​It’s a beautiful day for Carolina BalloonFest or the ride you’re excited about with Big oh! Balloons, but Charles has determined, after careful analysis on site or perhaps beforehand, that unfortunately, we will not be flying today. “Why not?” you ask…

The most common reasons for a no-go call are winds or storms. There might also be fog or low cloud-cover in the current forecast, wet ground conditions, or TFRs…this will help you understand:

Wind Speed is Too Brisk
The wind doesn’t have to look like the photo above to be too dangerous for flying. Wind speeds above 6-8 mph are considered iffy. If the surface wind hits 10-12 mph, it’s a flat out “No way…”
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Typically, the top surface speed most pilots will fly in is 6 to 8 mph. Only very experienced pilots fly past that speed. Even if the wind looks pretty calm standing out in the field and doesn’t feel that windy to you, it might still be unsafe for balloons. At Big oh! Balloons, our motto is always, “If it isn’t safe, we don’t go…”

Higher Altitude Unsafe Wind Speeds
If a no-go is issued even when it appears that the trees aren’t blowing and things are pretty calm, the likely concern is speedy winds aloft and/or wind shear. Pilots will check for exactly what the wind is really doing…right here, right now…by launching a pi-ball, a small party balloon, to observe first-hand how fast it goes up, which way it goes, and when and where that flight path changes…A pi-ball can gently reach treetop level, and look comfortable, but then shoot off into a 25 mph wind shear. At a morning launch especially, that speed sets up the possibility for a bumpy landing…not desirable.

Not Enough Wind?
Yes, hot air balloons can be quite finicky. They can’t have too much wind, but too little wind will just keep you floating, kind of helplessly, in one spot in the air…only able to move up or down, not fly over there to a good landing site. If the wind speed off the ground is 2 mph or below, a no-go decision might be made.

In the evening when winds slow down or weather patterns change, or if it’s been slow for a while already, the balloon could get stranded over woods, planted farm fields, grazing animals, a pond, the interstate, high tension lines, or a building…again, not desirable. We’ll pass.

Where Are We Headed?
Anticipating where the good, safe, landing sites are out ahead is part of a pilot’s flight planning. If the pi-ball goes this-a-way or that-a-way, the flight could get canceled because the landscape there has few or no suitable landing locations…too developed, too forested, big lake. Since balloons travel with the wind, pilots must be certain that both speed and direction…on the ground and at altitude…are safe.  

Storm Front Moving In…Gusty Winds Are Out There!
We measure rain showers and storms in terms how far away are they, are they coning our way, and how fast are they traveling? Storms don’t have to be close to be a hazard.

​At Big oh! Balloons and at most festivals, a no-go is issued whenever a storm is within 50 miles. Why? Thunderstorms can produce massive gusty outflows. These surprising winds are not safe to launch in or fly in…there’s no warning when a gust will hit...or will one hit? One moment it’s calm, then whomp! Too unpredictable…again, not desired, of course.

Ground Conditions
If it’s been raining, the ground is wet and soft. We might decide to cancel your flight because retrieving the balloon in wet ground can tear up someone’s lawn or field, the chase vehicle could get stuck, or the balloon envelope could get really wet during pack-up. None of these possibilities make it fun…we’ll stay home and do something else fun. Landowners appreciate this about how we fly and land around their property. We have great neighbors, and we want to keep it that way.
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Fog
Just like driving in your car in the fog, balloon pilots can’t see what’s happing around them if they are flying in clouds or fog. It’s illegal for us to fly in these weather conditions, so we don’t. All pilots and festival organizers are very cautious when it comes to fog.

Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs)
Sometimes, Air Force One comes through and all aircraft are restricted from flying in the same vicinity, including hot air balloons. Other FAA notices can be issued that would ground our balloon, and we track all those NOTEMs and pay attention.

In Short...
We’re just as sorry as you are that we can’t fly, and we appreciate you coming out and giving it a try. Good weather is critically important to our flying, and we take it seriously…we intend to maintain our perfect track record, so let’s just try again another day!! CYA later!