Ballooning first timer? Most of our customers are, so we thought to save you the suspense and answer all those questions on your mind, we’d tell you a little more about what to expect. Many of our customers are ordering balloon flights for Christmas presents at the moment and there are also a great deal thinking ahead and organising their Valentines surprise with plenty of notice to make it perfect; ballooning is known as the most romantic way to fly, after all. So what questions are we being overwhelmed with at the moment.

Firstly, most enquires are with regards to what to expect from their flight. Many are fearful of the takeoff and other of the landing, however there is no need for concern.

When you take off you will notice the ground dropping away, however you will not really notice a sensation of movement or rising. Many have described a feeling of peace and tranquillity once up in the air; this is heightened by the apparent lack of wind.  The balloon moves with the wind and so you will not experience windiness at all when you’re up! You can expect to climb to heights of approximately 3’000 foot; let your mind imagine what the world would look like from heights such as that, and nothing to obstruct your view!

Flights last for about an hour, and yes, you will enjoy a champagne toast, along with a certificate to commemorate your day! What’s more we encourage all of our passengers to help set up the balloon and dismantle it afterwards so that they can get a real feel for ballooning and enjoy a day of it, rather than just the flight.

You can expect your flight to take place either at sunset or sunrise as this is when the weather is at its calmest. Typically flights run from March to October, however some Balloons Over Britain operators will run flights outside of the typical ballooning season. Bear in mind, if the weather is not suitable for flying, then your flight will be cancelled. Simply phone to re-schedule in this case where we will make every possible step to ensure you fly at a date that is convenient for you.

Remember to wear clothing which is appropriate for country walks and the time of year, ideal clothes made of natural fibres. Another advisable item would be a hat or cap to protect your head from the heat of the burners. And please, ladies, you will be clambering through fields and over the balloon basket, so do wear trousers. We recommended sensible walking shoes or boots, preferably ones that are waterproof, as most flights take off from, and land in, a field. Finally bear in mind the limited space in the basket, so try to avoid bringing large rucksacks or bags.

The most common type of query we have is with regards to the safety of hot our ballooning. What we advise is that ballooning activities intrinsically involve the possibility of physical risks greater than those encountered in daily life, even though they are conducted under the supervision of commercial pilots who exercise all due precautions to ensure safety. By taking part in such ballooning activities passengers are understood to be fully aware of these risks. All Balloons Over Britain Operators are certified and regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority and all the pilots hold full Commercial Pilot Licences. All operators carry combined single limit insurance to current European standards.

For more details, call us on 0845 071 6388.

Our very own Clive Bailey is becoming quiet the celebrity! On the 21^st November this year Clive won this year’s prestigious WRBBAC (The Western Region British Balloon and Airship Club) for his services to ballooning and particularly for his dedication to the Metline – balloonist’s weather phone used to determine safe conditions for flying which he’s been doing for 13 years!

Clive Bailey was presented the award by the Chairman of the WRBBAC, Phil Dunnington himself and where better to present the award than in the pub, just perfect to celebrate with a nice glass of bubbly!

The award is famously given out on Montgolfier Day, remembered from back on the 21^st November 1793 for the first piloted balloon flight! The montgolfière-style hot air balloon, globe aérostatique was designed by two brothers, Joseph-Michel Montgolfier and Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier who succeeded in launching the first piloted ascent, carrying the now famous Étienne into the sky, becoming the first person to fly in a hot air balloon!

So from all the Balloons Over Britain Team, a big congratulations to Clive Bailey!

But of course the success of this award was not enough to fulfil Clive’s thirst for fame and so he took upon his next adventure, this time to get involved in his own way on BBC One Show. So on December 2^nd this year, Clive sailed across the water in the one and only One Show hot air balloon! He flew from Caldicot in South Wales to Thornbury between the two Severn Bridges and enjoyed serene whether throughout his trip. Another box ticked eh Clive?

If you’d like to make your first magical hot air balloon ride with the ever famous Bailey Balloons then you’ve certainly chosen well. In the best and most capable ballooning hands across the UK, Bailey Balloons can offer you flights from launch from sites in Bristol, Bath, Wiltshire and South Wales and fly over some of the most beautiful towns and countryside in the UK! Plus, at the moment you will automatically be entered into a prize draw to win a balloon ride when you purchase one of our vouchers!

