Windy conditions concern balloon pilots
Published 12:01am Saturday, October 17, 2009NATCHEZ — During Friday’s balloon race weather briefing, one four-letter word was on everybody’s lips.
Wind.
At the 6:30 a.m. meeting led by Pilot Registration and Crew and Press Relations Director Sally Durkin and Meteorologist Ernest Ethridge, pilots from across the country were advised wind speeds were not conducive to safe flights.
“The threshold of winds on the ground are moving north to northeast and averaging 9 knots per hour,” Ethridge said.
And while some pilots feel comfortable taking on 9-knot-per-hour winds, Ethridge said his reason for warning pilots on Friday morning centered on the abrupt spikes of wind registering at 17 knots per hour.
“Its not safe for competition,” Ethridge said. “My recommendation to pilots was that no one fly.”
Pilot Tim Slattery said he wasn’t surprised by Ethridge’s weather report.
“I was anticipating the decision that was made and relieved that the decision was correct,” Slattery said. “I think all the pilots and all the organizers here knew that it wasn’t going to happen this morning.”
Slattery, a resident of Jackson, said he has been flying since 2003 and even with six years of experience, was not comfortable with 9-knot-per-hour winds.
“Every pilot has a personal ‘do not exceed,’” Slattery said. “Personally, I will take a safe and fun flight over the competition.”
Ethridge said since Friday’s flight was not part of the weekend’s main competition, the pilots were not under the Federal Aviation Administration waiver that specifies flying regulations for competitions from today through Sunday, and could have flown if they would have chosen to.
However, pilots took Ethridge’s recommendation to stay grounded to heart, and prepared to register for the race and prepare their balloons for Friday evening’s balloon glow.
A total of 61 pilots are registered for the weekend’s events.
