Monitoring of passengers is important because, after the  balloon first touches down, passengers may forget everything  they have been told. A typical response is for the passenger to  place one foot in front of the other and lock the knee. This is  a very bad position as the locked knee is unstable and subject  to damage. Pilots should observe their passengers and order  “feet together,” “front (back) of the basket,” “knees bent,”  “hold on tight,” and “do not get out until I tell you.” The pilot  should be a good example to passengers by assuming the  correct landing position. Otherwise, passengers may think,  “If the pilot does not do it, why should we.” widest possible selection of landing sites. The pilot should  ensure that the crew is trained to respect the land, obey traffic  laws, and be polite to everyone they come in contact with.  The crew should always get permission for the balloon to  land and the chase vehicle to enter private property. Each pilot should learn the trespass laws of his or her home  area. In some states, it is very difficult for the balloon pilot  and passengers to trespass, but very easy for the chase vehicle  and crew to trespass. If the balloon lands on the wrong side of  a locked gate or fence, the first thing the chase crew should  do is try to find the landowner or resident to get permission  to enter. If no one can be found, it may be necessary to carry  the balloon and lift it over the fence. Do not cut or knock down fences, as it is probably considered  trespassing. In some places, even the possession of fence- cutting and fence-repairing tools may be interpreted as  possession of burglary tools, creating liabilities. Pilot and  crew should have a clear understanding of what is acceptable  and what is not acceptable. It is very important that the passenger briefing be reinforced  more than once. Some balloon ride companies send an  agreement to their passengers in advance which includes  the landing instructions. Passengers are asked to sign a  statement that they have reviewed, read, and understand the  landing procedure. Many pilots give passengers a briefing  and landing stance demonstration on the ground before the  flight. This briefing should be given again as soon as the  pilot has decided to land. The pilot is very busy during the landing—watching the  passenger’s actions and reactions, closing fuel valves,  draining fuel lines, cooling the burners, and deflating  the envelope. The better the passengers understand the  importance of the landing procedure, the better the pilot  performs these duties and makes a safe landing. Sometimes local law enforcement officials arrive at the scene  of a balloon landing site. Someone may have called them or  they may have seen the balloon in the air. They may just be  interested in watching the balloon (which is usually the case),  or they may think a violation of the law has occurred. If law  enforcement officials approach the balloon, the pilot should  always be polite. Most emergency responders probably do not  know much about federal law regarding aviation. However,  even if they are wrong and the pilot knows they are wrong,  there is no point in antagonizing them with a belligerent  attitude. It is better to listen than to end up in court. There is a wealth of information on landowner relations issues  available from the Balloon Federation of America (BFA), as  well as the British Balloon and Airship Club (BBAC). The  BBAC web site, www.bbac.org, has an excellent video that  was produced solely to deal with the issues of landowner  relations in the United Kingdom. Despite being tailored for  that country, it is worth viewing by the pilot and crew in the  United States. The greatest threat to the continued growth of ballooning  is poor landowner relations. The emphasis should be to  create and maintain good relations with those who own and  work the land that balloonists fly over and land on. Balloon  pilots must never forget that, at most landing sites, they are  unexpected visitors. Balloonist may think the uninvited visit  of a balloon is a great gift to individuals on the ground. The  balloon pilot may not know the difference between a valuable  farm crop and uncultivated land. A balloonist may not notice  grazing cattle. A chase vehicle driver may drive fast down  a dirt road, raising unnecessary dust. A crewmember may  trample a valuable crop. There are several situations where a balloon pilot or crew  may anger the public. When people are angered, they demand  action from the local police, county sheriff, Federal Aviation  Administration (FAA), or an attorney. The FAA does not  initiate an investigation without a complaint. The balloonist  is the one who initiates a landowner relations problem. A balloonist can ease the effect he or she has on people on  the ground. First, the pilot should develop skills to allow the  After the crew has obtained the necessary landowner clearance  to enter the landing site, the process of packing the balloon  begins. Despite being the end of the flight, many pilots, as well  as crew, consider this the point when the real work begins. Deflating the balloon is the reverse of the inflation process.  The crewmember designated to handle the crown line should  secure the free end of the crown line and move downwind.  The pilot should turn off the burner’s pilot light and main  8-11 Packing the Balloon Landowner Relations  Recovery