No need to panic, hot air balloon landing in Waterloo was routine
Posted Oct 29, 2020 07:23:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It was an exciting morning for a family in Waterloo.
A video was posted to social media on Thursday claiming an emergency landing was made by a hot air balloon.
Sebastian Msuya is Operations Manager at Sundance Balloons.
He said while it was certainly a spectacle, it was very routine.
“We had a balloon flight and we launched out of St. Jacobs this morning, and we landed just at the west side of Waterloo in a construction site on Wilmot Line, just on the edge of the city. It was a great landing site, we had permission to land in there and retrieve the vehicle. The passengers had fun and it was a very normal flight.”
Msuya said oftentimes, people think hot air balloons have a designated landing area – but that's not the case.
“In truth, balloons just drift with the wind. So everytime we land, it's in a different location and different field. So it is unusual for people to see balloons in certain places, but that's just a normal and routine balloon flight.”
He added they do have protocols in place when it comes to finding a safe spot to touch ground.
“We always ask for permission and we have a chase crew that follows the balloons with radio contact. Prior to landing, they'll run in and ask for permission – we target big open fields, whether it's a construction site or a farmer's hay field, or things like that for landing.”
Msuya said Sundance Balloons has a few designated launch sites – like in St. Jacobs, the Corcordia Club in Kitchener, and occasionally from Victoria Park.
If you witness a landing, you're encouraged to follow the pilot's directions.
“Oftentimes the pilot will encourage people to come up, take a look, and take a picture.”
However, if the pilot and crew tell you not to come near it, then you should listen.
“Generally once we've landed, spectators are welcome. We understand that it's exciting and not an everyday occurrence,” explained Msuya.
The Sundance Balloons season runs from May through October, and this is the last week for passenger flights.
You may still see a balloon flying in the winter time, due to 'fun flights' and those required for training.
