Aero Linx: Southern California Balloon Association The Southern California Balloon Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the sport of hot air ballooning and other lighter than air craft. Membership is comprised of commercial and private pilots, their crews, family, and others interested in ballooning. The SCBA organizes informal competitive and recreational events. The club promotes safety and education in our sport and sponsors safety and educational seminars. Meetings and events are held monthly.

Balloon Inflation Ballast Ballast in gas ballooning is used to control buoyancy (affecting altitude) during flight. Ballast is frequently in the form of sand or water and is carried aloft at launch. When the pilot needs to adjust the balloon’s altitude, a small amount of ballast is jettisoned from the gondola which reduces the gross weight of the balloon and allows it to rise to a new pressure altitude (when it is desired for the balloon to descend lifting gas is released from a valve at the top of the envelope). The balloon will remain at that altitude until there is another dynamic change in the lift equation. It is often stated that the ballast is to feed the gas balloon and well before all ballast has been expend

"We are excited about supporting Bombardier once again in their new aircraft development programs using CAE's unique simulation engineering expertise and we are very pleased to welcome Alaska Airlines as a new full-flight simulator customer. Through the simulator orders from the Asian Aviation Centre of Excellence and the Zhuhai training centre, we are happy to support the growth of the fleets of China Southern, Air Asia and other airlines throughout Asia." Source: Jeff Roberts, CAE's Group President, Civil Simulation Products, Training and Services, following the announcement that CAE has sold six simulators to customers in Asia and North America.