Ballooning Glossary (English Edition)

What's a Barnes basket? Or what's a CNT? Or even a crown line. For most balloonists, these terms are taken for granted, but for the vast majority of people, and many new crew members, these and other ballooning terms are a mystery. The goal of the Ballooning Glossary is to build and present as near a complete list of ballooning terms and their meanings as possible. We'll attempt to cross-reference similar terms, and provide useful examples of their use. Where possible, diagrams and pictures will be made available. If you know of any ballooning terms that are not listed here, but you would like to make a contribution to the list, just click on the mailbox below and send us the info. We'll be happy to add the glossary entry. Remember, this list will be built mostly from reader contributions. Many thanks in advance.

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A

• aerostat - A lighter-than-air craft. A hot-air balloon is an aerostat.
• aerostation - The science of lighter-than-air flight.
• AGL - above ground level
• Ammonia (NH3) - Type of balloon that uses ammonia as its lifting agent instead of helium, hydrogen or coal gas. Becoming very popular in 1990's. Much less costly than flying other gas bags. Has approximately .5 lifting power of helium. Popularized by Tim Cole and Dennis Brown of Colorado. Ammonia gas is readily available in agricultural areas of the USA.

B

• balloon - a generic term for an aerostat.
• balloonatic - Fanatic balloon enthusiasts. Many of us eat, drink and sleep ballooning. Why else would we get up at 4:30 in the morning to stand out in the cold and do hard manual labor? Why - because we're balloonatics!
• Barnes basket - A triangular shaped basket used primarily on Balloon Works balloons. Named after its originator, Tracy Barnes.
• basket - also referred to as the gondola; the part of the balloon used to carry the pilot and passengers, fuel tanks, and other equipment. Constructed from wicker and light wood base, or in the case of high-altitude and long-distance craft, pressurizable materials.
• biner - short for carabiner.
• British thermal unit - the quantity of heat necessary to raise the temperature of a pound (0.45Kg) of water by one degree Fahrenheit (0.56 degrees Celcius). It is approximately 1.055 kilojoules.
• BTU - British thermal unit.
• burner - device used to ignite and project flammable fuel (usually L.P. gas) up into the envelope to heat the air in a hot-air balloon. Burners come in a variety of configurations and powers (which are measured in BTUs, usually in the millions).

C

• carabiner - a "D", or "O" shaped locking metal clamp used to connect things together (in particular, load cables to baskets, or tie-off lines to chase vehicles).
• chase - also referred to as the "recovery"; the process by which the aerostat is tracked during flight and retrieved afterwards by crew on the ground or in another craft (like a boat).
• chase crew - the crew that chases the aerostat.
• CNT - See Convergent Navigational Task.
• Convergent Navigational Task - A ballooning event where pilots attempt to fly from a designated distance to a single point, usually a scoring 'X'. Also known as Controlled Navigational Trajectory Event, or a Fly-In task.
• crown - the top of the balloon envelope.
• crown line - a rope which, at one end, is fastened to the top (or crown) of the balloon envelope, and at the other end, is used by a member of the crew to help stabilize the balloon during inflation and deflation. It is usually a good 50-100 feet (15-30 meters) longer than the balloon is tall.

D

• Drop Line - a rope, belt or other line attached to the aerostat (usually the gondola) on one end. Normally furled or stowed during flight, it can be released by the pilot and secured by ground crewmembers who use it to maneuver the craft into or through tight areas.

E

• envelope - the portion of the balloon which holds the heated air (for hot-air balloons) or gas for gas balloons. Constructed of cloth such as ripstop nylon or nomex, or other light, relatively impermeable material.

F

• first flight ceremony - Those who have endured it need no explanation. Those who have not should know that its origins are cloaked in mystery and shrouded in the most sacred rites of ballooning. Suffice it to say that the ceremony involves the balloonist's prayer, various liquid refreshment (usually champagne), something to kneel on (usually crew gloves), some physical dexterity on the part of the subject and an object made of absorbant material. Once having successfully survived the ceremony, the Initiate has been officially inducted into the Noble Fraternity of Aeronauts. It should also be noted that, if your first ride was free, your second will likely cost US$20,000.00.
• fly-in task - see CNT.

G

• gondola - see basket.

L

• landowner - The person, business or organization which holds the title to the pro perty upon which the aerostat launches and/or lands.
• landowner relations - Extremely important for aerostat activities, especially considering the limited control over landing location. Ideally, the pilot or chase crew should secure permission from the landowner before landing on their property. The wishes of the landowner take precedence during landing and recovery, within the limits of flight physics and safety. Landowner relations also apply to low overflights of landowner's property.
• load tapes - reinforced vertical seams along the length of the envelope, connected by the load cables to the basket. The actual load-bearing parts of the envelope.

M

• mouth - The opening at the base of the balloon envelope through which the flames from the burner passes to heat the air inside the envelope. This is sometimes referred to as the 'throat'.
• MSL - Above Mean Sea Level.

P

• prohibited zone - a restricted operation zone where balloon launchings and landings are prohibited by the landowner. In some cases, a minimum altitude restriction may also exist.
• PZ - see prohibited zone.

R

• red zone - see prohibited zone.
• restricted operations zone - a land area on or over which balloon operations are restricted by the landowner. Also refered to as a prohibited zone (PZ) or a sensitive zone (SZ).
• Rosiere - Type of balloon that uses both gas and hot air. Sometimes called a hybrid.
  Nick Saum home built unit in mid 80's and set many World Class Records. Flying AM-2 went 340 miles in 17 hours. Took off at approx. 5 pm and landed 11 am next day. Later took same balloon to over 18,000' MSL. for alt. record Takeoff was about 3900' MSL. Cheyenne Wells, Co to Syracuse, KS USA. Ground temp was 25 F, so don't you know that got a little chilly.
  Steve Fossett is one of the latest to use this type of balloon. He flew from Seoul, ROK to Leader, Saskatchewan, Canada in Feb. 1995 Over 5400 miles solo. Best Trans- Pacific flight yet. That flight took 102 hrs and 15 minutes.

S

• scoop - a specialized-shape skirt which narrows to an inch or two on one side and widens to extend all the way from the top of the stanchions to the base of the envelope proper, forming a tilted mouth. The idea of the scoop is to provide better control of the aerostat's orientation. Ideally, the front (or main part of the scoop) will always be kept in the direction of travel. It may also aid in keeping the envelope full.
• sensitive zone - a restricted operation zone where balloon launchings and landings may be allowed by the landowner under special circumstances. In some cases, a minimum altitude restriction may also exist.
• skirt - the cloth segment of the envelope below the load cable connections, frequently detachable, often made of Nomex or similar fire-resistant material.
• stanchions - the stabilizing struts between the basket, the burner mount and the load cables. On some balloons the stanchions are actually load-bearing elements; on others they simply act as stiff or slightly flexible guides for the actual load-bearing elements and connections from envelope sensors to the instrument console. Also referred to as "burner supports", or more generically, "supports".
• supports - see stanchions.
• SZ - see sensitive zone.

T

• throat - See mouth.
• thumbs up - The signal from a launch director that the airspace above is clear and you have permission to launch. Any digit other than the thumb means something entirely different.

W

• weather rock - Any smooth stone thrown at the weatherman who briefed you on VFR and sent you three miles out into pea-soup fog.

Y

• yellow zone - see sensitive zone.

Z

• zebra - A mild mannered, even-tempered person wearing a black and white striped shirt while he/she merrily scores your baggie or launches your balloon into clear airspace.

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