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Largest Balloon Event

PLANO BALLOON FESTIVAL VOLUNTEER CHASE CREW
EDS CREDIT UNION PLANO BALLOON FESTIVAL
(on SEPTEMBER 19, 20 & 21, 2008)

Come one, come all, come everyone
Join the fun and meet new people.

For those who are new to ballooning or if you
want a refresher we will have a Class
on August 21, 2008 from 6:30 – 8:30 pm at

The Carpenter Recreation Center on Coit Rd in Plano.
This will be followed by a hands on session on
Saturday morning, August 23, 2008.

The class and hands on are mandatory for beginners.

**if these dates do not work for you, please email us to discuss possibilities

CHASE CREW TRAINING MANUAL
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Welcome and Thank You!


Welcome to the Plano Balloon Festival’s Volunteer Crew information site. Most of you are here because you have chosen to assist visiting pilots and crews in handling their balloons during the Festival. Others may be here simply because you want to learn more about the art of hot air ballooning. To all of you, welcome and thank you. We hope you enjoy this site and learn something from it.

A hot air balloon takes but one person to keep it in the air: the pilot. But it takes many more people to get it there. Collectively, these people are known as the chase crew. On the most common balloons (usually referred to as “sport” balloons), there are three or more people on the crew. Special Shape balloons can have upwards of twenty people on the crew, depending on the size and complexity of the design.

Anyone can be on a chase crew as long as they are mobile and can handle a reasonable amount of weight and physical exertion. Knowledge of flying, ballooning or any other phase of aviation is not a necessity.

What's Expected of You
What To Wear (and Not To Wear)
Setting Up The Balloon
Cold Inflation
Hot Inflation
Takeoff
Let the Chase Begin!
Deflating and Packing
Refueling and Securing

We hope you enjoy your ballooning experience.