Pilot/Crew Communications Inflight Crew Management If possible, the chase crew should try to keep the chase vehicle  in sight of the balloon. The pilot needs to know the crew is  nearby and not stuck in a ditch or off somewhere changing a  flat tire. When the vehicle is stopped at the side of the road,  park it so the entire vehicle is visible to the balloon pilot. Radio communications between the balloon and the chase  vehicle are fairly common. If radios are used, obey all Federal  Communications Commission (FCC) regulations. Use call  signs, proper language, and keep transmissions short. Many  balloonists prefer not to use radios to communicate with their  chase vehicle because it can be distracting to both pilot and  chase vehicle driver. In any case, it is a good idea to agree  on a common phone number before a flight in case the chase  crew loses the balloon.  [Figure 7-13] The balloon chase crew does much more during the flight than  merely drive and wait for the balloon to land. As an integral  part of the flight team, the crew can often have a significant  impact on flight safety. Rather than passively follow behind  the balloon’s perceived route, a knowledgeable chase crew  can assist in the execution of the flight and play a large role  in flight safety and management. Immediately after the launch, the crew should promptly load  equipment and prepare to leave the launch field. At a large  fun fly of local pilots, or perhaps a competitive event, there  may be a temptation for the crew to remain on the field and  socialize; a crew on the field is of little or no use to a pilot  who may be in difficulty. The crew chief, in conjunction with  the pilot, should have a planned route off the launch site and  a methodology for conducting the chase. Some pilots prefer  for the chase crew to be ahead of the balloon, while other  pilots have the chase crew follow the balloon throughout  the entire flight. This is a matter of personal preference and  may have an impact on the comfort level of the pilot. Either  way is acceptable, as long as the pilot and crew remain in  contact, and there is a plan in place for the eventual recovery  of the balloon. Chasing the balloon is, at times, grossly oversimplified. The  crew should always bear in mind that they may have to plan  on how to be in one of two places at any given moment:  where the balloon currently is and where it appears to be  heading in the next few minutes. A good rule during the first  half of the planned flight is to leapfrog ahead of the balloon,  let the balloon catch up, and then repeat the process. Even  in familiar flying areas, the crew should frequently check  maps to determine the flightpath, likely landing areas, and  the best routes to get there. The crew must constantly be  aware of changing conditions that may affect the flight; winds  increasing, decreasing, or changing directions, or perhaps  traffic situations that affect how the crew gets to the balloon  after landing.  During the chase, the crew should remember to drive  legally and politely. Driving at high rates of speed with no  justification creates a sense of emergency where there is not  one, and can draw unwanted attention to the chase crew. The  chase crew is useless to the pilot if they have been stopped  by the authorities. While chasing, the crew should observe all “No Trespassing”  and “Keep Out” signs, and stay on public, paved roads.  Vehicular trespass is common and the laws are very restrictive  regarding vehicles on private property. Pilots and their chase  crews should adhere to local trespass laws. The air-to-air frequency is 122.75. Remember that everyone  in the air is using this frequency; transmissions should be  kept brief. A balloon pilot trying to contact a circling airplane  would try 122.75 first.  There is confusion among pilots regarding frequencies that  may be used from air-to-ground, balloon-to-chase crew, for  instance. Many balloonists use 123.3 and 123.5 for air-to- ground (pilot-to-chase crew), as these frequencies are for  glider schools and not many soaring planes are in the air  at sunrise. Since all users of the airwaves must have an ID  or call, ground crews may identify themselves by adding  “chase” to the aircraft call sign. For example, the chase call  for “Balloon 3584 Golf” would be “3584 Golf Chase,” or  perhaps simply “84 Golf Chase.” Use of a Very High Frequency (VHF) Radio Crew Behavior $_{Figure 7-13}$  This crew chief has stopped safely off the road to  talk to her pilot. Communications are important, but safety is  paramount. 7-15