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Scheduling a Ride
YOUR DECISION TO FLY
Be sure to read the page about Safety and Risks. You may also want to check with your doctor about your ability to safely particpate in strenuous activity. You must be able to climb in and out of the basket unassisted and you may be jostled when we land.
FLYING CONDITIONS
We will not fly when it is windy, when it is raining or foggy, or when there are thunderstorms anywhere in the vicinity. We usually fly at sunrise because that is when the air is most calm and there is little traffic on the roads (making it easier for the crew in the van to get to the landing site).
WEATHER
Nice weather is not always good ballooning weather. On the other hand, the weather may not be so good where we live, but be good for ballooning around the launch site. Sometimes we can tell a week in advance that a particular date will not work. Sometimes we don't know if the weather will be good until the night before. The final decision to fly (or not) is made by the pilot at the launch site shortly before the planned flight time.
WHEN WE FLY
We will fly any day of the week, any time of the year, weather permitting. In the winter it is sometimes possible to fly later in the day, but that is unusual. The best weather for ballooning is usually from May to October.
OUR DECISION TO FLY
We monitor the weather every day because it is constantly changing. We will get a briefing from Flight Services the night before the flight and will call it off if necessary. We will get another briefing the morning of the flight. When we get to the launch site we will release a helium balloon to find out the wind direction and speed. That is when we make the final decision to fly or not.
BOOKING A RIDE
We fly in the Mid-Hudson Valley in New York State, launching from Columbia County airport in Ghent (north of Hudson), NY where the scenery is spectacular!
You can book a ride for yourself or buy a gift certificate for someone else. The cost depends on a number of factors. The following prices are effective for the 2010 season.
If you want an exclusive flight for two with an overnight stay at a bed and breakfast the cost is $750. Without the B&B the cost is $625. Exclusive flights are prefect for engagements, weddings, and anniversaries.
If you don't mind having other passengers on board, the cost is $220 per person.
When you make your reservation, it is best to have several possible dates in mind to allow for bad weather. If you can fly on a weekday you have many more chances of finding a workable date. You will have to let us know the total weight of the people in your group who will be flying. We don't care about individual weights, but the total affects our ability to fly under some conditions.
If pilot and crew are available on the requested dates we pre-authorize credit cards for the full amount at the time the flight is booked. We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover.
There is no charge if we cancel the flight or if the customer cancels at least 48 hours in advance. The customer is charged the full amount when the flight takes place.
IMPORTANT: We cannot safely delay the launch, so if a customer does not arrive on time they are still charged the full amount (even if they do not get to fly). |
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