Kenneth (Ken) H. Rolland Founding Member
Ken has flown hot air balloons for more than thirty years. During this time he has flown thousands of passengers and trained many Balloon Pilots.
His local flying is in areas just to the north or east of Toronto, Ontario Canada. He also attends many community hosted hot air balloon festivals. Every year these festivals take him across Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick (with the occasional visit to our American neighbours). He's been attending some of these events more than twenty years.
Balloon Pilots need to be licensed and deemed medically fit. The Pilot needs to understand what is required to maintain their license and license endorsements. Pilots must also understand and maintain their aircraft's airworthiness.
In addition to the normal privileges a manned free Balloon Pilot license provides, Ken's license carries a Balloon Pilot Instructor endorsement. To help support balloon Pilot training and assist current Pilots with license/endorsement maintenance, he also holds "Authorized Person" status with Transport Canada.
Ken is a member in good standing with the Balloon Federation of America (BFA), the British Balloon and Airship Club (BBAC) and the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association (COPA).
The Air Display Hot Air Balloon Team is a group of volunteers who have been around hot air balloons for quite some time. Some have crewed for many years in the Toronto, Canada area and others participate in the hot air balloon festivals Air Display attends.
St-Jean-sur-Richelieu festival crew.
Flying hot air balloons is not a one person show. It takes four people to launch a balloon. Ballooning is an inexact science because balloon navigation relies on wind direction. Balloons do not land where they take-off so a chase crew is required.
Crew Chief Terry honing her flying skills.
Hot air balloon chasing requires a unique skill set. It's amazing how quickly a seven story hot air balloon can disappear! When gondola space permits, balloon rides are provided to crew members at no charge.
Cornwall Crew Chief Ron.
But it doesn't stop there. Crew also learn weather and navigation skills (including map reading and radio operation), landowner relations that focuses on the sensitivities of aircraft recovery from private property and of course agricultural awareness to identify crop and livestock concerns.
Members of the Air Display Hot Air Balloon Team are provided training in the handling and the recovery of balloons, driving and ground support with empasis on the importance of road and pedestiran awareness during the chase. Personal, passenger, bystander and aircraft safety are the obvious goals of this training.
Packing up with my St. Jean-sur-Richelieu crew after a "sporty" morning flight.
Air Display is always on the look-out for persons interested in broadening their horizon and perhaps even earning wings of their own!
Soft landings and blue skies,
Hope to welcome you aboard! |
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