The CHEYENNE, WY HOT AIR BALLOON CLUB was established in September 1981 by Nan Ourada as a non-profit organization for hot air balloonists and crews. CHABC promotes public interest in hot air balloon aviation and actively participates in hot air balloon rallies across the United States. We always welcome new members and fellow balloonists to join us as we enjoy safe hot air ballooning at its best.
Mountain West Hot Air Balloon Safety Seminar
The Cheyenne Hot Air Balloon Club (CHABC) and Black Hills Balloons are excited to bring you details of the Mountain West Hot Air Balloon Safety
Seminar being held Saturday, February 20, 2021! The seminar format will be through Zoom and while a departure from our normal safety seminar
venues, we are taking the opportunity to bring different speakers and topics than we would normally be able to present to you.
While pending BFA approval, the tentative line-up is as follows:
* Mountain Long Distance Flights and Crew Implications - Malcolm Whit and Pauline Baker (coming to us from Ireland)
* Weather and Decision Making for David Blaine's Ascension - Don Day
* Flight Planning and Fuel Consumption - Mark West
* Flight Training for Success - Kay West
* Accidents and ADM Scenario - Pat Cannon
* IACRA - Scott Wooge
* Wyoming Accident Weather - Don Day
The cost to pilots and crew will be $20 each, with proceeds going to the BFA's Jr. Balloonist program.
We are limited to 100 Zoom connections, so we ask you to download and fill out the registration form and mail your checks according to the
instructions on the form.
*The registration deadline is February 18, 2021 (or when we have 100 connections signed up, whichever comes first!)*
Let us know if you have any questions and we look forward to "seeing" you on Zoom! You may use the "Contact Us" form on this web site or check
the CHABC Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/Cheyenne-Hot-Air-Balloon-Club-1630023913741495
Mountain West Hot Air Balloon Safety Seminar
The Cheyenne Hot Air Balloon Club (CHABC) and Black Hills Balloons are excited to bring you details of the Mountain West Hot Air Balloon Safety
Seminar being held Saturday, February 20, 2021! The seminar format will be through Zoom and while a departure from our normal safety seminar
venues, we are taking the opportunity to bring different speakers and topics than we would normally be able to present to you.
While pending BFA approval, the tentative line-up is as follows:
* Mountain Long Distance Flights and Crew Implications - Malcolm Whit and Pauline Baker (coming to us from Ireland)
* Weather and Decision Making for David Blaine's Ascension - Don Day
* Flight Planning and Fuel Consumption - Mark West
* Flight Training for Success - Kay West
* Accidents and ADM Scenario - Pat Cannon
* IACRA - Scott Wooge
* Wyoming Accident Weather - Don Day
The cost to pilots and crew will be $20 each, with proceeds going to the BFA's Jr. Balloonist program.
We are limited to 100 Zoom connections, so we ask you to download and fill out the registration form and mail your checks according to the
instructions on the form.
*The registration deadline is February 18, 2021 (or when we have 100 connections signed up, whichever comes first!)*
Let us know if you have any questions and we look forward to "seeing" you on Zoom! You may use the "Contact Us" form on this web site or check
the CHABC Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/Cheyenne-Hot-Air-Balloon-Club-1630023913741495
Articles from the LTA Flight Magazine
Reinhard Reflects on His 1977 Balloon Flight Across the Atlantic Ocean
The English Channel Flight That Brought Hot-Air Ballooning to the World
This "English Channel Crossing" story features America’s two legendary balloonists, the late Mr. Ed Yost (30 June 1919 – 27 May 2007),
who is known as the father of the modern hot-air balloon, and the recently deceased Mr. Don Piccrd ( 13 Jan. 1926 – 13 Sep. 2020)
This "English Channel Crossing" story features America’s two legendary balloonists, the late Mr. Ed Yost (30 June 1919 – 27 May 2007),
who is known as the father of the modern hot-air balloon, and the recently deceased Mr. Don Piccrd ( 13 Jan. 1926 – 13 Sep. 2020)
Tower at Northern Colorado Regional (Fort Collins/Loveland) airport
Below are our guidelines for operating within the airspace of Northern Colorado Regional (KFNL). Please note that our launch sites in Windsor are within this airspace (or very close) so this will apply to most flights from Windsor and many from Fort Collins. For planes, they request contact within 3-6 miles of the tower controlled airspace, so we should really adhere to the guidelines below if we are anywhere in that vicinity. Here they are:
Please feel free to call or email with questions (contact info below). I am happy to help you practice radio communications, or go through a refresher on calling flight service for your pre-flight briefing.
