Mid-May in Talkeetna promises new green leaves, increased airplane traffic, and potentially the presence of a big yellow balloon.
To be specific, the Big Dipper Balloon Company intends to maintain a tethered, yellow, helium-filled balloon throughout the summer in East Talkeetna. The balloon will be used to move people up and down as part of a scenic ride.
Dallas Seavey, five-time Iditarod champion and the person of contact for the Big Dipper Balloon Company, presented the idea of the balloon to the Talkeetna Community Council at their regularly scheduled meeting Monday evening.
According to Seavey, the balloon is 44 feet in diameter, which is approximately the wingspan of a de Havilland Beaver airplane. The balloon will operate across from the Swiss Alaska Lodge, accommodating 4 to 5 people at a time, for a 15-minute ride. The balloon will rise 300 feet above the ground and will generate no noise.
Seavey explained that the balloon will serve people who perhaps don’t have the time, or the funds, to experience the view of the river and the Alaska Range from an aircraft. The balloon will travel up and down via a cable/winch system and will be tethered at all times.
He described the concept further:
“So you have about three or four minutes of ascent time, a few minutes of hanging out at full elevation, and then retracting again, three to four minutes down to ground level. When we envision a hot air balloon, we generally envision something huge. This is a helium balloon, quite a lot smaller, quite a lot quieter.
Community Council members expressed concerns relating to aviation conflicts, Borough elevation restrictions, and disruptions to the natural view scape.
Mr. Seavey explained that the balloon will operate outside the Main Street Talkeetna SPUD, and that the balloon has been granted a temporary waiver from the Mat-Su Borough, with regards to the tall structures ordinance.
The balloon has also been granted a waiver from the F.A.A., although the waiver states that the company is required to communicate with flight service throughout the day.
“So we’re going to be going up to about 300 feet of elevation, which keeps us well below the flight path. We do have the F.A.A. waiver acknowledging that it’s not a hazard. It’s not an aircraft. It is classified by the F.A.A. as an amusement park ride. And we are getting clearance from the airport when it is safe or unsafe to operate. You can operate in nominal winds. Any greater windspeed, you’re gonna be grounded. And again, there is communication with the airport throughout.”
Mr. Seavey stressed that this summer will be a trial run to test the idea, and that neither the operation, nor location, is necessarily permanent. The Big Dipper Balloon Company is planning a community Zoom meeting on April 16th to unveil more details to the public.
