Landing Sites Launch Site Surface $^{ }$Removing the Balloon from the Vehicle Balloon Placement and Wind Direction 6-8 One method is for the pilot to establish the specific location  and direction of layout, and direct that the basket be placed  there. The transport vehicle maneuvers to allow the basket  to be removed and placed at the pilot’s discretion, and then  pulls forward about 15 or 20 feet to allow for the envelope bag  and inflator fan to be removed and placed on the ground. The  vehicle may then be removed from the launch site, or moved  Consider the wind direction before the balloon is unloaded  from the chase vehicle. Take into account the surface wind at  the time of cold inflation to avoid carrying a heavy balloon  bag and basket around. A “Murphy’s Law” type of rule is that  the wind always changes during inflation. Local knowledge  is invaluable. If other balloons are around, check with the  most experienced local pilot. Unless flying at a known site, do not assume it is all right to  drive the chase vehicle directly onto the launch area. There  are some locations (a soft athletic field, for example) where  it is necessary to carry the balloon onto the launch area. If  using private property, it is necessary to get permission to  use the property for flight activities. This may be the first  experience with landowner relations, and the considerate  pilot takes action to minimize his or her impact on the  landowner’s property. Landowner relations are an important  part of ballooning, and are discussed in greater detail later  in this chapter. Whether flying from a regular launch site, a brand new  location, or from an assigned square at a rally, check the  ground for items that may damage or soil the balloon. Look  for and remove nails, sharp rocks, twigs, branches, and other  foreign objects. If there are patches of oil or other substances,  cover them with pieces of carpet, floor mats from the chase  vehicle, tarps, or the envelope bag. Some pilots cover the  ground where they lay out their balloon with a large tarp  every time they fly. After determining the flight direction, the next condition  that determines the details of the balloon layout is the actual  launch site surface. Of course, all pilots want to lay out their  balloon on clean, dry, short, green grass. Most pilots are not  that fortunate unless they have their own launch site and never  fly from different places. Wise pilots modify their techniques  according to available conditions, or they have more than one  layout procedure to adapt to various launch sites. The best launch site is of little use if there are no appropriate  landing sites downwind. Many pilots examine their flight path  from the perspective of the landing area, particularly in an  area of few landing fields, and “reverse plan” their launch  site in order to make the appropriate choice of launch sites.  Occassionally, this may require using a launch site that may  be somewhat less than desirable. As long as the launch can  be made safely, with appropriate obstacle clearance, this is  perfectly acceptable.  A wind change at or shortly after sunrise is normal in many  places. If the balloon is laid out prior to sunrise, a wind change  is likely. If flying in a new area, it is beneficial to watch the  local pilots, as they have knowledge of local conditions and  idiosyncrasies. Some general trends are that air usually flows  downhill or down valley first thing in the morning, and air  usually flows from cold to warm in the morning. The air  drainage may stop very shortly after the sun rises and starts  heating the ground. The early morning wind may come from  a different direction than the prevailing or predicted wind.  Some local pilots may lay their balloons out in a direction  that does not match the airflow at the time, but that corrects  15 to 30 minutes later when the sunrise change occurs and  the inflation starts.  Once the specific location on the launch field has been  determined, the balloon should be removed from the  vehicle, or unloaded from its trailer, and prepared for flight.  [Figure 6-8]  Good procedures and habit patterns formed here  minimize the amount of lifting of balloon components, and  reduces the wear and tear on the crew and the pilot, as well as  the equipment itself. Despite being a lighter-than-air aircraft,  the packed balloon and basket are heavy; the average sport  balloon system can weigh over 550 pounds. $_{Figure 6-8.}$  Unloading the basket and moving the vehicle forward  minimizes equipment carrying.