Event Operations / Communications
Give Organizers, Balloonmeisters, staff, and Pilots one Event-specific place for schedules, operational messages, opt-in carrier SMS, delivery tracking, replies, acknowledgments, flag status, waivers, rosters, and optional propane reporting—on the phones, tablets, and computers they already carry.
Two SMS tools are available now: Balloon Event Ops handles Event-wide operational messaging, while the separate Balloon Crew Call app handles an individual Pilot's own opted-in crew.
Send Event updates to Pilots, Organizer staff, leadership, or everyone assigned to the Event. Opted-in participants can receive carrier SMS, while delivery status, replies, and message history stay with the Event instead of being scattered across personal text threads.
When a response is required, leadership can see who has acknowledged the message and who has not. Staff do not have to count replies in a crowded group conversation.
Publish Green, Yellow, Red, Weather Hold, Supplemental Briefing, or Black Flag actions. Black Flag cancels the Event session and directs assigned participants to leave the field.
One person may hold several roles at a small Event, while a large Event may split Organizer, Balloonmeister, Deputy, Safety, propane, and other responsibilities among separate accounts.
Keep briefings, launches, glows, ascensions, farewell flights, locations, and session-specific information together so every message can be tied to the correct operating period.
Turn propane tracking off, use staffed check-in, or let Pilots self-report Fueled or Denied. The designated propane team can review who has not reported without flooding leadership with texts.
The Event shares a Pilot or staff link and QR code. The Event is preselected, the participant submits the short form and waiver, and authorized staff approve the enrollment.
Maintain an Event-specific Pilot and staff roster, then direct ordinary messages to the right operational group. Each Event remains separate, even when a person works at several Events.
Why an Event may prefer it
Responses are recorded against the original Event message, so leadership sees status without dozens or hundreds of individual replies.
Role permissions let the right people send, approve, record, or review information while preserving a simple view for Pilots.
The installable web app runs through modern browsers on iPhone, iPad, Android, tablets, and computers. There is no separate Android feature set to maintain.
A Balloonmeister or Organizer can work with several Events using one service while every Event keeps its own roster, schedule, messages, roles, and records.
Flag actions, flight sessions, briefings, role structure, and propane reporting reflect how balloon Events actually operate.
The same workflow can support a small Event with shared roles or a large Event with hundreds of Pilots and specialized teams.
An honest comparison: Balloon Event Ops does not promise that cellular or internet delivery will always be available. It supports established Event operations and does not replace briefings, radios, official field commands, or emergency procedures.
Annual Event subscription
Each Event purchases the subscription. Pilots and staff do not buy individual subscriptions, and a person may participate in more than one subscribed Event.
$150per Event year
up to 200 Pilots
$250per Event year
201+ Pilots
Included: Event setup, staff roles, Pilot and staff enrollment, waivers, rosters, groups, schedules, messages, acknowledgments, operational flags, and optional propane tracking.
Not included: reusable Pilot document profiles, balloon documents, insurance and expiration review, and complete Pilot registration management. Those are part of Registration & Operations.
No. The Event pays. A Pilot opens the Event invitation, creates or uses a Pilot account, joins the selected Event, and can later join other Events that use Balloon Event Ops.
No. Balloon Event Ops provides the connected messaging service for opted-in carrier SMS as well as in-app and web alerts. The core web-app communications workflow does not depend on an Event purchasing or maintaining a separate phone number.
Yes. Propane is optional by Event and session. It can be off, staffed, or Pilot self-reported.
The person can be assigned to each Event separately. Their access can cover multiple Event workspaces, but the Events do not share rosters, messages, or records.
Yes. An Event can move from Communications to Registration & Operations when it needs Pilot profiles, balloon records, document collection, expiration review, and registration reports.