If you love to watch the balloons inflate, take flight, and to CAREFULLY chase them across the countryside to land wherever the gentle breezes take them; then being part of a chase crew is for you. It’s three fun-filled, hard working, action packed days. It’s a chance to make new and lasting friendships and lots of memories. It’s the beautiful and colorful sights in the sky that delight and awe the very young and the young at heart. A dedicated ground crew of two to six  people for each balloon is needed to make every flight a success.

*Pilots and Chase Crews MUST respect landowners fields...and MUST stop and ask permission and directions and best approach to get to balloon.

Is crewing an easy job? The crew is responsible for helping the pilot prepare for the flight. They help to setup the equipment by unloading everything from the trailer. They then roll out the envelope and lay the basket on its side. The propane tanks and burner are attached. A couple of members of the crew hold open the envelope while it fills with cold air (from a large fan). Once inflated enough with cold air they hold the skirt(base of the envelope) open as the burner is used to heat the air. While all of this is happening a crew member is holding onto the rope that is connected to the top of the balloon. This persons job is to provide weight so that the balloon doesn't pop up too quickly. Weight is provide by the crew to the basked before launch. They then follow the balloon on the ground and communicate with the pilot to ensure a safe landing. It is hard work, but extremely rewarding. Best of all, there is always the chance that the pilot has room and says “Hop in!”.

The pilot and crew relationship is vital to a safe flight. All members move in the same direction, especially after they are briefed by the pilot on flight objectives. A good inflation and
safe flight is not luck, but a well planned operation that includes all members of the team.

The ground crew prepares the balloon for its flight. Every pilot has preferences for preflight procedures and must thoroughly instruct the crew before inflation.

Some pilots will name an experienced handler their Crew
Chief (CC) to facilitate communications and task distribution.
The ground crew is also the chase crew.

The chase vehicle and crew are extremely important to a balloon’s safe landing. That is the general crew’s goal and sometimes extremely difficult to achieve. The chase crews primary job is to arrive at the projected landing site as fast as possible. The crew, pilot, and passengers must then deflate
the balloon, fold it, and pack it back into its container. The gondola, burners, and envelope are then loaded aboard the chase vehicle for the return to launch site. All this must be done
according to the manufacturer’s recommendation to ensure that the balloon will be in an airworthy condition for the next flight.