Rachel Metzgar
970-402-1583
Rachelmae2@hotmail.com
Dan Griffin
970-667-2246
dan@nocow.net
Also, should you have any specific inquiries regarding tower operations, here is contact information for the tower manager:
Barry Dishman
Air Traffic Manager
Northern Colorado Regional Airport
Barry.Dishman@serco-na.com
As luck would have it, the May/June issue of the FAA Safety Briefing magazine has some very good articles about communication among aircraft and ground stations and Flight Service and such.
Here is the web site address for all Safety Briefing magazines: https://www.faa.gov/news/safety_briefing/
Below are our guidelines for operating within the airspace of Northern Colorado Regional (KFNL). Please note that our launch sites in Windsor are within this airspace (or very close) so this will apply to most flights from Windsor and many from Fort Collins. For planes, they request contact within 3-6 miles of the tower controlled airspace, so we should really adhere to the guidelines below if we are anywhere in that vicinity. Here they are:
- Please call the tower the day before you fly to let them know your departure time and location, "destination" (the area you are hoping to fly in), and expected altitude (in our case, they are aware we don't always know so a general range is ok).
- The tower number is 970-962-2867.
- Very important: Call flight service for a briefing and get the NOTAMs that apply to our airspace. The tower expects to open at 8 am most of the time, but this can change at any time.
- In flight, have your aircraft radio on at 118.4. The old channel does not operate any longer. Once the tower opens, if you are within or near the airspace, alert them to your location, altitude, etc. and then monitor the frequency. Again, this applies when you are within 3-6 miles of the tower-controlled airspace.
- To address the tower over the radio, use “NoCo Tower”
- At many times of year, we are launching close to or within their hours of operation so please call the tower the day before and again the morning of, prior to your flight, with the same information as above (launch time and location, expected direction, and expected altitude, which will be more accurate after seeing the pibal). Again, use your radio to contact the tower after launching if you are within their operating hours.
Please feel free to call or email with questions (contact info below). I am happy to help you practice radio communications, or go through a refresher on calling flight service for your pre-flight briefing.
Rachel Metzgar
970-402-1583
Rachelmae2@hotmail.com
Dan Griffin
970-667-2246
dan@nocow.net
Also, should you have any specific inquiries regarding tower operations, here is contact information for the tower manager:
Barry Dishman
Air Traffic Manager
Northern Colorado Regional Airport
Barry.Dishman@serco-na.com
As luck would have it, the May/June issue of the FAA Safety Briefing magazine has some very good articles about communication among aircraft and ground stations and Flight Service and such.
Here is the web site address for all Safety Briefing magazines: https://www.faa.gov/news/safety_briefing/
BFA Junior Balloonist Program
The BFA Youth Program benefits the youth of ballooning and ensures the future of ballooning. The Junior Balloonist Program is open to kids aged 13-17. Through education, summer camps, training, and mentorship, we provide youth the ability to discover and grow in the sport of ballooning. Our volunteers mentor youth helping them achieve their goals.
2021 Camps Scheduled
Rio Grande Camp - Albuquerque, New Mexico - July 10th, 2021
Southeastern Balloon Camp - Gaffney, SC - June 22, 2021
High Sierra Camp - Reno, NV - June 20, 2021
Registration begins at 8:00am Central time March 1, 2021.
For more information see:
https://bfa.net/bfa-summer-camps
The BFA Youth Program benefits the youth of ballooning and ensures the future of ballooning. The Junior Balloonist Program is open to kids aged 13-17. Through education, summer camps, training, and mentorship, we provide youth the ability to discover and grow in the sport of ballooning. Our volunteers mentor youth helping them achieve their goals.
2021 Camps Scheduled
Rio Grande Camp - Albuquerque, New Mexico - July 10th, 2021
Southeastern Balloon Camp - Gaffney, SC - June 22, 2021
High Sierra Camp - Reno, NV - June 20, 2021
Registration begins at 8:00am Central time March 1, 2021.
For more information see:
https://bfa.net/bfa-summer-camps