Volume 27, Issue 1 January 2012 Welcome to the newsletter for the Ballooning Society of Pikes Peak (BSOPP)! This monthly publication of the balloon club is to inform and educate club members and others about ballooning in the area. Learn more at www.FlyBSOPP.com.

General Meeting – Tues 01/17/2012, 6p Social Hour, 7pm Meeting –

Hatch Cover – 252 E. Cheyenne Mountain Boulevard Colorado Springs, CO 80906

President’s Note: Stephen Blucher “So, how many times is this?” somebody asked. “How many time have you lead the BSOPP since its birth in 1977?” I think a lot, but who counts when we are having so much fun. That is what the Ballooning Society of Pikes Peak is supposed to do…have fun. Did you know that along with the fun the original idea for the club was to run an annual balloon event? And we did for a couple years until we found out how much work and time such an effort takes. Thankfully, Dewey Reinhard, the first BSOPP President, took the event under his wing and propelled it to a hot ticket item on the round of national balloon events. The club became a gathering place for aeronuts and wannabees, crews, friends and people with a curious fascination. And we did things like weekend fun flying events and picnics and flights for charities, schools and others. The club was one. I keep hearing that some feel the BSOPP has split into factions, cliques as it were, and we are no longer one. Obviously not everyone is of the same mind, but when the concern comes from several different people it makes me wonder. So, I would like to hear from any of you who feel one way or the other with ideas on how, if it is true, we can pull ourselves together. I cannot do it by myself. I am just the messenger and the guy who holds keeps the meetings on the straight and narrow. I will happily accept all the help I can get. Speaking of help. Pilots…crews…interested people. There are less than seven months before the Celebration of Honor Fly. Jackie Peterson is looking for anyone wishing to participate as a pilot or volunteer in numerous areas. Check the website, celebrationofhonorfly.com or contact Jackie. And the Father’s Day, BSOPP/CBC event will be on us faster than you can imagine. It is our turn to supply breakfast. Do I hear volunteers chiming in? WINTERFEST is coming. WINTERFEST is coming. The 21st at Skip and Debbie’s. Check for a map in this issue (he says hoping someone will put a map and times somewhere in this issue). Bring white elephant gifts for the raffle. It is a big part of paying for the party. The club supplies the chili, soft drinks and stuff to eat on and with. Participants bring a dish to share and PLEASE…not deserts everyone. I close with the sad news that Dianna Thompson, pilot, former President of our club and friend past away some weeks ago. There is more in this issue. FLY and LIVE SAFELY

Club Contact Information President Stephen Blucher (719) 597-5683 sblucher@juno.com

