7th Annual Minnesota Ballooning Association

2006 Pilot and Crew Safety Seminar

April 8, 2006

 

 

Ed Yost
Vadito, New Mexico

Keynote Speaker

 

A condensed biography for Ed Yost would contain volumes and it would be even more impossible to give Ed justice in a mere paragraph. Let me just say that Ed has more experience and knowledge than most of us would ever hope for in a life time. He has inspired each and every one of us with his open and honest candor and his unending love of ballooning. From the age of 15 when Ed and his father watched the first Explorer flight from the Stratobowl in Rapid City, SD. in 1934 to his willingness to spend time with us and talk ballooning over 70 years later, he has dedicated his life to the science and the sport. We simply share in the remnants of his vision. If it weren’t for Ed’s involvement we wouldn’t be flying Hot Air Balloons today.

 

 

 

Beth Miller

Burnsville, MN

Hot Air Balloon Insurance:

Everything You Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask

 

Beth has been in the insurance industry for over 20+ years.  She started in insurance when she was still in college and a newlywed.  Beth took a ‘hiatus’ from the insurance field to raise her family, three children from her college sweetheart and husband of 36 years. When her oldest child was graduating from high school, she returned to her insurance background and was hired as a receptionist for IMC in 1987.

 

Beth progressed from receptionist to hot air balloon apprentice underwriter in 18 months time, then was promoted to ‘manager’ in 1992. She received her Property Casualty license in 1989, her Life/Health license in 1998 and Surplus Lines License in 2002. Tom Reusse, the President of IMC, an expert balloonist and insurance entrepreneur in excess of 25 years in hot air balloon insurance alone, was her mentor.  Tom instructed Beth in not only the business aspect of hot air balloon insurance, but in the art and techniques of the sport of ballooning.  Beth was made Vice-President of IMC Agency, Inc. in February 2001.

 

IMC Agency was acquired by RW Scobie/Mid-West General Agency in May of 2004, currently know as “IMC Balloon Agency”.   Beth was a major component of the acquisition, maintaining her job title and position of Vice President of IMC Balloon Agency.

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“YOUR PERCEPTION IS YOUR REALITY” are words by which she lives.  Since insurance is a ‘necessary evil’, Beth feels by better understanding your insurance, you are able to more accurately assess and discuss the coverage that is essential to your protection at an economical cost, with customer service being her highest priority. Beth believes that Insurance is not just another ‘obligatory operational’ expense but is the utmost of importance as a vital tool of Asset Protection and Accident Remediation.

 

 

 

Brad Temeyer

Sioux Falls, SD

Obtaining a Good Weather Briefing

 

Brad has been around the sport of hot air ballooning since the early 80s when he attended his first balloon rally (the Nationals in Indianola, IA) at the ripe old age of 3.  As a child, he would beg his parents to chase balloons anytime he saw them, and began crewing on a regular basis for balloonists in Iowa in the mid 90s.  While at various ballooning events across the Midwest, he found the weather briefings very intriguing and began to look into meteorology as a possible career.  While in college at Iowa State University, he had the opportunity to provide weather briefing for several ballooning events across Iowa.  After graduating with his bachelor and masters degree in meteorology, he joined the National Weather Service in Glasgow, MT.  Most recently in January 2005, Brad returned to the Midwest to work for the National Weather Service Office in Sioux Falls, SD.  

 

 

 

James Ellis

Harvard, MA

Safe Minimum Altitudes for Balloons

 

Jim is a commercial hot air balloon pilots who flies for fun. He has been associated with hot air ballooning since 1981. His unique and interesting background in hot air ballooning includes having served as Lead Crew for the American tour leader’s balloon at ceremonies commemorating the Bicentennial of Manned Flight held at Annonay, France in 1983.  He has crewed for hot air and gas balloons and have flown in hot air balloons at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, the largest balloon rally in the world.  Jim has also crewed for and flown hot air balloons at the Phoenix Thunderbird Rally; the “Balloons Over Waikato” rally in Hamilton, New Zealand; at the July 4, 2003 “Inventing Flight” rally in Dayton, Ohio; and at the National Balloon Classic in Indianola, Iowa. Jim and his wife Susan have flown their Aerostar balloon Peacock in the New England states as well as New York State, and at the Festival de Montgolfieres du Haut-Richelieu outside of Montreal.  They are regular participants at the Stoweflake Balloon Festival in beautiful Stowe, Vermont; at the Adirondack Balloon Festival at Glens Falls, N.Y., the premier balloon rally in the northeast United States; and at the Plainville, CT balloon rally.

