I’m not sure I agree. With a balloon you’re unlikely to have a head-on collision with another balloon (though it is possible and I think happened in Alice Springs many years ago). There are no sharp corners needing to be taken, no cliffs to drive off, no red lights that can be run, no ditches to drive into, etc. So on the face of it, ballooning appears a lot safer than driving a car.

It’s worth remembering that many of us get into cars every day of the week. Ballooning is something we might do once or twice in our lifetime….so of course the odds of being killed by a car are that much greater.

Yes. I do. Metaphorically, you understand.

What would be more interesting to see is the probablity of one being involved in an accident for example, car crash vs aeroplane vs hot air ballon vs bungy jumping etc.

The issue is that when an aeroplane crashes it is perceived as a major catastrophy because it generally involves many deaths at the same time, constrast this with a car crash, normally 1-2 people. Though people are more fearful when flying, when I’m sure if the amount of time and people involved in accidents for driving vs flying is weighed up, people should be shitting themselves each time they get in their car.

LOL DPF!!!

Of **COURSE** they do this. These people are called “Actuaries”, as you well know; and (as you also well know) they work for Insurance companies or occasionally for Wall Street.

And, **NO** they won’t publish their probability tables, that’s how they set their insurance premiums or calculate investment risks, respectively.

or the crash might have happened next weekend when she went , – anyway
she is a lot more likely to get bowled by a bus in Manners Street.

Lets all sit on the couch and be forever safe.

@MT-Tinman
the operators right now will be particularly safety concious.………….. and rates may understandably be cheaper.

Working, of course, on the theory that straight after an accident is the best time to do something, the operators right now will be particularly safety concious.

FFS there are very few accidents on the roads.

A good mate of mine was killed some 40 odd years ago when his horse, standing behind him while he was sitting in front of it waiting for sheep to go through a gate, for some reason “pawed” its front foot striking the victim on the back of his head killing him stone dead with one blow.
Had he been wearing a helmet he would have been unhurt probably, only stunned, had he been another two feet distant the same outcome but his luck ran out, bugger!. That almost qualifies as an accident but with hindsight was preventable.

As for the Tragedy near Somerset Rd we will just have to wait until the investigators report but ‘a perfect storm’ scenario may well be an outcome. ie weather, wind, down draft, miscalculation by the pilot, we just do not know yet.
Things really altered when the two leapt out and the balloon went up fast, so why do we all not just wait.

The president of ballooning NZ is right, it is a very tightly regulated activity, statistically safe and a good contributor to our many and varied adventure activities appreciated by so many who come to visit. Just as Erebus was massive in numbers so was this incident relative to participation numbers.
Perspective and patience are words that come to mind.

Shit happens and for those mourning the dead my condolences.

Another possibility is equipment failure in either the burner or the envelope. It’s very odd. Obviously the pilot knew where all the lines were. A witness report on Stuff I think it may have been the photographer who was with the tour, said it descended quite fast before it hit them. However as we all know the weather was perfect that day and a strong convection current at that spot you’d think would be the only weather thing which could do it.

As far as doing it myself, my view is now that I’d rather forego the experience, personally.

I would take a ride in a balloon if offered.

Sure we dont know the cause yet but my guess it was a freak accident. Weather conditions caught him by surprise just as he was going past power lines.

I’ve got an idea!

The Ballooning Association can commission Curia to find out….

Actually that is not something you need to reiterate now. There is a time and place for such reiterations – immediately after a tragedy whilst the family members are still grieving is not the time or place. However, it is understandable that you are concerned about the impact the tragedy will have on your business profits.