Vice President Paul deBerjeois (719) 266-8483 pandpdeb@yahoo.com

Secretary Peggy Sansom (719) 531-5691 peggysansom@yahoo.com

Treasurer Dave Bair (719) 434-2223 dave@bairballoons.com

Director At Large Kimberly Barnett (719) 649-9187 barnettkim@yahoo.com

Director At Large Chuck Danley (719) 963-1092 veggiewizard@earthlink.net

Director At Large Frank Hunter (719) 391-2997 fhunter4139@msn.com

Photography Paul D deBerjeois (719) 200-8713 paul@colorbandit.com

Events Coordinator Peggy Sansom (719) 531-5691 peggysansom@yahoo.com

Webmasters Joe Lillard (719) 597-6553 LJoeL@aol.com

Newsletter Editor Kimberly Barnett (719) 649-9187 barnettkim@yahoo.com

Historian VACANT

Safety Officer Russ Robinson (719) 488-8957 russanna@q.com

Crew Development VACANT

Community Relations Frank Hunter (719) 339-2602 fhunter4139@msn.com

Membership Kimberly Barnett (719) 649-9187 barnettkim@yahoo.com

Deanna Thompson Obituary: Deanna Constance Thompson, 73, of St. Jacob, 111., born July 23, 1938, in St. Louis, Mo., died Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011, at her home surrounded by her family. While in high school, Deanna was an accomplished violinist and served as the concert mistress of the Arlington State College (now University of Texas at Arlington) Orchestra. Deanna was a certified and licensed hot air balloon pilot and served several years as president of the Ballooning Society of Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs, Colo. She once won 2nd place at the famous Albuquerque International Balloon Festival. She was a master gardener and had a special touch with flowers and plants of every kind and was known to have the most beautiful backyard in the troy/St. Jacob area. She was a gifted seamstress, crocheter, and cross-stitcher; sewing her way into the hearts of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren producing many personal keepsakes for each. She loved music her whole life and participated in the Four Winds Hand Bell Choir in Colorado Springs and was active in the St. Jerome Choir in Troy. For years she carefully decorated her home with the most exquisite Christmas decorations and everyone enjoyed her beautiful homemaker's touch. She participated in the St. Jerome Prayer Shawl Ministry and faithfully attended Bible Study Fellowship International every Tuesday night accompanied by her daughter and granddaughters. "Grandma Dee" was known as the world's expert domino player, and made everyone play according to her rules! She had worked as a purchasing and production control manager for Powerline in Atlanta, Ga. She was a member of St. Jerome Catholic Church. She had lived in the St. Jacob, 111., area for eight years, coming from Atlanta, Ga., and Colorado Springs, Colo. She was preceded in death by her dad, Irwin James Kline; her son-in-law, Thomas Charles Ekle; and her infant son, Robert Eric Stanley. Surviving are her husband, Geoffrey Lawrence Thompson whom she married on Sept. 4, 1971, in Littleton, Colo.; her mother, Cornelia Catherine, nee Morgan, "Granny Girl" Kline of Hurst, Texas; son, James Mitchell (Sue) Stanley of Fort Worth, Texas; daughters, K. Jeanne Ekle of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Leslie S. (Mitch) Miller of St. Jacob, 111.; a brother, John (Kathy) Kline of Arlington, Texas; a sister, Gerry Lynn (Rocky) Rothman of Hurst, Texas; grandchildren, Kris Ekle, Ryan (Schona) Ekle, Lara Ekle, Dillon Ekle, Blake Stanley, Dustin Stanley, William Christopher (Lauren) Miller, Melissa (Jason) Miller Tedesco, Margaret Miller (Alex) Brorby; and great-grandchildren, Keagen, Gabriel, Madison, Abigail, Emma, Leora and Xzander. A Mass of Resurrection will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 14, 2011, at St. Jerome Catholic Church, with Father Pat Jakel officiating. Interment will take place at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, Mo.

Sunrise / Sunset Location: W104 48, N38 51 (Colorado Springs CO) All times Mountain Time

January 2012

Day Rise Set Day Rise Set Day Rise Set Day Rise Set Day Rise Set

1 0718 1648 8 0718 1654 15 0716 1701 22 0713 1709 29 0708 1717 2 0718 1649 9 0718 1655 16 0716 1702 23 0712 1710 30 0707 1718 3 0718 1649 10 0718 1656 17 0716 1703 24 0712 1711 31 0707 1719 4 0718 1650 11 0717 1657 18 0715 1704 25 0711 1712 5 0718 1651 12 0717 1658 19 0715 1705 26 0710 1713 6 0718 1652 13 0717 1659 20 0714 1706 27 0710 1714 7 0718 1653 14 0717 1700 21 0714 1708 28 0709 1716

February 2012

Day Rise Set Day Rise Set Day Rise Set Day Rise Set Day Rise Set

1 0706 1720 8 0659 1728 15 0651 1736 22 0642 1744 29 0632 1752 2 0705 1721 9 0658 1729 16 0650 1737 23 0641 1745 3 0704 1723 10 0657 1731 17 0648 1739 24 0639 1746 4 0703 1724 11 0656 1732 18 0647 1740 25 0638 1747 5 0702 1725 12 0654 1733 19 0646 1741 26 0636 1748 6 0701 1726 13 0653 1734 20 0645 1742 27 0635 1749 7 0700 1727 14 0652 1735 21 0643 1743 28 0634 1750

Upcoming Events Calendar BSOPP Membership Meetings/Events

Date Event Location/Details

1/14 Club Long Jump Flight R. Robinson’s off of Shoup and Hwy 83 – 7:15am

launch time – contact Dave Bair for more info

1/17 Club General Meeting

6pm - Social hour, 7pm - Meeting/program Hatch Cover - 252 E. Cheyenne Mountain Blvd Program-Terry Doherty: Liability in Ballooning &

Waivers

1/21 Club Fly Field by Holiday Inn’s - Pilot Brief – Approx. 715am

1/21 Club Winterfest Howes Residence – Start time is 6pm –

Map/Directions included

2/6 Board Meeting – All Members

Invited 6:30 PM – Ihop @ Powers & Stetson Hills

2/21 Club General Meeting

6pm - Social hour, 7pm - Meeting/program Hatch Cover - 252 E. Cheyenne Mountain Blvd

Program-Dewey Reinhard: When Rules and Safety Conflict

2/25 Club Fly Field by Holiday Inn’s - Pilot Brief – Approx. 640am

Flights, Rallies and Related Events (Tell them you saw it in BSOPP’s Tetherlines!)

