General Ballooning Questions:
What should I wear?
Wear comfortable clothes for the temperature on the ground that you don't mind getting a bit dirty or wet depending on the conditions. Wear tennis shoes or light hiking boots. No sandals! You may need to hike out of a field or pasture. If you are tall wear a hat to protect your head from the radiant heat above. Courtesy www.richmondskytours.com
Are hot air balloons safe?
Hot air balloons have the best safety record in all of aviation. Balloons operate under the same regulations as the airlines requiring FAA inspection.
Only FAA certified airline/commercial pilots are permitted to fly balloons, all our pilots are FAA certified.
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How is the balloon inflated?
When the time comes to put the balloon up, the envelope (the “balloon” portion) is removed from the bag and laid out in a long line. The burners are attached to the uprights, and the basket is attached to the cables on the bottom of the envelope. An engine driven fan is used to inflate the envelope with cold air. When partially inflated, the air is heated with the burners and the envelope rises above the basket. With further heating, there is sufficient 'lift' for the balloon to fly. After the hot air balloon is inflated, we gently ascend and float between 500 and 2,500 feet or higher, wherever the wind takes us. Our hot air balloon ride covers 5 to 10 miles in 50 minutes, more or less, depending on the winds. Plan about 2 ½ for the entire hot air balloon adventure.
Where will we land?
Nobody knows, exactly! A hot air balloon travels with the wind and the pilot only controls altitude. The pilot assesses the winds to launch from a location that will ensure a good landing place at the end of the flight. The pilot can sometimes “steer” the balloon by using different air currents at different altitudes to steer the balloon toward a good landing place.
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Reliability & Safety:
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BBBOnLine Reliability Participation Confirmed For Richmond Sky Tours Richmond Sky Tours meets all BBBOnLine Reliability participation and Better Business Bureau membership standards and is authorized to display the BBBOnLine Reliability seal.
This company has been in business since 01/01/1998
This company became a Better Business Bureau member on 08/23/2005
This company was approved for BBBOnLine Reliability on 12/14/2005
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What can I bring?
You may bring a small camera. Purses and other bulky personal items are not recommended because they can fall overboard and endanger people below.
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Leave it at home...
Alcohol and smoking are not permitted in or near the aircraft.
How does the chase crew know where we are to pick us up?
The aircraft and chase crew have radios, telephones, and GPS navigational equipment to be in constant contact throughout the flight and also have the ability to contact Air Traffic Control and other aircraft flying in the vicinity.
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Why do flights take place at sunrise or just before sunset?
Balloons need light stable winds to operate effectively. Since balloons move with the air, the wind is the most single most important factor in deciding whether to fly. Balloons are limited to winds of 6-7 mph. Although the winds may appear light on the surface, winds aloft can reach speeds in excess of 60 mph. Under FAA regulations, the pilot has full authority to cancel or curtail a flight to ensure safe operations. So be prepared for possible reschedules or alternative flight days/time.
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What happens if I'm afraid of heights or prone to airsickness?
Flying in a high-sided balloon basket is not like standing in a roof or a high ladder. You won't get that vertigo feeling. The turbulence which usually causes motion sickness is completely absent in a balloon ride. If you have a heights issue, just mention it to your pilot. He can make a gradual ascent so that you can adjust to the altitude change. We have flown hundreds of passengers with height issues and everyone of them has thanked us for taking them aloft.
