A True Ballooning Expert Outlines The Sport For Aero-TV

For the thousands of you that have already seen some of the Aero-TV programming that we produced at the 2010 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, its no secret that we had a great time in and amongst the lofty flying machines that floated all over New Mexico in early October. We've heard from a number of you that the sport looked interesting... and more challenging than many realized... which has produced some curiosity about the modern sport of Hot-Air ballooning.

Thankfully; ANN teamed up with Cameron Balloons' Andy Baird to put together a primer on all things ballooning and we're pleased to present this two-part program to you now. Serving the needs of balloon enthusiasts in the United States, Cameron Balloons US is wholly US owned, managed and staffed. Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and fully regulated under the jurisdiction of the FAA, Cameron US has an accomplished history dating back more than 30 years. Serving overseas pilots around the world, Cameron Balloons Ltd. builds Camerons in a production facility situated in Bristol, England.

More than 6,000 Camerons have been built over the past 30-plus years – balloons of all types, sizes and shapes. Cameron is the largest-selling brand of hot-air balloon in the world, and offers pilots the most extensive range of aerostats in the industry: hot-air balloons, personal "hopper" balloons; “first to fly around-the-world” roziere balloons; gas balloons; airships; and special-shape balloons.

Andy took his first balloon flight in Albuquerque in 1977, and has been involved in aviation ever since. At age 18, he completed his airplane license before going on to College to study Aeronautical Engineering in England. In 1984, he completed an internship with Cameron Balloons Ltd., in Bristol, England, before moving back to Michigan where he spent ten years flying balloons. Andy became Chief Pilot and Chief Flight Instructor for a major Michigan ride and corporate balloon company. Later Andy became a Representative for Cameron Balloons U.S., and started his own business specializing in the operation of advertising balloons for major corporations, gaining over 1,200 hours as pilot-in-command of hot air balloons.

In 1994, Andy joined the Cameron U.S. Factory Team. The factory's FAA Designated Engineering Representative (DER), Andy is Cameron's official test pilot, responsible for flight-testing of all new special shape and standard balloons, plus the general testing and implementation of new designs and equipment. Andy is both a FAA Certified Repairman and a BBAC (British Balloon and Airship Club) Inspector.

FMI: www.cameronballoons.com, www.balloonfiesta.com, www.aero-tv.net, www.youtube.com/aerotvnetwork, http://twitter.com/AeroNews