Tether Operations

Objective

• To develop the student's skill in tethered operations

Elements

• Site Selection
• Rigging
• Safety precautions

Equipment

• Airworthy balloon
• Balloon Flight Manual
• Tether lines and tie-off points

Instructor’s Actions

• Pre-inflation discussion to include weather briefing, analysis of hazards and obstructions, layout and crew briefing
• Discussion of lines for rigging top and/or bottom of balloon, knots, quick releases, harnesses, strength of materials and manufacture's recommendations
• Discussion of safety considerations to include gusts, false lift, time of day, thermatic conditions, wind shifts, rapid deflation, free flight and crowd control

Student’s Actions

• Perform each operation as directed
• Site selection
  • Obtain weather briefing
  • Analyze hazards
  • Explain difference between drop line and tether line
  • Explain preference for nylon strap and rope
  • Able to tie bowline and operate quick releases
• Rigging
  • Explains advantages of 3 point tie-off
  • Explains different rigging techniques for flying at tether, ground tether and giving passenger tether rides
  • Selects adequate tie-off points
  • Recognizes relative strength of equipment
  • Instructs crew to take turns around poles or tree trunks if line is to be hand held and the danger of this procedure
  • Rigs and lays out tether lines before inflation
  • Assigns crew to each tether point and explains duties
• Safety precautions
  • Inflates and adjusts tether lines to take up slack
  • Adjusts for wind direction change
  • Recognizes effect of false lift
  • Recognizes possibility of sudden gusts on calm days
  • Assigns crew to inside basket for added weight
  • Exchanges tanks during tether
  • Able to control balloon's ascents and descents for passenger rides on tether lines, adjusts for false lift, and keeps balloon over the same location on field
  • Procedure to exchange passengers
  • Crowd control around balloon, lines and property

Completion Standards

The student will have an appreciation for hazards associated with tether operation.  The student should be able to brief the crew on their duties and coordinate their efforts as conditions change.  The student should be able to explain the various tethering methods and be familiar with the manufacturer's recommended procedures.