Date Event Location / Details

1/12 – 1/15 Bluff Balloon Festival Bluff, UT - Steve Simpson steve@twinrocks.com

2/1 – 2/5 Snowdown Rally Durango, CO – Phil Campbell -snowdownbr@gobrainstorm.net

2/10 – 2/12 Lake City Balloon Rally Lake City, CO – Pam Wood – pawood@sopris.net

3/3/2012 LTA Safety Seminar Denver, CO – 7am Check-in starts

Look for more events at http://www.BFA.net

January 9th, 2012

Dear Pilots and Crew,

The 2012 LTA Colorado Safety Seminar Committee invites you to attend a one day Safety Seminar scheduled for March 3rd, 2012 at the West Metro Fire Training Center in Lakewood, Colorado.

The LTA Colorado Safety Seminar 2012 has received BFA approval! This is a major milestone for us and we are pleased that the BFA is so supportive. Check-in is from 7:00 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. Seminar hours are approximately 7:45 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. We have a very full day planned so please be punctual.

We had 28 people register before the end of the year, taking advantage of the special discount. Confirmations regarding your attendance are posted on our web site; www.ltasafetyseminar.org. Go check out the list to see who is coming, and tell all your friends to sign up.

We will again be offering a registration discount if you sign up before February 15th, 2012. Register early so you get the discount and we know how many people are coming. The sign up sheet is attached to this letter or go to www.ltasafetyseminar.org.

We have a wonderful program scheduled for 2012. We believe that our 2012 program lends itself strongly to both crew and pilot and we encourage all pilots to gather each and every member of their crew to attend. Don’t forget, if you are insured through IMC there are special discounts for crew. Please contact your agent or IMC directly for more information. Here are a few highlights of the program so far:

Mike Centinich and Don Day will be teaming up to present an amazing program on weather. Jeff Dorschner from the Department of Justice will be discussing public relations and how pilots and

crew can handle crowds and the media. Ray Bair will be presenting on Pilot Decision Making Mendy Smith and Sheila Palpant from IMC will be presenting on Balloon Accidents Chris Liberti will partner with the FAA to discuss some confusing FARs for balloonists … and we will talking about flight instruments. What is required or recommended?

A buffet lunch will be provided as well as a variety of snacks, various sodas, water, coffee and tea throughout the day. Please join us on March 3, 2012. We promise not to disappoint. We look forward to seeing you!

Remember to go to www.ltasafetyseminar.org to encourage your friends to register.

Dave Bair Seminar Chairperson LTA Colorado Safety Seminar, Inc.

LTA Colorado Safety Seminar, Inc. 2012 Pre-Registration Form Location: The West Metro Fire Training Center

Date: March 3, 2012 – Sign-in starting at 7AM Please use one form per person.

PLEASE PRINT LEGIBLY! Name: __________________________________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________________________

City, State and Zip: ________________________________________________________________

Phone: H ____________________________ W ______________________________

Email address: _____________________________________________________

Current Certification type: Commercial Private Crew Student

Certificate No.: ____________________ BFA Membership #: __________________________

“N” Number : __________________________ Make and size of balloon: __________________________

Club Affiliation: Colorado Balloon Club BSOPP

Cheyenne Balloon Club Other______________________________________

How many years have you been a pilot? _____________

How many years as Crew? _____________

How many hours PIC do you have? _____________

How many years have you attended an LTA seminar? _____________

Pre-registration special….. Received before 2/15/12: Pilot $55.00 Received before 2/15/12: Crew $40.00 Received after 2/15/12: Pilot $60.00 Received after 2/15/12: Crew $45.00

Amount Enclosed $_____________.00

Mail Check to: LTA Colorado Safety Seminar Linda Nash

9914 E. Bayou Ridge Trail Parker, Co 80134

303-841-0874

FAR out – Stephen Blucher: (Regulations Revisited) The Federal Air Regulations were written for safety; to keep order in the sky. They are designed for all pilots (not just “the other guy”) and modes of aerial navigation. Originally meant for airplanes, the FARs have changed over the years to accommodate the rotor wings, airships and balloons, though some regs. have not. FAR 91.3 Responsibility and authority of the pilot in command, one of the first written rules, puts the full weight of the flight with all the safety ramifications on the pilot who is “the final authority as to the operation of that aircraft”. Does this mean one can fly with wild abandon? Of course not. The pilot’s job is to get the passengers from take-off to landing in the safest possible way. However, “during an in-flight emergency requiring immediate action, the pilot in command may deviate from any rule of this part (the FARs) to the extent required to meet that emergency”. Of course, the pilot may have to send the FAA a written report of the infraction if requested to do so. These parts, (b) and (c), were the catalyst for an interesting conversation with FAA personnel. In-flight emergencies in a balloon can be a number of things, from a panicked passenger to a fuel leak to radio failure within Class B, C or D airspace. In most cases an emergency would call for an immediate landing, but since balloons can and may land almost anywhere, the probability of a FAR being broken is slim. However, a local (city) ordinance may come into play. Some towns, not in Colorado, prohibit balloon launches and landings, but this is a matter for another discussion, and might fall under the same scrutiny in a true emergency situation. Is running low on fuel a true emergency? To the pilot it is. Should it have happened? Proper flight planning might have prevented it. Overflying a good landing spot when fuel quantity is already at its limit because there is a better field “just a little bit straight ahead” does not constitute good planning especially if the wind shifts or changes speed making that “better” spot inaccessible. Certainly FAR 91.3 gives the pilot the authority, but one must remember the responsibility that goes along with it. As we head into a new flying season, it behooves every pilot to brush up on the Federal Air Regulations. There are changes dealing with security, noise and certain passenger carrying issues. If you have a copy of the AIM/FAR 2012, the changes that may affect hot air balloon operations are easy to identify. Safe and happy flying.

