Burlington Balloonfest Sept 9-11

[spacellamaman]

NOTAM posted for the Balloonfest

KBUY BURLINGTON/ALAMANCE RGNL [Back to Top]


09/005 - AIRSPACE HOT AIR BALLOON WI AN AREA DEFINED AS 5NM RADIUS OF 355927N0795927W
(4NM SSE BUY) SFC-7000FT. 07 SEP 16:37 2022 UNTIL 12 SEP 01:00 2022. CREATED:
07 SEP 16:37 2022

Haven't been to any balloonfest before but plan on going to this one. Seems like an interesting thing to search for. Anyone around here familiar with what to expect?

 

[drayd48]

NOTAM posted for the Balloonfest

KBUY BURLINGTON/ALAMANCE RGNL [Back to Top]


09/005 - AIRSPACE HOT AIR BALLOON WI AN AREA DEFINED AS 5NM RADIUS OF 355927N0795927W
(4NM SSE BUY) SFC-7000FT. 07 SEP 16:37 2022 UNTIL 12 SEP 01:00 2022. CREATED:
07 SEP 16:37 2022

Haven't been to any balloonfest before but plan on going to this one. Seems like an interesting thing to search for. Anyone around here familiar with what to expect?

I am a hot air balloon pilot, along with the weather and safety officer for this event. We are planning flights from the park Friday - Sunday Morning (sunrise-2 hours after sunrise) and Afternoon (2 hours before sunset - sunset). As for listening, the Balloon Federation of America has a federal license that most pilots fly under
151.505
151.625
158.400
451.800
456.800
456.8125
Some pilots also use FRS/GMRS. Also all pilots will be required to monitor the aircraft radio frequency

 

[spacellamaman]

I am a hot air balloon pilot, along with the weather and safety officer for this event. We are planning flights from the park Friday - Sunday Morning (sunrise-2 hours after sunrise) and Afternoon (2 hours before sunset - sunset). As for listening, the Balloon Federation of America has a federal license that most pilots fly under
151.505
151.625
158.400
451.800
456.800
456.8125
Some pilots also use FRS/GMRS. Also all pilots will be required to monitor the aircraft radio frequency

Well hot dog, ask and ye shall receive! Thanks a lot for the response!

Has a common aircraft radio frequency been designated yet or will that be a day of type thing?

I have been watching the NWS hourly weather predictions for a couple of days here:

Hourly Graphical Forecast for 36.07N 79.45W at Hour 24 (weather.gov)

I did some basic reading up on GO/NO GO flying conditions and I was wondering how I should interpret good conditions liklihood based on the current outlook. It would appear to me that Friday looks good, Saturday a maybe and Sunday kinda iffy at best. Would you agree or disagree with that?

I realize these things can't be predicted, the final decision being made at the time of flight, but I am just wondering how to interpret things like if a high ceiling, ok winds, but a low chance of rain, which appears to be the conditions for Saturday afternoon, would be typically viewed from an experienced pilots POV.

Is there anything about Saturday that would lead you to believe it would be more or less likely ok flying weather?

I really appreciate the response and look forward to going no matter the weather!

Unless it snows perhaps.

 

[drayd48]

I do agree with the weather, we have been watching it for the past week and hope something gets better. Balloons can’t fly in the rain around convection, or with wind speeds that are fast (on the ground and aloft). As for an AC radio frequency, we are using 123.5 for the event, and if we fly to the airport pilots will have to switch over to the CTAF 122.975

 

[OnYourSix]

Any updates on this? Is the event still trying to happen?

BALLOON FESTIVAL | ALCOVETS

 

[drayd48]

Any updates on this? Is the event still trying to happen?

BALLOON FESTIVAL | ALCOVETS

The event is still going on, but the balloon activities were canceled. We are going to try to get balloons out tonight weather dependent. The rain might hold off

 

[spacellamaman]

well, it's that time again folks

Schedule | ALCOVETS

www.alcovets.org

 

[drayd48]

Statewide Events Golf 3 for public safety and the rest of the staff is using simplex UHF radios

 

[spacellamaman]

ooo thank you. You have got to have the best response times of anyone