Flight Operations: The Unsung Heroes
When launch day arrives, Flight Operations is responsible for prepping
the Trooper Squadrons and their balloons. While Mission Control monitors the wind and weather conditions and records
data, it is the Flight Operations crew that is behind the scenes doing all the real work of getting the Troopers airborne.
Flight Operations has a myriad of duties. Troopers must be sorted, readied and grouped
into their squadrons. Mission details and objectives are relayed to each squadron and trooper and launch scheduling
is finalized. Balloons must be filled and tied. After being filled, each trooper is attached to his balloon and
taken to the flight deck to await his launch. As the moment of launch nears, Flight Operations personnel take each trooper
to the launch zone, and as the countdown hits zero, they are launched into the sky to perform their missions. Although the work is hard and thankless, Flight Operations is proud to do their part, knowing that they
are an integral part of any Balloon Trooper mission.
The following photos depict some of the action of Flight Operations.