BSOPP January Board Meeting Balloon Society of Pikes Peak Board of Directors Meeting 01/09/12 The meeting was held at IHop and called to order by Dave Bair at 6:58 PM. Board Members and Club Members attending: Dave Bair Kimberly Barnett Paul D. deBerjeois Paul deBerjeois Sr. Frank Hunter Peggy Sansom

1. The next Board Meeting will be held at I Hop on the corner of Powers & Stetson Hills on Monday, February 6, 2011.

2. Dave Bair reported that the Club has basically the same amount as reported at the December Board Meeting. Stephen is out of town and the books have not been turned over to Dave yet.

3. Paul was asked by the board to update our Web Page and to consolidate back onto one server. Paul said that he would and that he hopes to have a webpage closer to completion by the next Board Meeting.

4. Winterfest will be held at Skip & Debbie Howe’s home. They have offered their home to us again. Winterfest will be held on January 21st. Peggy is to check with Stephen and make sure that chili is being made and to get with Ken Davis about the paper products. Kim is going to check with Debbie to see what time Winterfest will start.

5. Kimberly Barnett will be resigning as Membership Coordinator. Dave Yob has accepted the position and will take over as soon as he can.

6. Paul D. deBerjeois will be doing the club presentation in March. 7. It was decided that any non-members wanting current Tetherlines will have to pay for them after the

February issue. We will email January and February’s issues to encourage renewal of club membership. However, we hope to provide older issues on the new web page in March.

8. A long jump is currently set up for January 14th. At present, Dave Bair, Nolan Schuler and Chuck Danley will be attending, weather permitting. Any others wishing to attend are welcome to and should contact Dave Bair for more information

9. Paul Sr. suggested getting Boy Scouts out to get patches. Frank Hunter was going to check into the club being able to pass out patches. It would be a great way to get people involved in ballooning.

10. It is also time to get another competition sign for this year. Kimberly is going to get a format for figuring the winner at the end of the year. Scores will be published in the Tetherlines on monthly basis.

11. Frank Hunter has had two calls regarding ballooning. One is from a gentleman who wanted to set up a balloon ride for a handicapped lady in Eads. Frank said that he planned on taking her but needed to find out what kinds of harnesses are available to keep her from injuring herself. The second request was from some Fort Carson Skydivers wanting to jump from a balloon. It will require more than on balloon to accomplish this. Plans are in the making. We will keep everyone informed on what we find out.

12. Meeting adjourned approximately 7:42 pm. Peggy Sansom BSOPP Secretary

Directions to Howes Residence: From Garden of the Gods and I-25 take Chestnut Street to Elkton Drive. Turn right and follow around to Point of the Pines Dr. Turn left on to Point of the Pines Drive and follow around to # 703. They have an extremely long driveway so you will have to watch for the mailbox and turn left to get to the house.

Start time for Winterfest is 6pm – Please bring a Dish to share and a present or 5 to get rid of… And please if you bring something remember to purchase some tickets to have a chance to take something fun home with you.

Tetherlines Ad Rates

Per Issue:

Full Page $10 Half Page $6 Quarter Page $3 Bus. Card $1

Tetherlines Official Newsletter of the Ballooning Society of Pikes Peak PO Box 75033 Colorado Springs CO 80970

Article Submission Guidelines

Please limit articles to 750 words

Deadline is first Tuesday of each month

Publication by second Tuesday of each month

12 Months for the price of 10 if paid in advance

12 Mo ads include ad & link on BSOPP.com

Next General Meeting is Tuesday,

January 17th 6p Dinner, 7p Program

Club Website – FlyBSOPP.com

Facebook – Ballooning Society of Pikes Peak