100 helium balloons and a lawn chair

[darklord700]

What law did this guy break other than landing at the Stampede site? If he did this in the wilderness, would this still be a crime?

[Slacker]

Hopefully, this is the start of the underground (above ground? ) balloon fights.

[Regular_John]

Finding out he was trying to promote his business takes some of the fun out of it. I was hoping it was just a guy who was a little bit bored and was looking to inject some fun into his life.

[troutman]

Hot Air Balloons have to be registered under the Canadian Aviation Regulations.

https://www.tc.gc.ca/media/documents...ACCESSIBLE.PDF

http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/r....html#s-605.19

“balloon” means a non-power-driven lighter-than-air aircraft;

605.19 No person shall conduct a take-off in a balloon for the purpose of day VFR flight unless it is equipped with

• (a) an altimeter;
• (b) a vertical speed indicator;
• (c) in the case of a hot air balloon,
  • (i) a fuel quantity gauge, and
  • (ii) an envelope temperature indicator;
• (d) in the case of a captive gas balloon, a magnetic direction indicator; and
• (e) subject to subsections 601.08(2) and 601.09(2), a radiocommunication system adequate to permit two-way communication on the appropriate frequency when the balloon is operated within
  • (i) Class C or Class D airspace,
  • (ii) an MF area, unless the aircraft is operated pursuant to subsection 602.97(3), or
  • (iii) the ADIZ.

[D as in David]

I'm thinking this company is going to be in a world of hurt when Occupational Health and Safety gets hold of this. It's one thing to pull this stunt because of your own stupidity but when a company puts someone else's life at risk as a promotional stunt, they should be fined right out of business (or forced to perform the same stunt themselves - minus the parachute).

[Bigtime]

According to a Herald reporter he GoPro'd the flight but the Police have it, hope we get to see it later.

Adding to Troutman's helpful posting of the CAR's stuff, Calgary's airspace is designated Class C so this was a very big no with no two way communication with air traffic control and any prior notification. That contraption was getting some serious height, when I saw it north of downtown it looked to be at least 6000' above sea level and as such could have easily been getting into departure and arrival flight paths to the airport.

[Minnie]

I call BS on him saying he didn't know how high he was. He came prepared with a parachute. He'd know his height. And just a plastic lawn chair? Seems sturdy enough - or not.

[skudr248]

You can see on his hand he had a elevation reader, of course he knew.

[skudr248]

Still absolutely hilarious and awesome. Legend in my books. Going to be an awesome story around a campfire one day

[Bobblehead]

This may be a good idea for a Hallowe'en costume.

[linecook]

I bought some of this cleaner a couple weeks ago from guys selling it at a gas station. It works great but it's expensive.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Just read the interview they guy gave - comes across as a bro-tastic "It was f'in awesome but - whoa, I didn't know it was *that* illegal" train of thought.

I can appreciate how damn cool this was - but threat to this guy's life aside (which I don't actually care about since it was a conscious decision) - as Bigtime pointed out there are serious rules in place around messing around with civil aviation. Flights coming to to YYC having to divert due to this "goof" (or worse - testing the ingestion abilities of a modern day turbofan leading to a flameout) dials up the seriousness of the event.

I hope they throw the book at this guy to discourage the next Darwinian.

[darklord700]

This was awesome because he didn't lose an eye. Parachuting from his height was a very dangerous feat.

[Mass_nerder]

I think my favorite part was the size of his banner to promote the company. You can see it right when he launches, and by the end of the video, you would need binoculars to see it.

[To Be Quite Honest]

Probably should have launched some fireworks off his head for more awareness.

Love the stunt and I hope CPS has a sense o' fun. Also this is up there with the idiot gifs of the morons jumping through buildings or off mountains just to video it... Pretty much the same thing.

[Fuzz]

I've got no problem with what he did, it's where he did it. If you want to go splat, fine, but don't do it over a city and near an airport.

[blueski]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

I've got no problem with what he did, it's where he did it. If you want to go splat, fine, but don't do it over a city and near an airport.

Safety aside, it would have been funny to look out your airplane's window and see a dude go by in a lawn chair.

[Minnie]

Originally Posted by blueski

Safety aside, it would have been funny to look out your airplane's window and see a dude go by in a lawn chair.

There is a colonial woman on the wing. There is something they’re not telling us.

[Reaper]

I love how the linked articles do not say the name of his company. It's like they are spiteful about him making the news.

I was kind of hoping the lawn chair would have a camera strapped to it and it would take a Rube Goldberg-esque journey causing hilarity and/or mayhem.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Reaper

I love how the linked articles do not say the name of his company. It's like they are spiteful about him making the news.

I was kind of hoping the lawn chair would have a camera strapped to it and it would take a Rube Goldberg-esque journey causing hilarity and/or mayhem.

It's not spite, it's just that if the news published his company's name, you heighten the chances of copycat stunts. I wouldn't be surprised if they were sternly briefed by CPS to leave the name out.