ABSTRACT
Although the discussion previous to this chapter applies to all pilots and aircraft, there are certain aircraft, including balloons and gliders, that have special concerns. In contrast to airplanes, both of these aircraft require careful attention to vertical speed and have variometers as required equipment. Both ballooning and gliding are team activities usually associated with recreation. Several people are needed to inflate the balloon. A 'chase crew' is needed to assist in deflating and reloading onto a trailer following the landing. Communication is needed between the pilot and the chase crew to assist in making decisions concerning the landing site. In gliding a tow plane or winch is needed usually requiring the assistance of a crew for takeoff. Ballooning and gliding tend to form a different organizational cultures among enthusiasts that can cause pressures to take certain risks that may be somewhat different from other types of pilots. In this chapter we will look at how certain aspects of these operations may differ from those of the fixed wing pilot and we will point out a few scenarios from these operations to illustrate the unique decision variables and pressures from these operations.
