want it, despite the wisdom of getting
it at that time.
clients are cautioned several times to expect
cancellations. Depending on the days you pick
to fly, you could be cancelled 5-6 or more times.
Every time you book a flight means 2-3 hours of
my time to arrange it.
Scheduling crew, preparing equipment and
monitoring the weather are just a few of the
duties that must be done in preparation for your
flight, regardless of you getting in the air.
When you do get to fly, add another 5-6 hours of
time plus all the expenses of the actual flight.
Although most people are OK with the idea that
"If the guy who knows what's going on doesn't
want to go, I shouldn't either", some people are
the impatient type, and want what they want,
when they want it, despite the wisdom of getting
it at that time.
"What is the difference between buying a ticket and putting down a deposit?"
When you buy a ticket, your price is locked in.
When you put down a deposit, you pay the
balance at the current rate when you fly.
The advantage of the deposit is you don't have
to put out the full amount up front, however,
some people have saved up to $200 on a group
of 4 by purchasing the tickets.
When you put down a deposit, you pay the
balance at the current rate when you fly.
The advantage of the deposit is you don't have
to put out the full amount up front, however,
some people have saved up to $200 on a group
of 4 by purchasing the tickets.
If refunds were allowed, this could put pressure on me to fly in marginal conditions to avoid taking a huge loss
in time and money.
I refuse to take a chance like that with your safety.
Deposits and gift certificates do not expire (unless it was a donation), so relax and wait for the balloon gods to
smile on you.
in time and money.
I refuse to take a chance like that with your safety.
Deposits and gift certificates do not expire (unless it was a donation), so relax and wait for the balloon gods to
smile on you.