 

Jim and Susan had the privilege to meet and host Ed Yost in Boston in 1999. They were also with Ed Yost and Joe Kittinger at Ed’s dedication of granite markers on the rim of the Stratobowl in South Dakota, and at Ed’s induction at the National Balloon Museum in Indianola, Iowa.

 

Jim is a commercial and instrument-rated single engine land and sea pilot with over 2,200 hours of flying time in over 150 different fixed wing aircraft ranging from cloth-covered Piper Cubs to the classic twin-engine C-47, and over 40 different balloons. Jim has twice shared the experience of flying a Skyship 600 blimp in the Boston area.

 

Jim is the author of a book on general aviation aircraft ownership, “Buying and OWNING Your Own Airplane”.  Mr. Ellis edited “Wings for an Embattled China”, autobiography of William Langhorne Bond, published in March 2001 by Associated University Presses. ”.  He is a regular contributor to the “Atlantic Flyer”, a monthly aviation newspaper.   Mr. Ellis has also written articles published in such varied publications as the U.S. Air Force “Aerospace Safety” magazine; the Balloon Federation of America’s “ Ballooning Journal”; “Balloon Life” magazine; and “Air News New England”.

 

 

 

Jim Thompson

Des Moines, IA

Passenger Maintenance

 

Jim has been involved in Ballooning since 1975.  Started as crew person for son Jeff.  Obtained his private balloon pilots license and his commercial license in 1980.  Served as President of the Iowa Balloonists Association, President of National Balloon Championship Inc. and President and two term Board Member of the Balloon Federation of America.  Re-elected for a third term to the Balloon Federation of America Board of Directors in 1997 and presently serving as the National Aeronautic Association representative on the Board.  Also serves as the Chair of the Balloon Federation of America Competition Committee. Received BFA President’s award in 2000 and was presented a Certificate of Gratitude from the Federation Aeronautique Internationale for his activities as an Observer for International gas balloon events.

 

Jim has competed in the BFA National Hot Air Balloon Championships since 1980 and has been a top ten finisher six times; was the BFA National Competitive Points Leader 1988.  He has competed in four North American Hot Air Balloon Championships and was on the United States Team for two World Hot Air Balloon Championships in 1989 and 1991. He also served as an observer and official for many hot air and gas balloon races, including six Coupe de Gordon Bennett races and two World Gas Balloon Championships.  Was Chief Observer for the 1999 Albuquerque Coupe de Gordon Bennett race.  Was Assistant Balloonmeister in 1995, Balloonmeister in 1996 and 1997 and Safety Officer in 2000, 2001 and 2002 for the National Balloon Classic in Indianola, Iowa. He has served as the Balloonmeister for the 1998, 1999 and 2000 Great Pershing Balloon Derby in Brookfield, Missouri.  His most interesting flight was in June 2002 when he flew in a gas balloon with pilot Bucky Brown and co-pilot David Harwell and received logbook endorsement by Bucky for a gas rating. 

 

 

Martin Harms

Sioux Falls, SD

Balloon Maintenance and Repair

 

Ballooning began for Martin in the late 1970’s as ground crew for a local pilot in southern Illinois.  His interest in ballooning led to his flight training, a private pilot certificate in 1981 and eventually a commercial certificate in 1983. In 1983 he also received his first repairman certificate for hot air balloons. In 1984 an offer to fly balloons full time sent him to Phoenix Arizona to fly for a commercial ride operation.  The following 11 years found him working and/or managing several FAA repair stations in Arizona, while still flying passenger rides and piloting for numerous corporate balloon programs throughout the U.S.  All of this was intermingled with getting married in 1985 and raising a family. In 1985 an offer from Aerostar Intl., Inc. brought Martin and his family to Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  Since arriving at Aerostar he has had the fortune to fill a variety of positions, including repair station manager, hot air production supervisor, customer service manager.  Currently working in Engineering Services and technical customer support, he has the responsibility of coordinating product development, flight testing, and balloon maintenance. Throughout his ballooning career Martin has had the opportunity to pilot and repair almost every brand of hot air balloon.  He has also had the chance to fly almost every size of balloon from a 23,000 cubic foot hang balloon to 245,000 cu. ft. ride balloons as well as numerous special shape balloons; all of this experience without the burden of owning his own balloon, what luck!