For production teams
Technical & safety
Everything your venue, HSE officer and production manager will ask for, before they ask. A full method statement covering this sequence is issued for stakeholder submission during booking.
- 6 m
- Balloon diameter
- 20 m
- Maximum flight height
- 10 × 10 m
- Inflation area required
- 5 m min.
- Exclusion zone
- ≈100 kg
- Gross lift
- 60 kg max
- Performer + costume
- 1,500 kg
- Tether capacity
- 2 ground + director
- Crew
- 10 kn sustained
- Wind limit
- 30 seconds
- Emergency descent
Spherical performance envelope
Tethered throughout, never exceeded
Flat, clear of overhead obstruction
Around the inflation area
Net safe working lift 65 kg
Within net working lift
Per tether line
Plus the aerial performer
Gusts below 15 kn
Controlled, rehearsed retrieval
Sequence of works
Site preparation
- 10 × 10 m inflation area confirmed flat, dry and clear of debris, sharp objects and overhead obstruction
- Exclusion zone of at least 5 m marked with barriers and restricted to authorised personnel
- Emergency access routes and muster points confirmed with venue management
- Toolbox talk with all crew and the performer covering roles, hazards and communication
Inflation
- Helium cylinders delivered on trolleys, positioned, secured and kept clear of public areas
- Envelope laid out on a protective groundsheet, oriented with valves and attachment point accessible
- Controlled inflation with the fill rate reduced for topping up, then buoyancy and pressure checked
- Two ground crew take control before the balloon is free to rise; all connections leak-checked
Rigging and checks
- Rigging point and suspension line inspected physically and visually by a competent person
- Harness, swivels and connectors checked for condition, orientation and locking
- Performer fitted and connections double-checked by a second crew member (buddy check)
- Controlled 1–2 m test lift to verify stability, performer comfort and crew communication
Performance
- Final weather check — the show runs only below 10 knots sustained and 15 knots gusting
- Two ground crew hold constant manual control of the tethers throughout the routine
- Flight height never exceeds 20 m; choreography and manoeuvres are pre-agreed
- Controlled descent at the end, performer disconnected and escorted from the area
De-rig
- Valves opened under supervision, helium released safely away from confined spaces
- Envelope folded and packed; tethers, harness and hardware inspected and stored
- Cylinders collected by the gas supplier and all waste removed
- Area walked and handed back clean, with the exclusion zone lifted last
Emergency plan
Down in thirty seconds
Trigger events are defined in advance: a performer medical issue, any harness concern, loss of balloon stability, sudden wind escalation, or tether damage.
On any of them the show director orders immediate descent. The ground crew bring the balloon down under control within thirty seconds, the performer stays secured until the balloon is fully grounded, and emergency services are contacted through the venue protocol if needed.
The performance is halted and the area kept clear until it is confirmed safe. For a site-wide emergency, we follow the venue's own procedures and evacuate to the designated muster point.
Tell us the date and
the skyline
Send the venue, the date and the moment you want it to land on. We will come back with availability, the technical pack and what the balloon can carry.