Crew Positions and Responsibilities

Inflation

            Crew Chief

·       Communications between pilot and crew

·       Watches inflation-anticipates problems and instructs crew accordingly

·       May work fan

·       Puts top in-matches Velcro tabs by numbers, aligns Velcro tabs exactly

Crown Line Person(s)

·       Always holds crow line-watches wind

·       Holds balloon down when not completely cold inflated

·       Controls roll of envelope

·       Maneuvers crown lien to basket when told-stay behind basket after connecting crown line to basket

Throat Persons

·       Holds mouth open during cold inflation

·       Connects envelope to basket

·       Pulls envelope out of envelope bag-pulls at load tape/seam junctions only

Fan Person

·       Watches for pilot instructions on adjusting the fan speed

·       Pulls fan away after pilot instructs fan be turned off

Chase

Crew Chief

·       Directs launch site pack up

·       Drives or assigns another person to drive

·       Operates radio or assigns another person to operate radio

·       Wind-communicates speed and direction

            Navigator

·       Assign by crew chief

·       Follows balloon and reviews map as the chase progresses

·       Operates the radio

            Chase Crew (includes Crew Chief)

·       Secures all equipment in truck

·       Watches balloons progress

·       Watches for flags, smoke, trees, and other wind indicators

Landing

Crew Chief

·       Directs crew-sends crew to assist balloon landing

·       Designates crewmember to get landowner’s permission

·       Directs pack up

Crew

·       STAY BEHIND MOVING BASKET

·       Weight on when instructed

·       Do not weight-off until instructed UNLESS

o      Any part of you is under the basket when basket is not on ground

o      You are begin lifted off the ground by basket

·       Clear area of damaging debris

·       Pull crown line to bring balloon down when told

·       Pack envelope

·       Load basket and envelope on truck