**Changsha is going to be "very hot" this summer, and the hot air balloon "Qian Jing" is promising**. **Some scenic spots in the province have launched hot-air balloon projects with many commercial applications, including advertising,

Changsha is going to be "hot" this summer, and hot air balloons are promising.

Some scenic spots in the province have launched hot air balloon projects, and there are many commercial applications. Rentals for advertising and celebrations are 10,000 per day.

This year, some scenic spots in our province have launched hot air balloon flights. , tourist projects, attracting more and more tourists to experience. Photo courtesy of Lexiang Aviation Sports Club

Want to experience the fantasy and romance of riding a hot air balloon overlooking the city? You can do it in Changsha next month. From July 18th to 24th, Changsha Helong Sports Center will hold the Aviation Science and Technology Culture Exhibition Week, where 20 hot air balloons will be unveiled, and a large number of well-known and professional hot air balloon pilots at home and abroad will also be gathered. It is reported that this is the first time such an exhibition has been held in Hunan. A reporter from

learned from the investigation that as an emerging sport, the hot air balloon flying market is sprouting in Hunan. Places such as Zhuzhou Chaling and Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan have opened hot air balloon experience tours. There is also a company that produces hot air balloons in Pingjiang, Yueyang. "Some people in the province have successively obtained hot air balloon pilot driving licenses."

Industry insiders pointed out that although hot air balloon flying is still a new thing in Hunan and has not been tried by more people, it has a strong appeal to most people, which means a broad market prospect.

■ Reporter Yang Tianfeng

[Activity] 20 hot air balloons will gather in Changsha next month

In about 20 days, Changsha Helong Sports Center will stage a feast of hot air balloon flights. There will be 7 standard airworthiness certifications AX- 7 types of hot air balloons and 13 special-shaped cartoon hot air balloons from different countries will appear together. Changsha citizens will have close contact with them for a week and experience the novel experience of "heating up to the sky".

It is reported that this exhibition week is hosted by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, Hunan Provincial Aviation Industry Bureau and Hunan Provincial Aviation Society, and is hosted by Hunan Fangqu Tourism Development Co., Ltd. It will carry out hot-air balloon trial ride training experience, hot-air balloon mapping magic show, model aircraft A series of activities include flight formation performances, wire-operated model aircraft, Australian Dinosaur Park interactive science drama, and animation water park.

"Citizens can deeply experience the fun of hot air ballooning under the guidance of professionals and experience a new way of leisure and entertainment." Fan Ao, chairman of Fangqu, said that this is the first time a hot air balloon carnival has been introduced in Changsha. Combining the characteristics of hot air balloons with urban cultural elements can not only lead the comprehensive activities of aviation sports enthusiasts, but also effectively promote the development of Changsha's tourism and cultural industry.

[Tourism] Hot air balloon flights and sightseeing projects have been launched in scenic spots in our province

Riding in a hot air balloon is a dreamy and romantic thing, and many people have been fascinated by the relevant scenes in movies and TV series. In fact, in recent years, hot air balloons have entered many cities in China, especially in some tourist attractions. This year, some popular attractions in Hunan have also begun to launch hot-air balloon projects.

html On June 28, Changsha Blue Sky Hot Air Balloon Club Co., Ltd. opened the Lexiang Aviation Sports Club in Chaling, Zhuzhou. Club leader Jiang Ling is a professional with a hot air balloon flight license . He told reporters that the company currently has There are 8 hot air balloons. The large one is 32 meters high and 23 meters in diameter. It can carry 6-8 people. The small one is 24 meters high and 18 meters in diameter. It can carry 3 people. The purchase price of these seaworthy hot air balloons is not cheap. It is 17 It ranges from 10,000 yuan to more than 200,000 yuan. "The project in Zhuzhou Chaling is mainly to fly in the morning to watch the sunrise. The experience time is 30 minutes. The free flight can reach a maximum altitude of 800 meters. The adult price is 800 yuan/person." Jiangling revealed that the company has been in China since March this year. Since the base was established and opened in Chaling, more and more tourists have come to experience hot air balloon flights. Recently, it has been receiving hundreds of people every month.

In addition to free flight, hot air balloons also have a tethered flight mode, which uses cables to tie the hot air balloon to the ground to control its floating height.For example, Zhangjiajie City's Wulingyuan District launched a hot-air balloon aerial tour project in April this year. Tourists can overlook the magical Baizhang Gorge, Baofeng Lake peaks, Wulingyuan city, etc. at an altitude of 60 meters, and enjoy unlimited scenery. According to the fundus, it can carry 6-8 passengers at a time and the flight time is 10 minutes. The adult ticket is 198 yuan/person and the child ticket is 99 yuan/person. The price is much cheaper than free flight.

[Commercial] There are many hot air balloon rental companies in Changsha, and the price is 10,000 per day.

In addition to tourism, the business of hot air balloons in the commercial field has also quietly emerged.

