Hot Air Balloon ground crew

Gardnerville NV

Description

I’m working on my hot air balloon training so I can propose to my gf in it, but I’ve got a bad back and am realizing I need help with the heavy thing in order to make my goal happen. Work will consist of lifting, pushing, rolling, sliding 100-200+ lbs of envelope and basket. I’ve got just about the smallest/lightest balloon around this area and we share the weight whenever possible. Trailer has a ramp so we never fully lift the envelope or basket. You’ll help me get the fabric laid out and hooked up, inflated with a gas powered fan, then I’ll stand it upright with main burner. We’ll get the launch site cleaned up and you’ll hop in my truck and join the chase crew in following me to wherever it is I end up. We’ll lay out a tarp, and pull the balloon down, then squeeze out all the air and pack it back into a big old bag. We typically meet at 6:30 in the Gardnerville/Minden area and you will need your own transportation to the launch site, and back home from the launch site after the crew truck returns to the launch site. This depends on flight and pack-up time but typical flights are 1-2 hours with about an hour to get packed and back,so it may go as late at 10:30-11 some mornings. Schedule is very weather dependent, winds need to be under 5mph with no gusts for me to fly, and we often cancel “morning-of” if it just looks too windy and last minute cancellations should be expected on occasion without pay. May include both weekdays and weekends. Obviously, that means this isn’t going to be a huge money maker as much as it is a chance to get to experience the hot air balloon chase excitement and beauty. You’ll get to see awesome sights and be outside getting exercise in only the most beautiful mornings. I’d be happy to share what I learn about hot air ballooning as we go and if you stick around long enough you’ll inevitably end up airborne along with me. Must be respectful and well mannered for land-owner relations. Must be safety-minded as there are some innate hazards such as the Fan and lines. Technology skills are a plus, we use a tracking app called Glympse, handheld radios, and occasionally other apps such as OnX Trail to find smooth trailer-friendly routes for retrieval if we can’t land on a paved road. The better you are at these tasks the more I get to focus on flight training and the further off road I can fly extending my flights. Pay depends partly on physical condition/availability, as well as ability to drive off-road with a trailer. Skills with reversing a trailer a plus as well. Depending on these factors and the ones above likely paying $50-100/crew member per day. Since we’ll be riding in a truck together and with others, I’ll need proof of COVID-19 vaccination for all crew. Contact me via email with a little personal info and phone number if you’re interested and available and flexible! Yeah