Keystone-SDA
The wind came to play spoilsport on Saturday during the first day of the Château-d’Oex International Balloon Festival (VD). Flights were canceled. However, the activities and captive flights were maintained.
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January 25, 2025 – 12:21
(Keystone-ATS) “Balloon flights are canceled due to high winds that are too strong. These weather conditions present a risk of gusts, which could push the balloons against the ridges,” the organizers explained on their website early in the morning. Activities for children, tethered flights, helicopter flights, visits to an envelope, and the air show did indeed take place.
“The weather is great, the public is there, and there are only a few gusts on the ground. On the other hand, at altitude, the wind is 80 km/h, which makes the balloons uncontrollable,” indicated the communications and promotion manager of the event, Julien Magnin to Keystone-ATS.
-These winds risk pushing the hot air balloons towards the crests, where they could suffer a “roll effect”, specifies Mr. Magnin. “At the back of the ridges, the wind creates a vertical vortex which can instantly push a balloon towards the ground, it’s very dangerous,” he explains.
Dependent on good conditions
Flight cancellations due to weather are commonplace in this emblematic event of the Pays d’En-haut. “We depend on good weather and wind conditions,” summarizes Julien Magnin. »Last year there were 9 consecutive days of flying, morning and afternoon. This is the only time this has happened in 45 editions to date,” he added. Conversely, another edition was distinguished by only half a day of flight over the 9 days of the event.
A weather briefing takes place every day of the festival around 5:30 a.m. This is followed by a briefing for the pilots who are informed around 6:30-7 a.m. whether or not they will be able to fly all day, in the morning or in the afternoon.
Suspense for the next few days
Although at this stage the weather forecast looks rather gloomy until the middle of next week, no one is making any plans for the rest of the operations. “Even the meteorologists don’t comment. In 24 hours a lot of things happen,” points out Julien Magnin.
The 45th edition of the Château-d’Oex International Balloon Festival runs until February 2. More than 60 pilots from all over the world are due to take part in the skies of Pays-d’Enhaut.
