Build a Master Crew
Add people from Apple Contacts or create app-only crew entries without changing your personal Contacts.
A companion product for individual balloon crews
Balloon Crew Call
Available for iPhone and iPad
Pick your ground crew. Send the launch call. Keep your own balloon team organized.
Balloon Crew Call is made for an individual Pilot or crew chief managing their own ground crew. Use Apple Messages as usual, or add Pilot Plus + SMS to send one private server-delivered text to each opted-in crew member and see delivery status and replies inside Crew Call.
Private crew SMS · Available now on the App Store
Free download · Requires iOS or iPadOS 16.0 or later
Built for the crew around one balloon
Simple tools for everyday crew calls
Organize crew groups
Create and save groups for different balloons, chase teams, events, or working assignments.
Prepare one clear message
Review recipients, write the crew call once, then choose a group conversation or separate individual texts.
Choose how to send
Open a prepared message in Apple Messages, or use the optional SMS upgrade for individual server delivery without filling your iPhone Sent folder.
Invite new crew
Optional memberships provide hosted recruiting links, QR codes, shared crew profiles, waiver records, responses, and administrator access.
Track SMS and replies
With Pilot Plus + SMS, see queued, delivered, or failed messages and read direct crew replies. Recipients do not need the app.
Choose the workflow that fits your crew
Keep standard messaging, or add tracked SMS
Current membership
Pilot Plus
$3.99 / month or $32.99 / year
- Up to 25 groups and 1,000 hosted contacts
- Recruiting links, QR codes, waivers, and responses
- One additional account administrator
- Messages prepared for your approval in Apple Messages
Available SMS upgrade
Pilot Plus + SMS
$5.99 / month or $55 / year
- Everything in Pilot Plus
- 50 server-sent recipient messages each month
- One private text per opted-in crew member
- Delivery status and direct replies inside Crew Call
- Apple Messages remains available after the allowance is used
Carrier messaging is connected · Available now in Balloon Crew Call
One recipient message means one text sent to one crew member. For example, one crew call sent to 10 people uses 10 of the 50 included recipient messages. There are no automatic overage charges.
Inside the app
A focused workflow from crew list to message
Two products, two different jobs
Balloon Crew Call manages your crew. Balloon Event Ops manages the festival.
They are related tools from the same company, but their accounts and operational records remain separate.
Individual balloon crew
Balloon Crew Call
- Used by a Pilot or crew chief
- Master Crew and saved crew groups
- Crew recruiting and invitations
- Apple Messages or optional tracked server SMS
- iPhone and iPad app
Entire festival or Event
Balloon Event Ops
- Used by Organizers, Balloonmeisters, staff, Pilots, and Vendors
- Event rosters, registration, documents, and waivers
- Schedules, operational flags, and acknowledgments
- Opt-in carrier SMS with delivery tracking and replies
- Optional propane and Vendor workflows
- Web app for phones, tablets, and computers
Two clear ways to send a crew call
Standard Apple Messages: Balloon Crew Call prepares the recipients and message in Apple’s Messages composer; you review and confirm the send. Apple Messages determines whether each recipient receives an iMessage or carrier message.
Pilot Plus + SMS: Balloon Crew Call can send a separate carrier SMS to each selected, opted-in hosted crew member. Delivery status, availability responses, and direct replies appear together inside Crew Call instead of creating multiple conversations in your iPhone Sent folder.
Balloon Crew Call is a coordination aid. It should not be the only method used for emergency or safety-critical communication.
Help and support
Questions about Balloon Crew Call?
Email support@ballooneventops.com and include “Balloon Crew Call” in the subject. The app also includes setup and troubleshooting help.