A Great Disturbance & Invasion of my Quiet Sunday Morning

Received by e-mail:

"I just had an experience with a balloon that hovered over my house for several minutes, before finally moving on. I don't know how to determine altitude, but this thing was low enough to hear the people in the basket talking. There were several in my immediate area this morning. I find this to be a great disturbance and invasion of my quiet Sunday morning."

Balloons in High Voltage Power Lines

Received at the Board of Supervisors meeting 5/2/06:

I live at the south end of Washington Street east of Highway 29 across of Darms Lane. I am fed up with the low flying balloons! They have been disturbing my peace for years. I have written my Congressman several times. I have never attended a Supervisors meeting before. I, like many of my neighbors, am frustrated. I don't like public speaking. What can I do? Here are some photos I took of balloons in the high voltage power lines.











Surplus in high voltage lines












At 500' this wouldn't happen.

Ballooning in the Napa Valley

Received by e-mail:

"Ballooning in the Napa Valley is almost synonymous with wine tasting, hopefully you can work out your differences without shutting down an industry."

Our response:

There is no intent to shut down an industry. We just want them to abide by the law as every industry should. This means adhering to "500' minimum safe altitude over people, vehicles or structures", which includes vineyards and trellises. Thanks for your comments, Steve.

Register Article

Received by e-mail:

"After reading the article in the Register by Phil Lamoreaux, I would like to commend this man for an outstanding piece of informative writing. I could have not possibly stated my feelings on this matter any better. I have a 2 acre property on Big Ranch road, close to Oak Knoll ave, and have lived there for many years. I couldn't even begin to count the times that I have been infuriated by the behavior and conduct of these balloon people. The disturbances and noise level of a low flying balloon hovering over my house at 7-8 am on an otherwise tranquil and peaceful morning cannot be described. I consider these people to be tresspassing, disturbing the peace, and in general, to be a complete nuisance. Thankfully, I have not yet had an encounter with them yet this year, and hopefully this will continue. I applaud your effort to stand up to this industry. As was stated in the article, their 'Pilots Hotline' is a complete joke."

In invasive Ballooning

Received by e-mail:

"I currently reside approximately a quarter mile from Alston Park. I have complained numerous times to the City of Napa about the 'unauthorized' landings at Alston Park.

"I was told by Harry Martin on two occasions that Alston Park was only a emergency site for the Ballooning Company's to use.

"If that is the case, Ballooning is VERY dangerous, as they land in Alston Park on a consistent basis.

"The balloons fly very low over my house, very early in the morning. The balloon crew driving the 'pickup' vans drive fast, and often whip u turns unsafely on Dry Creek.

"I have also often wondered how these company's get the gate keys to drive up into the park? Do they pay a fee to land there?

"I would be willing to volunteer to be a participant of your community effort to curb this irresponsible activity."

Welcome to the Safe Ballooning Blog!

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