Balloon Flying Menu > Preparing For Flight > Chase > Chase Crew Behavior

During the chase, remember to drive legally and politely. The chase crew is of no use to the pilot if the police stop them. A chase vehicle speeding around the countryside will unfavorably impress local residents. Speeding is bad for obvious reasons. Also, it is bad because it may give an impression of an emergency when none exists. Even if the chase vehicle is not painted like a circus wagon or advertising truck, local residents will soon put two and two together and figure out the person in the vehicle is chasing the balloon.

If possible, the chase crew should try to keep the chase vehicle in sight of the balloon. The pilot may be comforted 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 in the open so the entire vehicle is visible to the balloon pilot.

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 chase crew should not drive the chase vehicle into the landing field until permission has been received, or at least until the pilot and the crew are in agreement that it is okay to drive into the field. If the crew is unsure, it is better to walk into the field and consult with the pilot.

The chase crew is the pilot’s personal representative on the ground. Any action taken by the chase crew reflects directly on the balloon pilot. Chasing a balloon is a lot of fun. Like flying, the better it is done, the more fun it is.