Field Operations

What do you need?

CRF and CRF-S capable

    Pre-programmed frequencies

    Headset

    Speaker mics do not work well

    Battery for all day operation

    Small flashlight

    Safety vest

    Orange or Green (Limited amount for loan at Field Ops tent)

Water resistant boots/shoes

Jacket / Raincoat / Hat

Self sufficient

Field Shuttle

Morning 05:00 to 11:30

Evening 16:00 to 21:00 (Saturday after fireworks may run later)

Calling for Shuttle

    Field Ops / Talk-In on 147.180 (Not during Ops.)

    Field Simplex 146.580

Don't miss your shift.  Shuttle takes 20-30 minutes to travel.

Shuttle Pickup and Volunteer Parking

    Found in the ICS Documents section of this site.

Field Ops

Field Manager

Oversees all Field operations, tracks metrics

Field Net Control

Tracks balloons in and off the Field

Collects launch status of balloons

Field Net Liaison

Passes Field Status to the Recovery Net

Tracks the status of balloons reported by the Recovery Net

Field Marshall

Gives the Field Operators (Spotters) their safety briefing and directs the spotter on the                 Launch Field

Field Spotters

Reports balloons when they lift off the Field.  May be called upon to check the status of Chase vehicles.

Ramp Spotter

Reports balloon Chase vehicles on and off the Field.

Volunteer Shuttle

Gets Field Operators to and from Staging (parking) to Field.

Flight Ops

Controlled by Flight Ops Staff

Determines what kind of event will be held and watch current weather conditions determining if balloons can fly

Flight status marked by flag flown at Pilot briefing

        Green    Open for flights

        Amber    Balloons may inflate/fly with Launch Dir. approval

        Red        Closed to all flight operations

        Pink       Supplemental briefing at flight tower

        Black     Field is closed for flight

  Launch directors may vary as necessary.

WE DO NOT NOTIFY THE PUBLIC OF LAUNCH STATUS

Balloons cannot launch until they have been given permission by one of the Field Launch Directors.

Clearly marked in an umpire/referee striped shirt

• Monitor their activity, may offer clues to which balloon may fly next

• Hams sometimes mistaken for "officials"

NO HAM CAN GIVE PERMISSION TO LAUNCH!

Verify a number banner is attached to each balloon and the corresponding number is visible on the Chase vehicle

• If not, notify the Launch Director

Field Spotter Procedures

Must sign in and off the Field

    Tracking to ensure volunteer safety

    Most logged hours - first for shirts

Check in with Field Marshal at the Ops tent

    Safety briefing and flight information

    Receive assignment

    Acquire clipboard, pencil, balloon check, reference sheet

    Acquire a safety vest if needed (limited supply)

        Providing your own is highly encouraged

Calling "UP" correctly

Do not leave the Field until released

Field Ops Voice Calls

Voice calls are set up to minimize traffic

Identifying

    During Ops, do not identify with your FCC callsign

    Net Control will do a "mass" call for callsigns

        "This is AD5CC, Field Net Control.  All stations, please identify."

Status Calls

    Key up and use the pro sign "UP"

        (A balloon is up when off the ground and free of any ground support)

    Example-

    Field Spotter:  "32 UP"

    Ramp:  "12 ON", "12 OFF"

        Net Control will acknowledge

        Repeats shortly after - "32 UP"

        If not, repeat.  Do not ask for confirmation.

Field Safety Guidelines

No Smoking on or near Launch Field

    Politely inform smoker

        If non-compliant, tell Net Control and notify the Launch Director.  

            It is not your job to get in an argument.

No casual bystanders allowed on Launch Field

    Crew members and media have passes

        Kindly ask others to leave

Do not walk on or over any part of the balloon 

Be alert of your surroundings

IF YOU HEAR AN AIR HORN BLOW, LEAVE THE FIELD IMMEDIATELY!

H.A.N.D.

Before you transmit to report a situation or information of concern, follow the acronym of H.A.N.D.  Always know where you are.  Major cross streets and city most helpful.

H - what do you Have     I have a ___________________________________

A - where are you?        At ________________________________________

N - what is Needed?      I need _____________________________________

D - Details as needed    ___________________________________________

Waterford, WI Tethered Balloon Incident

Although rare, persons near tethered balloons must also be aware of their surroundings and situations like this.  The balloon was tethered to a large and heavy vehicle.  As you will see, a strong enough wind is no match for a balloon aircraft.

- YouTube video:  Waterford, WI Balloon Incident

Cameras

It is asked that you refrain from bringing cameras to be used during Field operations.  Because we are functioning as an additional point of safety, we would not want our operators to be distracted during their assignment.  There is a staff photographer that will make their rounds over the operational period and the photos will be shared shortly after the event.  We thank you in advance for your cooperation.