Frenchman Wins World Championship
 Congratulations go to Pilot Francois Messines, the 2008 world champion hot air balloon pilot.
The 18th FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championships were held 13-20 September in Hofkirchen, Austria. A total of 102 pilots were scheduled to compete during seven days of competition flights.
The competition got off to a rocky start with four days of rain and storms which caused the cancellation of all flights during that time. The first competition flight was on Wednesday, September 17.
The top ten finishers are:
1 Francois Messines (FR)
2 Alexey Medvedsky (RU)
3 Stephane Bolze (FR)
4 Paul Petrehn (US)
5 Mike Howard (GB)
6 Joe Zvada (US)
7 Yudai Fujita (JP)
8 Peter Olsson (SW)
9 Lindsay Muir (GB)
10 Lupercio Lima (BR)
A total of 14 tasks were flown during the competition.
Balloon competitions test the pilot's ability to maneuver their aircraft to a predetermined spot to drop a marker at a target. The pilot must first select an appropriate launch location based on the wind direction, then once in the air the pilot uses the various layers of air (which may be moving in different directions) for steering.
A "task" is a target or group of targets, depnding on the rules of that particular task. There are dozens of variations in the rules for different tasks, some of which are described in our article How Balloons Race.
Canadian Championships Next
 Residents of Grande Prairie, Alberta will see their skies filled with colourful balloons Oct 8-13 during the 2008 Canadian Hot Air Balloon Championships.
20 pilots are scheduled to compete for the national title.
2008 marks the 30th year of ballooning events in Grande Prairie.
New Balloon Ride Business Guide
We are often asked about the feasibility of starting a balloon ride business in some far-off location. Unfortunately, there are no easy answers since there are many variables to consider. Everything from weather, location, regulations, to the size of balloon that is used can make or break a balloon ride business.
Our article about how to get a balloon pilot's license is a great overview of the steps needed to learn to fly a balloon, but for those interested in the business side of starting a balloon ride business will get valuable information from our new book.
 Starting a Balloon Ride Business
We've just published our own guide that will give all the items, point by point, that you need to research before you spend tens of thousands of dollars on a hot air balloon and support equipment.
This book was written by a veteran of the balloon business who has been a pilot for over 30 years. This insider's guide will prove invaluable as you do your research.
We've got other great books in our Pilot's section.
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 Give the Gift of Flight
Balloon ride gift certificates are a popular year-round choice. This unique gift is easy to give, unique, appreciated and allows the recipient to schedule their flight at their convenience. Most balloon flight certificates are also transferable, so if your recipient has a deep-seated fear of flying that you didn't know about, the certificate can most likely be transferred to someone else.
Shop Smart
 To ensure a wonderful experience, do some smart shopping. It's important that you do a little research before you buy a certificate from anyone. Our directory of approved balloon ride companies is the easiest way to guarantee you are dealing with a genuine balloon flight company that operates its own balloons, not a certificate mill that doesn't fly any balloons but resells the passengers to the company providing the flight.
Ask QuestionsIf you are condidering purchasing from a company not listed in our Approved Ride Company Directory, be sure to call the company you are considering purchasing from and ask a few questions. If you don't get clear answers or feel comfortable, move on and call someone else. Here are some questions to ask:
- Do you own your own balloons?
- Do you fly full time or part time?
- Where is your company headquartered?
- Are gift certificates refundable or transferable?
You're looking for straight answers, not a run-around. If they tell you their certificates are redeemable at multiple locations, you are likely talking to one of the certificate mills, not a ride company that owns and operates their own balloons (One notable exception is Sundance Balloons in Canada, who operates their own balloons and directly employs their flight staff across the country.)
Check the Better Business Bureau for the company's rating.
Your goal is to purchase directly from the company who will be providing the flight. You'll get the best service, lowest prices, and direct answers to your questions.
Take NoteSpecial care should be taken if looking for a balloon ride company online, or responding to a newspaper advertisement. When looking at a balloon company's website, look for a local phone number. Some of the misleading sites have started adding fake local addresses [Details].
There is one company that has set up hundreds of websites selling balloon rides and skydiving certificates, yet they are not known to own or operate any balloons themselves. Many in the balloon and skydiving industries feel the websites are misleading by giving the impression the company is local to the market the website is focused on. Customers have reported difficulty redeeming their certificates, or are sometimes forced to drive hundreds of miles to redeem their certificate when they were told there was a local company who would honor it. More information on this company, with links to information about a lawsuit, Better Business Bureau records, and a list of many of the hundreds of websites they operate can be found here.
Of course you are free to patronize any company you select. We hope this information is valuable. Balloon gift certificates are a wonderful gift, and our goal in providing this information is to make sure you don't get taken advantage of by the unscrupulous tactics of companies more interested in your money than in providing memorable flight experiences for their passengers.
Related:
Is 1-800-SKY-RIDE a SkyScam?
Are ThrillPlanet and 800-SKY-RIDE related? |
