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History
Launched at a cost of S$2.5 million, the DHL Balloon was a joint venture by Aerophile Balloon Singapore Pte Ltd and Vertical Adventure Pte Ltd, and took one year to plan.[1] The project was sponsored by global courier, freight and logistics company DHL, for which it gets exclusive advertising space on the balloon. The business partners involved in the project worked with the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), Singapore Land Authority and Singapore Tourism Board to allow public advertising on the balloon, and arrange for the lease for the site at over S$1 million for two years.[3] S$800,000 was spent priming the ground for the balloon, and another S$60,000 for the helium.[4]
On 19 April 2006, 40 crew members took 12 hours to inflate the French-made balloon, which took its first passengers in May 2006. The DHL Balloon is operated by Singapore Ducktours, a Singapore company which also offers city tours on its amphibious vehicles.[1] As of September 2007, more than 150,000 people have ridden on the DHL Balloon, 70% of whom are tourists. Up to 1,000 people ride the balloon on weekends. Its ridership is the highest among all of Aerophile's balloons.
The DHL Balloon's lease on its site on Tan Quee Lan Street will expire on August 2008[5], and URA has indicated that the lease will not be extended as it has plans for the site. Singapore Ducktours is considering three alternative sites: Beach Road near Park View Hotel, Clarke Quay near Novotel Clarke Quay Hotel, and Gardens by the Bay at Marina Bay. Other plans include relocating the balloon to Kuala Lumpur or Johor Baru in Malaysia. Terminating the venture will cost the company S$1.2 million.[4]
NB: With a capacity of 7,800 cubic metres, Johannesburg and Mexico City are believed to be the largest passenger carrying tethered helium balloons currently in operation.
Ride
Passengers aboard the DHL Balloon can have a bird's eye view of Singapore's Central Area, including the central business district, Suntec City, Marina Bay, Orchard Road and Little India, and as far as Indonesia and Malaysia.[2] Standard flights to 150 metres typically lasts between seven to ten minutes, über flights to 180 metres last up to 13 minutes.
Features and specifications
The DHL Balloon measures 22 metres in diameter, and is filled with 6,500 cubic metres of helium. While it is the world's largest tethered helium balloon, it has been certified as an aircraft.[2] There are only fifteen like it around the world, in cities including Paris and Hong Kong.
As the balloon is anchored to the ground with a metal cable, it only ascends and descends vertically. The DHL Balloon was approved by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore to ascend to a maximum altitude of 180 metres, or around 48 stories. Flights to either 150 metres or 180 metres are offered. It can accommodate a maximum of 29 passengers in its gondola.
Piloting
The balloon, which flies between two to six times an hour, is operated by a pilot within the gondola. A hydro-electric winch system controls take-off and landing.[1] As a safety measure, the balloon is not flown when there is lightning, rain, or when the wind speed exceeds five knots on the ground, as measured by an anemometer, on location.[6]
Maintenance
A crew of six pilots, who work in rotation with one pilot working at any one time, conduct routine checks daily, weekly and every three months on the balloon and its equipment. The helium is replenished every four to six months, and engineers visit the balloon every year to conduct an inspection.[6]
See also
Notes
- ^ a b c d Arthur Lee (20 April 2006). "Up, up and away", The Business Times.
- ^ a b c "Singapore to house world's largest tethered helium balloon". Channel NewsAsia (2006-04-19). Retrieved on 2007-09-02.
- ^ Prior to this project, large advertisements in public areas were not allowed in Singapore: Chua Mui Hoong (17 November 2006). "Wanted in public service: Guts, gumption and risk-taking", The Straits Times.
- ^ a b Melissa Sim (16 September 2007). "DHL balloon needs to find a new home", The Sunday Times, p. 9.
- ^ Shuli Sudderuddin (13 April 2007). "DHL balloon owner rises to the challenge", The Sunday Times.
- ^ a b Teo Cheng Wee (2 September 2007). "No hot air in balloon", The Sunday Times, p. L5.
References
- Teo Cheng Wee (2 September 2007). "Float or Fly?: DHL Balloon owners say they don't view Singapore Flyer as a competitor", The Sunday Times, p. L5.
External links
