About

The American Ballooning Community, a §501(c)(3) organization, is a national balloon club with chapters across the United States. Our associated chapters allow members to have face-to-face meetings with other club members on a regular basis. We welcome everyone to join, whether you are a pilot (full scale or remote control), crew member, spectator, or someone who would like to learn more about balloons.

Benefits of club membership include:

  • Access to our monthly newsletter, AeroStats, as well as old issues back to 2010.
  • Access to our local red/green zone maps (KML format, compatible with most Apple/Android applications used for ballooning)
  • Use of our FCC license which includes 16 total frequencies and power up to 100 watts. More than any other license available to balloon pilots, crew, and event organizers.
  • Rental of the club balloon, Morning Glory
  • Support the monitoring and advocacy for changing FAA rules for balloons (91.119, for example)
  • Learn something new, hone your existing skills, and be apart of a larger community
  • Comradery / meet others interested in balloons
  • Invitations to fun, local balloon community events

ABC was established September 8, 1998, under our former name Willamette Aerostat Society. Our current Executive Board is:

Have something you’d like to put in the newsletter? Contact Shari, editor@abcballoon.org

See something you like/don’t like about this website? Yell at Jack, webmaster@abcballoon.org

Mission Statement:

  • To promote the sport of hot air ballooning
  • To educate new balloonists and the public
  • To embody safety in all aspects of ballooning
  • To do all we can to support and encourage land owner relations
  • To support our fellow balloonists and crews personally and in our sport

Charter Members

The Willamette Aerostat Society (former name of ABC) was originally formed with approximately 90 members.

The following individuals are current members that have been with us since the beginning!

  • Jeanne Anson
  • Marilyn Barnhart
  • Tim Gale
  • Shari Gale
  • Jerry Gobet
  • Mary Gobet
  • Kelly Haverkate
  • Bob LeDoux
  • Marianne LeDoux
  • Rod Purdum
  • Edie Stoaks

Disclaimers

Commercial use of any material on this website or in AeroStats for any reason is prohibited without the express written consent from the American Ballooning Community.

Material published on this website or in AeroStats does not imply endorsement by ABC, it officers, newsletter editor, or its members of an event. Nor does it imply agreement with opinions, comments, or endorsement of any product.

Privacy Policy

No information collected is sold or distributed outside of our membership.

ABC collects certain information from anyone visiting this site. This information includes your IP address and hardware/software information of the device you utilize to view this site. The purpose of collecting this information is solely to improve this site and provide a better experience for users.  

ABC collects additional information from members during the membership application process (name, address, email, phone number, etc.). This information is utilized to determine the demographic of our membership and to communicate with our members.

ABC publishes an online member directory only available to active members. This directory displays the name, city, state, and email address of ABC members that have chosen to be visible in the directory. You may opt-out of the directory when you become a member, when you renew your membership, or at any time by viewing your member profile page.

ABC will automatically send members information regarding your membership, ABC activities, newsletter information, voting announcements, and occasionally other information pertinent to the hot air ballooning community via email. You may opt-out of these emails at any time by viewing your member profile page, or clicking the unsubscribe link located in each email.

ABC may utilize your mobile phone number to send SMS/MMS text messages about ABC activities, newsletter information, and voting announcements. You must specifically opt-in to these messages when you become a member, when you renew your membership, or at any time by viewing your member profile page. You may opt-out of these messages at any time by viewing your member profile page or replying STOP to a text message.

ABC collects information about pilots and crew, limited to the information asked for on pilot and crew application form and waiver. This information is utilized for the sole purpose of producing hot air balloon festivals, and is not utilized outside of that, or distributed to other festivals without individual consent.