On 1 May 2012, Hot Air Balloon Safety published the AIB report surrounding the fatal balloon accident that took place in the Serengeti National Park in September 2010. We understand that this document was only made available after repeated yet firm diplomatic intervention by the concerned Embassies.

Tragically one American along with one Dane died at the crash site, while eight others suffered serious injuries.

With the AIB report found to be not only seriously lacking in detail, yet also in sharp contrast to witness statements, I have also published my findings that are based on information to hand.

My professional view is that despite the AIB’s many failings, it inadvertently serves to demonstrate questionable levels of competency. Furthermore, it adds strength to the theory that the operator used whatever persuasive means it had at its disposal in order to take advantage of the TCAA. This act was with the sole intention to cultivate an environment whereby it successfully managed to reverse rolls, insofar as to who was answerable to whom.

Once that destructive status was established, the operator was treated more as a client of the Tanzanian Civil Aviation Authority rather than an air operator, that is normally only allowed to operate under the watchful eye of such Authority.

As well as observing what was said in the report, it is worthwhile noting what was not included. There appears to be mounting evidence to suggest that by the TCAA succumbing to either unsolicited offering by the operator or one side demanding unprofessional transactions to take place. This tail wagging the dog scenario signaled the green light for the operator to conduct its passenger rides business dangerously outside the normal parameters. For an example i refer to the acts of simply omitting normal safety devices, pieces of equipment, as well as operating its passenger balloons with dangerously low fuel quantities. Given the strong wind normally experienced in the Serengeti, I can report that safety levels were not in keeping with those demeaned when flying in this location. Furthermore at times I found that passenger safety was at best below than what the public should expect to find in a commercial balloon rides company that they placed their trust in. My personal experience of flying in the Serengeti, along with other finding have uncovered that the dangers run far deeper.

Whilst on the day in question, there is indisputable evidence of the passenger balloon taking to the air in less than perfect weather conditions, it was operated by a novice, lacked appropriate means of deflation. In-part the points raised above indicates that the undermining of the authority contributed to the downward trend surrounding passenger safety in the Serengeti.

25th April 2012:

Its Official

Novice at the controls of Serengeti Balloon Safaris Passenger Balloon,

As Two Passenger Perish.

I am pleased to report that after much resistance by the Tanzanian authorities, I have finally been provided with the final AIB report surrounding events in the latest Serengeti Balloon Safaris fatal balloon accident that took place on 29 September 2010. In the days ahead, I shall be publishing this report with our detailed analysis, and corrections.

What I can say at this time, is that whilst the nineteen page report fails to mention numerous crucial technical aspects in favour of what appears to be purposely deceptive choreographed document, it does at least confirm my earlier accident hypothesis, in that a novice was at the controls at the time of the initial impact that killed two passengers. It confirms that after the fatal event, the Pilot In Command, only then resumed his responsibility and assumed control of the ill fated balloon.

In order to give you a flavour of the contents found amongst many other anomalies is the following :-

( b ) Cause

The accident was caused by the balloon impacting the terrain at a high descent speed. The high rate of descent occurred when the balloon was caught in wind shear.

I rather think that "the balloon impacting the terrain at a high descent speed" was a result of an accident & not the cause?

With the 6.3 Mb, PDF report rather large to place directly on our web server (6.3 MB) in its present format, I plan to have it re- transcribe in its entirety in the days ahead. For those of you that would prefer to receive this report as a PDF immediately, you may request the same by contacting Hot Air Balloon Safety on the link provided below.

If events described in this report are accepted to be common throughout the rides industry, undoubtedly this report has the potential to be highly damaging to the balloon rides industry as a whole, particularly for those operating in East Africa. With that in mind, Hot Air Balloon Safety would like to take this opportunity to assure that it is not our intention to purposely damage the professional operators, yet to encourage those same operators to contact us in order to express their views and concerns.

Please supply AIB report.

York Balloon Pilot Remains In Hiding

After Correctly Predicting A Fatal Balloon Accident

That Took Place In The Serengeti

Now the company that had that accident, demands $500,000 compensation from the same pilot that sounded the warning.

Other threats came in later, this time from Serengeti Balloon Safaris UK Lawyer, they also want money.

With the same owners involved in no less than three fatal accidents, most of all, they want silence !

Hot-air balloons dangerously unregulated, says watchdog

Just when I thought I could have a day off, another damning report lands on my desk, stating that:-
Hot-air balloons dangerously unregulated, says watchdog.

Israel's hot-air balloon sector is woefully unregulated, concluded the Transportation Ministry's chief air safety investigator, Itzhak Raz, in a report. His frown on the industry followed on a balloon accident on February 11, in which two passengers taking a ride were injured when the balloon ran out of gas.

The business of hot-air ballooning has been growing rapidly and needs better, more modern and professional regulation and supervision, warned Raz. While about it, there aren't enough inspectors anyway, he added: more must be hired. As for the specific accident, he blamed it on the pilot, as well as the company that organized the trip. (Zohar Blumenkrantz ) End of quote.

I must congratulate the Israeli Transport Minister ltzjak Raz, he confirms what I've been saying all along. Now sidelined from an industry that has clearly demonstrated that it has no place for pilots that have, genuine, yet not over the top safety concerns, leads me to think that if ever there became vacancy for an international watchdog committee on this industry, I would not hesitate in applying for such position. If ever brought to fruition, I strongly believe that by promoting an international standard would greatly benefit those AOC holders that are conducting themselves professionally, yet at the same time weed out the rouge operator that are undoubtedly spoiling it for others.

Obviously in order to achieve that goal, the UN along with ICOA would need to work together in bringing pressure to bear on well documented CAA establishment that have fallen foul of their responsibilities.

Many of you that have kept pace with me ever since the underhanded behaviour that took place in the Serengeti three years ago, will recall that the Canadian Transport Safety Board, Wendy Tadros reported that “balloon safety is too often left up in the air' Other reports from Canada, indicated that the balloon industry was mistakenly treated as a client rather than as it should be, an air operator that requires stringent policing.

Amazingly and something that shall not be lost on the media and public alike, is that the balloon rides operators have to date remained sheepishly scares throughout all this. With that in mind I would respectfully encourage the professionals within our industry to finally recognise the situation for what it is i.e. the wholesale travesty of injustice. To simply sit back and do nothing is certainly not the right thing to do, particularly so after the recent spate of accidents. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Later today, I shall endeavour to make contact with heads of each of the authorities mentioned above.

Captain Nigel J Pogmore
Hot Air Balloon Safety

Former Pilot & Safety Officer
Serengeti Balloon Safaris ltd