The Plano Balloon Festival has been supported for nearly 40 years, with sponsorship of the Plano Amateur Radio Klub (PARK) and with the aid of many other amateurs from the north Texas area. Our primary purpose is to provide communications and logistics support to the balloonists and organizers of the event.   With the aid of the outstanding volunteers, PARK was awarded the Volunteer Organization of the Year at the 2011 PBF.

With the event spanning the course of four days, a rather significant amount of resources is required to coordinate and administer. Operators are required in two general categories, Field Operations and Recovery. We also provide weather monitoring and liaison to many of the Public Safety agencies supporting the event.

This event has also been used to deploy new technology and techniques to validate their operational capabilities and exercise message handling, equipment deployment and operational procedures and discipline.

Visit the "What I Need to Know" Page

The links  provide a short cut to the information you may be looking for. However, it is encouraged that you start with the "What I Need to Know" page.

Special Thanks to the Following

Plano Amateur Radio Klub for the use of their Repeater

McKinney Amateur Radio Club for the use of their Repeater

North Texas Repeater Association for the use of their Repeater

KD5UMO  - Chadwick for the generation of the maps and training video.

For those that spend countless hours helping our amateurs prepare to be successful and enjoy this fun-filled weekend. Thank you!