Other Balloons
Watch what other hot air balloons are doing, both
before launch and while in the air. They make excellent
pibals.
Winds Aloft Forecasts
Winds aloft forecasts are based on information
gathered from weather balloons launched twice daily
from widely scattered locations around the United
States. This information is then transmitted to a central
computer for processing into three different forecast
periods for use during specific times.
As a result, when you call a Automated Flight Service
Station (AFSS) for winds aloft, the forecast you
receive will be based on information that may be
several hours old. Also, you should be aware that no
winds are forecast within 1,500 feet of station
elevation. If the field elevation is 1,400 feet, the first
level of winds forecast will be at 3,000 feet (1,600
feet AGL). If the field elevation is 4,600 feet, the first
level of winds forecast will be at 9,000 feet (4,400
feet AGL).
If you are launching from a site other than near specific
sites used in the forecasts, you may get an extrapolation
of winds from several sites. Remember that the AFSS
briefer is probably located at a site other than where
the winds aloft are gathered. When calling the AFSS
for the winds aloft for a launch, the briefer may give
you an extrapolation of winds recorded at sites 50 to
100 miles away from your launch site. Also, the briefer
may not tell you that the winds were an extrapolation.
You should ask for the closest reporting sites and then
make the extrapolation yourself.
In summary, remember winds aloft is a forecast, made
by a machine, several hours old, and delivered to you
by a person who may not be familiar enough with the geography of the area to select correct weatherreporting
points for your use.
Winds aloft are best used only as raw data. You should
get the winds aloft, record the forecast, compare it to
the actual winds, and use the winds aloft forecast as a
guide to make your own forecast.
Even if you have no aids to assist you, remember that
winds can flow in different directions at different
altitudes. As you ascend, pay attention to wind
direction and how it changes. If you want to go in a
certain direction, and a wind is available to take you
there, fly at the altitude where that wind exists. Perhaps
you cannot go directly to your selected location, but
can reach it by flying in a zigzag pattern using different
altitude winds alternately.
WINDS BELOW
When in flight, winds below can be observed in many
ways. Observe smoke, trees, dust, flags, and
especially ponds and lakes to see what the wind is
doing on the ground. To make certain what is going
on between your balloon and the ground, watch other
balloons, if there are any.
Another means of checking winds below is to drop a
very light object and watch it descend to the ground.
However, exercise caution with this method. 14 CFR
part 91 allows things to be dropped from the air that
will not harm anything below. 14 CFR section 91.15:
Dropping Objects, states "No pilot in command of a
civil aircraft may allow any object to be dropped from
that aircraft in flight that creates a hazard to persons
or property. However, this section does not prohibit
the dropping of any object if reasonable precautions
are taken to avoid injury or damage to persons or
property."
Some items that you may drop without creating a
hazard are small, air-filled toy balloons, small balls
made of a single piece of tissue, or a small glob of
shaving cream from an aerosol can. A facial tissue,
about 8" x 8", rolled into a sphere about the size of a
ping-pong ball works well. These balls will fall at about
350 FPM, and can be seen for several hundred feet,
and are convenient to carry. Counting as the tissue
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