Ready to take your pack, troop, team, or crew to new heights? Schedule a ride in a tethered hot-air balloon. The activity, which previously wasn't approved, was officially OK'd this week by the BSA's Health and Safety team. Notice I said tethered hot-air ballooning — not the kind where you ride for miles like the Wizard of Oz. Unlike traditional hot-air ballooning, the tethered variety uses at least three lines connected to the ground to keep the balloon from moving horizontally. The BSA has set the maximum permitted height at 70 feet. Now, don't go buying a balloon and trying this yourself. The balloon must be registered with the Federal Aviation Administration, and the pilot must be certified and insured. Before planning a ride, familiarize yourself with some key requirements: Read more of this post Bryan | March 16, 2012 at 12:17 pm | Tags: boy scouts of america, hot-air balloons | Categories: Fun, Health and Safety, Scouting Tips | URL: http://wp.me/p19dO9-3us |