The first element of the flight the chase crew must know is the  direction the balloon is going. It is important to understand  that the balloon’s direction is very difficult to detect from  a moving vehicle. Many pilots recommend the chase crew  drive the chase vehicle away from the launch site only far  enough to get the vehicle out of the way of the balloon (and  other balloons) and to be clear of any possible spectator  crowds. As soon as the crew is sure they are clear of other  traffic, they should park in a suitable place with a good view  of the balloon, and determine the balloon’s direction of  flight. There is no point in rushing after the balloon until the  direction it is going is known. The balloon changes direction  shortly after launch if the winds aloft are different from the  surface winds. Whether this is the crewmembers’ first time or one-hundredth  time crewing, they should be briefed before each flight.  Instructions contained in the briefing may be less detailed  for an experienced crew. The following instructions should  be given for each flight: A typical flight briefing may be “I intend to make a 1 hour  flight and I have about 2 hours of fuel on board. From  my weather briefing and the pibal, I should travel in a  southeasterly direction; but if I go west, I will land before  getting to the freeway. I will probably do a lot of contour  flying, but may go up to 2,000 feet to look around. Let’s  use channel six on the radio. There is a county road map on  the front seat.” “Patricia, you will be the crew chief for today’s flight, as  well as the driver. The keys to the van are in the ignition,  and there is a spare set in the console. I would like you and  Bob to do the mouth this morning. Bob, you will be on the  side away from the fan. Pat will show you what needs to be  done, and I will double check you during the inflation. You  will also be navigating, so we will have a look at the map  together in a minute. Susan, you will be on the fan. Be sure  to keep people away from the plane of the fan, and please do  not move the fan while it is running. Leslie, you are on the  crown line today. You have done it before, so I know that  you know the procedures, but as a reminder, do not wrap any  lines around your hand, arm, or body. I will check with you  a couple of times during the inflation to make sure you are  positioned properly.” Crew briefings vary from a few last minute instructions (to  an experienced, regular crew), or a long, detailed discourse  on how to layout, assemble, inflate, chase, recover, and pack  a balloon.  [Figure 6-4]  A pilot can give crew briefings by  telephone the night before, or in the chase vehicle on the  way to the launch site, but most crew briefings are done at  the launch site prior to the flight. It is important for the pilot  to remember who is ultimately responsible for the entire  “Any questions? Good. Sleeves down, gloves on, and let’s  go!” After a while, the crew should proceed to a point estimated  to be in the balloon’s path. In other words, get in front of  the balloon so it flies over the chase vehicle. If the balloon is  moving at five knots, the chase crew need drive only a short  time to get in front of the balloon. The direction of flight is  much easier to determine if the balloon is floating directly  toward the vehicle rather than flying parallel to the vehicle’s  path. If a radio is not being used, as the balloon flies over  the chase vehicle, the pilot and crew can communicate by  voice or with hand signals. In this instance, the crew should  be outside the vehicle with the engine turned off. operation and that the crew is the pilot’s representative on  the ground.  Direction of Flight The Crew Briefing The Crown Line The duty of the crown line crewmember is to hold the end of  the line, lean away from the envelope, and use body weight to  stabilize the envelope. As the air is heated and the envelope  starts to rise, the crewmember holding the crown line should  allow the line to pull him or her towards the basket, putting  only enough resistance on the line to keep the envelope from  swaying or moving too fast. Release the tension slowly after  the envelope is vertical.  [Figure 6-5] 6-5 Figure 6-4.  Crew briefing. • Duties once the balloon has reached equilibrium • Position and duties during inflation • Anticipated direction of flight • Estimated length of flight and any information that  aids the chase and recovery