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Once
the pilot has left the ground, the Crew Chief
will direct the ground portion of the flight.
Load the fan, tie-off ropes, and any other
items left in the launch field. Be sure to
scan the launch area for anything left
(garbage, hats, small children). Secure items
in the chase vehicle as directed by the Crew
Chief. Load up the crew and prepare to
"chase" the balloon.
The
"chase" crew is incorrectly named.
The "Lead" crew is more appropriate
as the pilot usually prefers the crew try to
stay in front of the balloon. Some rules to
follow in the "Chase" are:
Balloons
are pretty to watch, but make sure someone
is paying attention
to driving
Stay
on the roads, but don't block them
Don't
drive on property without permission
Don't
let spectators follow you onto private
property
Use
the radio sparingly - the pilot may be busy
Try
to stay ahead and look for landing sites.
When stopping, always have everyone park on the same side of the road as to not block traffic.
The
pilot can land without you, so don't panic.
Don't
get in front of a landing basket
Be
patient and courteous at all times
Try
to get permission from landowners after the
pilot indicates
a landing is planned
If
the pilot indicates a "drop line"
landing is planned, grab the line with your
gloved hand and act as an anchor - don't
pull down
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