Army hot air balloon expedition to start from Vadodara

Colonel R K Rana said it was after realising the importance of Baroda EME that the decision was taken. “Until now,balloons are imported from foreign countries as they are not indigenously manufactured. Way back in 1989,Baroda EME had procured the first hot air balloon,which is why this city hold a great importance for us. We are organising this event with special permission from the Director General Of Civil Aviation,Airports Authority of India and the Ministry of Defence. It will be for the first time in the history of Gujarat that an Army balloon will take off from Vadodara and land in Bhopal after halting at Dahod and Ujjain,” Col Rana added.

Major Kishore explained about the risks involved in hot air ballooning. He said: “It is not easy to manoeuvre a balloon as it does not have a steering. The direction and speed of the balloon is controlled through the flow of hot air. Take off is relatively smooth compared to landing,which is risky as we don’t have a runway. Besides,at an altitude of 8,000 feet,we often have turbulent air patches that test your nerve.”

Lieutenant Colonel Suresh S said the EME School holds significance in the Indian Army and the responsibility of running the Army Ballooning Node was entrusted to 3 EME centre in March 1997.

Since then,the node has successfully conducted 26 basic courses,five intermediate courses and five instructor refresher courses in the field of hot air ballooning and has trained 108 officers,30 JCOs and 377 ORS,he added.