The San Diego County Balloon Association met Monday, May 10, 2010 at Del Mar, California.

The meeting was attended by owners and pilots from each of the balloon-ride companies currently operating in the Del Mar area of San Diego County: Panorama Balloon Tours; A Skysurfer Balloon Company; California Dreamin’; Sun Balloons; and Magical AdventuresBalloon Rides. The initial funding is for the purpose of filing the necessary documents with the California Secretary of State to incorporate this Association as a Mutual Benefit, Non-Profit Corporation under the laws of the State of California; and initial start-up costs associated with the filing.

The Association elected Pierre Brunner as its President, Denni Barrett as its Secretary, and Eli Benarieh as its Treasurer. The members reviewed maps prepared by the joint city-county Geographical Information Service SAN GIS at the request of the Association, on which are presented the environmentally- sensitive areas which balloonists must strive to avoid. The maps also show, by exception, those parcels of land which are not environmentally restricted for balloon launches and landings. Thirty-four such “safe” landing parcels were identified in the Carmel Valley landing zone alone.

The members agreed to abide by the by-laws, ethical code, and Standard Operating Practices of the Association, which provide, among other things, limitations on operations during conditions when wind speeds may result in high-wind landings which could damage the turf upon landing; or when a flight, for passenger safety reasons must terminate in an environmentally sensitive area, the balloon will be met by ground crew before touchdown, and “walked” out of the sensitive area to a road or other non-sensitive place for actual landing.

The group agreed that, after filing the documents of incorporation, our staff attorney will meet with the Assistant Director of the San Diego Parks and Recreation Department. Such meetings will be for purposes of identifying the members of the San Diego County Balloon Association (SDCBA); explaining the Association’s goals, methods to be used to protect the environment, and to begin discussions which may lead to operating permits to be administratively issued by the City through the auspices of the SDCBA.