Private Hot Air Balloon Rides • Balloon Weddings • Incentive Packages • Gift Certificates Available

Passenger Safety First!

Rest assured, your safety is our top priority. We are very conservative about choosing when and when not to fly!

As you probably know, balloons travel at the same speed and direction as the wind. This means that weather conditions are an important factor in making a go or no-go decision. We have over 15 years of experience carefully studying Sierra Nevada weather and maybe more importantly, the micro-meteorology in and around the Carson Valley. This valuable knowledge is important in determining which direction the flight will go as well as deciding when to stay on the ground!

A couple hours before your alarm clock goes off in the morning, your pilot will be sitting in front of a computer with a cup of coffee, studying current and forecasted weather online, just as he was doing the night before. If the weather is favorable - stable winds, good visibility and no precipitation - the flight will be a "go!" If the weather is even a little bit "iffy" such as the possibility of strong winds aloft, chance of thunder storms, rain, snow - you'll receive a "wake up and go back to bed" call before your alarm goes off. In other words, we'll cancel the days flight. We WILL NOT fly in "iffy" weather, and always err on the side of caution.

There is a saying amongst balloonists: "It's better to be down here wishing you were up there, than to be up there, wishing you were down here."

All flights conducted by one of the most experienced pilots and crew in Nevada.

As with all balloon ride companies, only FAA certified commercial pilots that have undergone flight training, ground school, and a flight check with the FAA with perfect safety records fly our balloon. In addition, each pilot has a Flight Review every two years and attends annual safety seminars. We carry full commercial insurance with an A+ rated insurance company, as does any reputable balloon ride company.

Our equipment goes through an annual/100 hour FAA inspection by a certified FAA repair facility. Since we only offer private/exclusive flights, you'll never be crowded as you'll have our sturdy, roomy basket to yourself. (Well, there will be the pilot too!)

On the morning of your flight you will receive a comprehensive safety briefing prior to launching, and a "reminder" briefing prior to landing. If you have any concerns or questions regarding our record or your safety prior to your scheduled flight, please feel free to call us at 775-790-7572, or email Customer Service.

Experience

Whit Landvater (chief pilot) has been flying balloons of all shapes and sizes since the 1970's and specializes in all forms of balloon related services. He has been a holder of a current FAA commercial pilot and instructor rating since 1981.

He has flown balloons all over the United States as well as in Canada, Belgium, Switzerland, and Holland and has represented Breyer's Ice Cream, Maxwell House coffee, Swatch Watch, Fox Photo, Pepsi, Sears, Coca Cola, Labatts, Swissair and other corporate balloon advertisers.

Whit has been featured* on ABC News (Good Morning America), NBC News (featured Today Show segment), Albuquerque Journal, Chicago Tribune, U.S.A.Today and many regional TV / Radio broadcasts and has flown thousands of passengers through the years without a single incident. Whit has also trained several others to become balloon pilots. When he's not flying balloons, he can be found in front of a computer being creative at Area-Fiftyone, watching some sort of motor sports, barbecuing out back, searching for the perfect micro brew, or something important like taking out the trash. * Disclaimer: None of the news stories mentioned above involved handcuffs, ambulances or required lawyers.

A few memorable ballooning experiences:

• Flying the Swiss Alps : Almost as nice as the "California Alps" which we have to our south here in the Carson Valley
• The rainbow colored fields full of flowers in Belgium: A MUST SEE, MUST DO, especially by balloon!
• the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, Canada
• a couple Canyon de Chelly, AZ flights
• Indianapolis, the "Big Guy", and the SWATCH balloon
• the first "Farm Aid Concert" in Champaign, Illinois with my friend Troy Bradley (SkyspanAdventures)
• a flight to 24,000 ft.
• and Lake Washington was interesting...

Your Fearless Crew

Carrie Carrie has been involved in ballooning since the mid 80's and enjoys everything about it (except the wake up calls) although, ballooning is one of the few things she will get out of bed early for!

Josh Josh grew up in a ballooning family and has a wide range ballooning experience, probably more than anyone else in Nevada ranging from corporate programs, large passenger carrying operations and pleasure flights.

EARN FREE FLIGHTS

Carson Valley resident?
Outdoors type?
Like to have fun?
A morning person?
Have a valid driver's license?

Balloon Nevada • P.O. Box 2718, Gardnerville, NV 89410 • Email • Telephone: 775-790-7572
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