But don’t take our word for it that Bailey Balloons are the best; take a look at our customer Testimonials page to see what our customers say having experienced one of our flights for themselves!

Our passenger balloon flights operator Bailey Balloons offers you the opportunity to charter your very own hot air balloon (and pilot) with inclusive bubbly champagne and for your choice group! Yes that’s right, they not only offer individual bookings, couples and intimate affairs; they also offer group bookings and parties for that perfect celebration. Maybe you’ve been on a mission to find the ideal corporate team building activity, a suave way of entertaining clients or an impressive way to reward your hard working staff? Alternatively you just can’t stretch to summer holiday abroad this year and instead would like to take your family on a journey they’ll never forget? Does your family need a boost after making it through some difficult times, or maybe you’re organising a Stag Do or Hen Night? Then again, you’re probably just looking for the ultimate birthday or anniversary gift.

Offering far more than just a hop-on, hop-off balloon ride, Bailey Balloons offers your party the opportunity to help our crew inflate the balloon and prepare it for take-off! Then, when you’re in the air your pilot will be more than happy to answer any questions that your group has whilst also capturing your experience on camera by taking an in-flight photograph! Photo’s can be purchased at the end of your flight as a memento of your wonderful day.

Whatever it is your looking at celebrating Bailey Balloons are the flights company for you. Whether it’s for 2, 4, 16 or 100 people, Bailey Balloons are able to accommodate your group whatever the size! They offer a tailor made, interactive and exhilarating ballooning experiences which is sure to exceed your expectations, plus as you’re making a group booking, we’ll be more than happy to discuss discounted rates – feel free to call us on 01275 375 300 or email info@baileyballoons.co.uk.

Countryside Balloons – one of the Balloons Over Britain member companies – are Essex and Suffolk’s longest flying balloon operator and have been in operation since the early 90’s. Fully licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority we carry liability insurance for all our passengers. One of the first thoughts of our passengers is, ‘who will be flying me?’ Well here at Countryside Balloons we think it’s important that our passengers understand as much about us and what to expect as possible. Tim Parker is our principle pilot and is one of only a few highly qualified group C chief pilots in Britain! This is Tim’s 16th season with us and in addition to working full time with us; Tim has been involved in safety projects with the Civil Aviation Authority and has consulted with Cameron Balloons, the world’s largest balloon manufacturer, to have manufactured a purpose-built balloon basket to increase space and safety for our passengers!

Since the mid 1990s numerous experience companies have approached us to fly all their hot air ballooning experience passengers for Essex. In fact over 40 experience companies have approached us, as members of the Balloons Over Britain group, and have chosen us due to our unrivalled safety record and wealth of experience!

A balloon flight voucher makes the perfect gift for a birthday, anniversary or any celebration. But what makes Countryside Balloons so special is our dedication to detail. Our vouchers can be given to individuals, couples or even groups, and whether it’s for one person or a big party, we will tailor the day to suit you. The gift voucher arrives in an attractive presentation card and envelope complete with ballooning cap and is valid for 12 months! What’s more, you can make the occasion extra special by attaching your gift voucher to a helium filled foil balloon in a box, which will arrive, bearing your message, in a robust gift box! When your friend or loved one opens the box, out will float the helium balloon carrying the experience voucher and your message. Now there’s a special touch that is sure to go down well!

Remember, your flight can be chosen at the time of purchase or even by the recipient at a later date simply review our scheduled flight dates to book your slot!

If you fancy doing something a bit different this year, why not experience working with a hot air balloon company?  Due to the seasonal nature of the job, balloon companies across the United Kingdom have vacancies available druing the summer for part-time and full-time ground crew.  So what is involved and what is required?

Obviously, those of you who enjoy the outdoors are well suited to this type of work.  You will need to be physically fit as being a member of the ground crew involves the moving of hot air balloons as well as lots of walking and you will also need to have good people skills as you will be dealing with land owners and passengers on a day-to-day basis.  Competence with Minibuses, 4×4’s and trailers is very helpful as the ground crew transport the balloon to and from the launch and landing sites as well as transporting passengers back to the launch site after landing.  Map reading is also very useful due to the amount of travelling involved in the job.  Industry training is of course provided.

When it comes to driving, you must have three years clean license and be over 25.  Your license needs to include categories B+E to enable you to tow our balloon trailers which are generally over 750kg.  There is an additional trailer test that must be taken for drivers who first passed their test after January 1997. 

