Accessibility & Inclusion with Floating Images
Floating Images’ Chief Pilot – Graeme Day has over 30+ years of commercial balloon flights experience. Over this time, Graeme has flown passengers with varying abilities and disabilities including guests who are vision impaired, low vision, blind, hearing impaired, deaf, have mental health or intellectual disabilities, limited mobility and other physical and health related restrictions. We endeavour to provide that extra attention to those who require it within our capabilities and adapt to different customers needs. Floating Images staff are here to assist you with your ballooning experience.
In return we please ask that all potential passengers advise us at the time of booking or thereabouts of your own, family, friends or clients potential specific needs, so that we can best determine how to offer you a memorable ballooning experience. It is unfair on our pilot, crew and other passengers on the morning, to arrive in the early morning on flight day and find out that passengers have specific needs that we are completely unaware or unprepared for.
The Ballooning Experience
Hot air ballooning is an outdoor aviation soft adventure activity where we use parks or rural properties that can be uneven ground or overgrown for take-off and landing. We suggest that our passengers come dressed as if you were taking a bushwalk with appropriate clothing and sturdy enclosed footwear.
While the flight is gentle, landings can be bumpy and the basket may occasionally lay on its side with passengers lying horizontal for a short time. Please ask if you have any concerns.
As we are a boutique ballooning operator, sharing all aspects of the ballooning experience with our passengers, including the inflation and deflation of the balloon, passenger participation is encouraged if able and willing
The packing up tasks at the end of the flight are optional and we would appreciate your assistance in this hands-on experience. However, they do involve some lifting and participation is entirely voluntary. Passengers with health conditions or impairments are invited to stand back and take pictures of the fun.
Due to the environment in which our soft adventure ballooning experience is undertaken; all in-flight program vehicle transfers from the meeting point to the launch site, as well as the return from the landing site to the meeting point or after-flight restaurant breakfast (if required) are undertaken in a 4WD Troop Carrier or 4WD Passenger vehicle. Passengers will be required to climb into and out of either vehicle.
Ballooning Requirements
Everyone potentially is able to go ballooning, although limitations do apply. It is a Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and company requirement that all Passengers flying with the Operator must be able to embark and disembark a balloon basket for safety reasons.
All passengers must be able climb INTO and OUT of the basket unaided, so that in the event of an emergency Passengers are also able to climb out of the basket unaided. The side of the basket is approx. 1.2 metres high with two footholds for passengers to use like a step ladder when climbing into and out of the basket. There is no easy access door or gate on the basket.
Floating Images’ staff will be in attendance to supervise Passengers climbing into the basket but technically are not permitted to actively assist Passengers into the basket.
As the flight is for approximately 1 hour, all passengers must be able to stand unaided for the duration of the flight. (i.e.: no additional aids such as seats, walkers, sticks or crutches are permitted in the basket). There are no seats within the basket. Passengers may lean on the basket or against the basket walls (approx. 1.2m high) during the flight. If in doubt, a support person (carer, family member, friend or relative) must accompany the passengers with specific needs, health conditions or impairments.
Floating Images may refuse to fly any Passenger which it considers, in its sole discretion, will be unable to safely stand unaided for the duration of a Flight. The Pilot in command will make the final decision on whether a passenger is able to climb into the basket unaided and therefore travel on the balloon flight. In the event that the Pilot refuses to allow a passenger to board on this basis, the Passenger will be given a partial refund through their booking agent or by Floating Images if they booked directly with the Operator.
All passengers participating in the balloon flight do so at their own risk and the company accepts no liability for any damage or injury caused. Floating Images recommends that if you have a pre-existing health condition or impairment, specific need or recovering from recent surgery, that you seek medical advice and consult with your doctor; that may be affected by the physical nature of hot air ballooning before making a booking and participating in a balloon flight. Please be advised all passengers will be asked to sign a health statement and waiver at our meeting point prior to the flight.
Due to the nature of ballooning, the environment and operational restrictions, there are no wheelchair facilities available for the duration of the ballooning experience. Floating Images does not have modified wheelchair facilities in our balloon basket and vehicles. Our vehicles are 4WDs to allow access onto rural properties to retrieve the balloon equipment and passengers. Passengers will be required to climb into and out of both the balloon basket as well as the transfer vehicle. Please advise the booking office & Chief Pilot if any passenger has any specific needs or health conditions or impairments prior to undertaking the flight.
Please advise the booking office if any passenger has any specific needs or medical issues.
Weight notification.
As the hot air balloon is an aircraft, overall weight lifted is very important and weight restrictions do apply.
Floating Images will require, for flight manifest purposes, each passenger’s name and estimated weight (in kilograms) prior to the flight and preferably advised at the time of booking. Please advise the booking office if any passenger’s weight is over 90 kilograms, or have any specific needs, health conditions or impairments or mobility limitations.
