MIL wants to take ds on hot air balloon

[hellenback]

I'm not keen - he is 13 - dd much younger not invited - MIL in 70's and not fit or active! Using all usual old lady tactics to get my consent but hanging tough - as what if something awful happens???? Son cross with me - when he's 18 he can make own choices. Am I the baddy???? DH on fence! She's been nagging now for 3 years!!!! Why won't she drop it and take her DD instead????

People may not consider hot air ballooning as dangerous but most life insurance companies would class it as a 'dangerous hobby' in the same small group as things like sky-diving, base jumping and power boat racing.

surely as a dangerous hobby you would need to be doing it a lot.

I have abseiled but I wouldn't have to say I had it as a hobby on an insurance form

a hobby would be doing it regularly wouldn't it?

ok I don't deny that the nature of it means that you could get into trouble as you have no engines to determine direction but you have height control and experienced pilots

You'd better not let him go in the shower- he could slip and fall!

I can't get over this "letting him go" thing.

Surely at 13 it's "oh, by the way, mum, Gran's asked me to go hot air ballooning with her on Sunday- we're not doing anything else, are we? Do you want to come and watch?"

actually I agree with seeker

I've been up in an air balloon at Leeds Castle - I was petrified beforehand as I'm not good with heights and edges. But it was fantastic - it felt really really safe, I was expecting some stomach-lurching moments, but there weren't any. It was very peaceful, drifting along with the (barely there) wind.

I do think yabu to be honest. Taking your DS on a car journey is likely to be far more dangerous than a hot air balloon flight.

I don't know about hot air ballooning, but I do know the regulation of a number of dangerous sports in NZ is much much lower than here and so I would always be very careful what I participated in abroad. But as long as this is in the UK, it will be fine.

kladdkakka - If you are doing hot air ballooning as a hobby you will be flying your own hot air balloon. There are people who do this with relatively little training, so as a general hobby it will be dangerous. If you are going with a reputable company who employ suitably experienced and trained people, it will be fine.

I went up in a hot air balloon last year; it was amazing. Had to re-book twice as first time the weather conditions were unsuitable and second time the air currents would have taken the balloon into the flight path of the local airport so both flights were cancelled - which proves how seriously a reputable company takes safety.

The landing was a little bit bumpy as we landed on one side, so getting out (and in, come to that!) of the basket wasn't very elegant and we helped set everything up and put the balloon away afterwards, which was quite strenuous but there were about 10 of us so we all pitched in, but the time in the air was all very peaceful and an absolutely brilliant experience which I'll never forget.

I would recommend it to anyone, of any age.

I ought do hot air balloon tickets for me and him as a valentine resent, we haven't cashed them in yet

I suppose it could make me biased but to be honest, `i'm not a risk taker generally and I checked it out before I booked them, I really thinkg that a 13 year old would be allowed to make his own decision

also I say again, just cause she is doddery (as you say) that makes no difference to the safety of the flight

I only wanted to go in a hot air balloon as a child because I'm ancient enough to remember the 'Nimble' advert.

Please tell me I'm not the only one?

I bought two... I meant and probably loads of other mistakes

I'm absolutely killing myself laughing here at valentine resent

Freudian slip??

actually I think I meant 'I bought dp hot'

'carner feeking'

FUCKING HELL

I GIVE UP

The dog's run under the chair!!

runningforthebus - when did you go up ? My very own husband might have been on the crew

I have promised DD1 (aged 3) that when she is 13 I will take her on a hot air balloon ride. They very often go past our house, she loves and is fascinated by them. I am really looking forward to sharing such a special experience in 10 years time!

What does your DH say?

I think you should let DS go.

Just checked, it is much easier in terms of study and flight time to get a license to fly your own hot balloon, than it is to become a commercial pilot. That alone would make it a more dangerous hobby for an individual flying their own hot air balloon, when compared to paying for a hot air balloon flight.

DH advises that a commercial balloon pilot has to do 200 hours of supervised flying before they are granted their licence. You also have to do a minimum amount of flying hours every year to maintain the licence, just as you do for a light aircraft. There are exams as well as it requires a lot of meteorological knowledge to judge whether it is safe to fly, where you will end up etc.

You can't just get a balloon and go up with the general public willynilly

OhdearNigel, it was last May/June time - we had one booking cancelled because of the weather - it was the proper Leeds Castle air balloons company. There were 3 blokes there, the one who piloted the ballon was called Chris, the other two stayed on terra firma and met us as we landed. We landed on a school playing field! Very smooth landing too - was a great experience - we're all taking my dad up this year as his 70th birthday present. Can't wait.

All I can say is that the whole trip was breathtaking, but I felt utterly safe and looked after the whole time. The guys obviously loved their job, so that's a lucky man you are married to there!

Life isn't safe, one of DDs friends older sisters died falling off her horse.
DD2 herself has a dangerous hobby and is forever climbing and absailing off things.

DD2 has managed to break both her arms doing far less hair raising things.

If my dad let me fly in his best friends homemade plane, knowing his home built racing dinges tended to break, I think you're DS can have his ballon ride.

Would the MIL be allowed onto a flight if she is, as I get from the OPs description, not particularly sturdy?

As the landings can be a bit precarious, I am sure that a company wouldnt want a broken hip/leg/whatever on their hands.

And I am with the OP, it would worry me a hell of alot. No rhyme or reason, it just would.

C&P'd from a commercial flight company. According to them, the DS shouldnt go.

Who can fly?

A balloon flight can be considered for passengers of all ages, but we would not normally recommend it for children under the age of about 14 years. Child passengers must be accompanied by an adult.

Balloon flights are suitable for elderly passengers provided they can climb in and out of the basket (similar to climbing over a gate - with assistance, if necessary). They must be able to maintain a firm grip on a handle during the landing and to stand for at least an hour in a basket.