Ballooning season runs from April through to October, providing many job opportunities throughout the season.  Flights occur during early morning and late afternoon throughout the week and weekend, so reliability and flexibility is essential!  Full-time ground crew are usually on a fixed weekly rate with some companies offering an additional bonus scheme for the balloon crew work.  There may also be additional support activities and promotional work available for an hourly rate. 

If you would like to have a go at working with a ballooning company, simply contact ballooning companies such as Adventure Balloons (member of Balloons over Britain) and provide them with your C.V.

Hot air balloons are fascinating pieces of equipment and as well as flying in one, many of us would love to get involved in the finer aspects of ballooning, such as piloting one or becoming ground crew.  I imagine that you think it is easier said than done but actually, it is quite easy to get involved.  There are many ballooning clubs in the UK which you can go along to and meet many like-minded individuals where you will certainly learn a thing or two about ballooning.  The other alternative is researching into local ballooning businesses and going out at dawn or dusk to follow the balloons to the landing site where you can talk to the pilot and ground crew.  Balloon pilots and crew are more often than not, a friendly bunch of people that can give plenty of sound advice. 

Booking a balloon flight is also a fantastic way of obtaining useful information and witnessing a pilot at work.  Balloon operators will allow passengers to aid them in inflating and deflating the balloon and you can obtain hoards of information during your flight experience which will usually last 3 to 4 hours.  Balloons over Britain offer flights from more than 70 launch sites across the UK so why not take a look at our locations page on the website to find the launch site closest to you and book your dream flight now! 

Naturally the fully qualified pilot of the hot air balloon taking you on your magical balloon flight is absolutely essential to make your flight enjoyable and possible. But there is also a group of unsung heroes who don’t often get a mention, the balloon crew or chase crew.

These are the guys that get the balloon ready to get into the air in the first place including setting up the balloon, checking that the basket has all the essential the pilot needs, then arranging to get the canopy in place, inflating this with air so the pilot can direct the burner to fill this with hot air to enable you to float away. After all that is done and you are on your way, we “chase” the balloon so that we can help dismantle this after you have safely landed and take you back to meet your friends at the launch site.

If you have been to a festival or have watched hot air balloons being prepared, the question that is often asked is “who are all those people round the hot air balloon?” Well it’s called the ground crew or more commonly the chase crew and is usually between 3 to 6 people.

If you are interested in becoming part of a crew, or are fascinated by hot air balloons why not get yourself started. The way that most people start is through buying a hot air balloon ride and at Balloons over Britain it is possible to buy a voucher online and take a hot air balloon ride from a launch site that is close to you. During your ride you can not only enjoy the serenity of the flight, view the countryside from an entirely different aspect, but talk to the pilot about either joining his crew, or perhaps a crew that may be looking for some able and willing volunteers. The only special skill needed for the balloon ground crew is a willingness to learn and ask questions. Some tasks require a fair amount of physical strength, but don’t worry, there are even more tasks that do not. Become involved and enjoy a new exciting sport.

If you are one of those who find hot air balloons fascinating, almost certainly you have longed to go for a hot air balloon ride and deep down being a pilot of one of them. It is not difficult to get involved in hot air ballooning, just following a balloon to where it lands and talking to the pilot, the passengers and the chase crew.

Booking a hot air balloon ride is the easiest way for you to become involved and learning about the sport. You can help with the inflation and deflation of the balloon, most passengers enjoy this part of the hot air ballooning experience. Finding a company that offers hot air balloon rides close to you is not difficult, Balloons over Britain has hot air balloon rides from more than 70 launch sites throughout the UK, one of the launch sites will be close to you. Although the flight itself usually last for about and hour, the whole experience will be around 3 to 4 hours, normally at dawn or dusk when the wind is at its calmest.

The first thing to gear yourself up for is an early start which depending upon the time of year will be at around sunrise, so in the summer this could be very early! The reason for this early time is because these are the very best conditions for you to fly in your hot air balloon.

You can expect to help with the inflation of the hot air balloon; it’s all part of the fun. Your pilot will be a qualified professional and they all have a sense of fun and good humour, you are there to enjoy yourself. You will receive enthusiastic support from the ground crew who will ‘chase’ the balloon and help in the procedure followed on landing as well as take you back to your local launch site. So make the most of it and enjoy your glass of champagne!