The reporter searched online and found that there are many hot air balloon rental companies in Changsha. "Many companies like to rent hot air balloons for promotional activities and celebrations, such as shopping malls, real estate, etc., and use hot air balloons to hang huge advertisements, which are fresh and eye-catching." The person in charge of a hot air balloon rental company told reporters that hot air balloons Commercial applications are generally tethered flights, and a hot air balloon together with an operation and maintenance team requires four or five people.

Jiangling also revealed to reporters that hot air balloons are used more commercially in the Changsha area of ​​the province. Companies such as Mengjie and Bubugao have rented hot air balloons for advertising. In addition, there are also rentals for TV stations to record programs, etc. "The rental of a hot air balloon The price is 10,000 yuan a day, and the flight is for three hours a day. "It is understood that there are certain requirements for the tethered hot air balloon flight site. For example, there must be an open area of ​​at least 30 meters by 30 meters, the sky is open, and there must be no wires or wires around it. Blocked by trees.

Management

The launch of a manned hot air balloon requires approval

Reporters learned from consultation that each launch of a manned hot air balloon requires approval from multiple departments.

According to the "Basic Flight Rules of the People's Republic of China" and the "General Aviation Flight Control Regulations", as long as the aircraft needs to be airborne, it must apply to the relevant flight control department for the establishment of temporary flight airspace before taking off to ensure that Safety of air operations on military and civilian routes.

It is understood that in recent years, the number of hot air balloons applying for launch in Hunan has gradually increased, but most of them are tethered flights with a liftoff altitude of less than 100 meters.

Li Kaimei, general manager of Pingjiang County Free Flight Club, said that the country’s current control over aviation flights is still relatively strict. Before flying, hot air balloons must obtain an airspace permit issued by the local air force, and fly strictly according to the scope of use of the airspace permit. If a company wants to operate a manned hot air balloon, it must first obtain business qualifications and operating qualifications, and it can only operate after being approved by the air traffic control department. The company also needs to sign an air traffic control guarantee agreement with the air traffic control department, and must report in advance every time it takes off. .

Jiangling said that in recent years, the country has encouraged the development of low-altitude areas. Therefore, airspace control is still much looser than in previous years. As long as it does not affect the air operations of military and military routes, approval will basically be obtained. For example, due to the demand for airport aviation and air force military training in Changsha urban area, companies can basically only obtain permission to fly hot air balloons.

Industry

The current market is niche, and the future prospects are promising

The opening of low-altitude flights has injected new elements into people's leisure and entertainment methods, but the public is still relatively unfamiliar with the low-altitude flight market. Regarding the hot air balloon flight market, industry insiders believe that it is still a niche market at present, but the prospects are promising.

Pingjiang County Free Flight Club has been engaged in the research and development of hot air balloons since 1997. It mainly produces tethered flying hot air balloons, with prices ranging from 45,000 to 60,000 yuan. Li Kaimei said that currently hot air balloon flight is still a niche market. On the one hand, due to insufficient marketing and publicity, on the other hand, due to the high level, the experience price is high, and most people cannot experience it, so there will be situations where citizens are not familiar with it. In addition, hot air balloon operators also need to have a professional flight license as an aviation sports pilot. Currently, only a handful of people in the province have obtained a hot air balloon flight license, and there are no more than a dozen hot air balloon companies in the province that can undertake free flight operations. . He revealed that although the popularity of hot-air balloons has begun to rise in recent years, looking at the national hot-air balloon market, there are only three hot-air balloon manufacturers, with annual sales of only about 200, and they are basically customized for tourism needs.

However, in the interview, the above-mentioned people were optimistic about the future development of hot air balloon flight. Fan Ao mentioned that Hunan governments at all levels are very supportive of the introduction of the exhibition to Changsha. In the future, the company will work with government departments to work in the two major sectors of tourism and sports to further promote the promotion of hot air ballooning in Hunan.

Focus

Whether it is safe depends on three conditions: pilot, equipment and weather.

During the interview, the reporter found that the safety of hot air balloons is a matter of concern to many citizens. It is not difficult to find by searching online that accidents caused by hot air balloon rides are frequently reported. For example, in February and March this year, two accidents occurred in Egypt and Turkey respectively, both of which injured Chinese tourists. In 2013, a hot air balloon accident occurred in Egypt. Balloon accidents killed nine Chinese tourists, and a hot-air balloon accident in Turkey in 2014 killed a Chinese student.

In this regard, industry insiders said that the safety of hot air balloons mainly comes from three aspects: pilots, equipment and meteorological conditions. If the three conditions are met, riding a hot air balloon can be said to be very safe.

First of all, hot air balloon pilots must undergo professional training, have a legal and valid flight license, and be skilled in technology. Secondly, it depends on whether the equipment comes from a regular manufacturer, whether it has a factory certificate, and whether it is still within the normal use period. Third, all aircraft have their own flight meteorological standards. The meteorological standards for hot air balloons are: wind speed ≤ 6 meters/second (within level 3 wind), visibility ≥ 1.5 kilometers, and no precipitation.

Therefore, citizens are reminded not to ride on irregular hot air balloons easily, and pay attention to their own personal safety. Before riding, the hot air balloon operators should be asked to show relevant qualifications and pilot licenses to ensure safety before riding.