A hot air balloon is an aircraft and overall weight lifted is very important. It is important for the pilot to have a total calculation of the weight in the basket for each flight. Before each flight and when the passenger manifest is compiled, the pilot does calculations based on the air temperature and conditions on the morning, to ensure that the total passenger load is within a suitable range. This limit is dictated by the ambient temperature around the balloon and at what altitude it is flying. Additionally, the limit will dictate how many people can be in the basket, while there may be individual restrictions as well.
As we have a limit to how much we can lift which is dictated by various factors; we tend to calculate on an average weight of 90 kgs per person. If our guidelines are exceeded, aside from the additional operational costs incurred, we may be required to forfeit a passenger in our overall configurations to ensure we remain within our overall operational constraints as well as consider basket space and passenger comfort.
As a consequence, as weight is an important factor in a hot air balloon with limited passenger restrictions, passengers weighing 115 kg or over attracts a 50% surcharge. In accordance with CASA guidelines and Floating Images Operations Manual; due to safety factors, passengers over 130kg cannot participate in hot air ballooning.
Please note children must be taller than 120 cms to be able to fly. A weight limit of 50 kg applies to chidlren’s tickets
Passenger places are transferrable to another family member or friend if you need to change your booking.
Pregnancy:
Regrettably under the Civil Aviation and Safety Authority (CASA) and Floating Images’ operations manual requirements, Floating Images will not knowingly fly any passenger at any stage of their pregnancy. Passengers who suspect they may be pregnant should check with their doctor before booking or undertaking their balloon flight. We will still be here after the pregnancy and you can book then! Passenger places are transferrable to another family member or friend if you need to change your booking.
Hearing & Vision Impaired Assistance
To assist hearing impaired & deaf customers with inquiries and bookings, Floating Images offers access to information via our website, online website chat service, SMS text, direct email communication as well as phone communication via the National Relay Service.
To assist vision impaired customer inquiries, Floating Images has an accessibility widget on our website enabling increased text size, contrasts, and spacing. Floating Images can also assist over the phone for inquiries and bookings, as well as via SMS text.
During the flight program, due to the personalised nature of the outdoor soft adventure experience and the unknown flight path on the morning, Floating Images is unable to provide any audio recordings, Braille or ASL signing throughout the ballooning experience.
Visually impaired and blind passengers are able to be tactile around the ballooning equipment – with care and assistance; however our surrounding environmental outdoor areas for launch and landing vary for each and every flight and are uneven ground surfaces. The Chief Pilot provides an overview and safety briefing in English, before any fans/ machines are started to inflate the balloon. The Chief Pilot also provides a running commentary during the balloon flight, and is able to answer any questions asked to him or the crew. If potential hearing impaired or deaf customers are able to lip read, the Chief Pilot is happy to direct his facial communications when required.
From our understanding, the ballooning equipment does not interfere with hearing aids. Aside from our website, Floating Images does have Passenger Safety Signs and Passenger Waivers in printed and pictogram format and can assist wherever possible.
If customers have special needs or considerations, they are encouraged to have a family member, friend or carer accompany them for their ballooning experience and advise Floating Images at the time of booking or prior to the flight date if assistance is required.
Restrooms
Our meeting place is at the Ipswich Visitor Information Centre; we have the key to open the male & female toilets in the early mornings. This is usually opened 10 – 15 minutes prior to the nominated meeting time. There is 1 Disabled / Unisex toilet available. The restaurant has male & female toilets at as well as Disabled / Unisex / Baby Change toilet available.
Please note, due to the soft outdoor adventure nature of the ballooning experience, there are no toilets available for the duration of the ballooning experience once departed from the VIC, in the balloon basket, vehicles or at numerous take off & landing sites in the parks & fields.
Parking
Floating Images’ Meeting Point is at the car park of the Ipswich Visitor Information Centre, Queens Park, 14 Queen Victoria Parade, Ipswich, Queensland 4305, Australia
Please note: There is free car parking at the Ipswich Visitor Information Centre for our customers. There is one disability car park.
Please refer to our website “ Plan your trip ”
How To Get Here https://www.floatingimages.com.au/plan-your-trip/
Locations & Meeting Points https://www.floatingimages.com.au/plan-your-trip/meeting-point/
Accessible features
The pathways at Floating Images’ meeting point at the Ipswich Visitor Information Centre, are accessible to the IVIC toilets as well as to the front entrance at Fourth Child restaurant for our after-flight breakfast.
If family & friends wish to join you for the after balloon flight breakfast, Fourth child Restaurant has wheel chair accessibility via the front entrance at 215 Brisbane Street Ipswich.
N.B. Floating Images does not have wheelchair facilities in our balloon basket and vehicles.
Restaurant breakfast menu – Allergies & Food Intolerances
When customers choose the ballooning experience including the after-flight breakfast tour:- Floating Images hosts the after-flight breakfast at Fourth Child Restaurant at 215 Brisbane Street Ipswich.
The menu provided has been designed to cater for most main stream dietary requirements or limitations ie, Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten Free and Dairy Free. A link to the menu is provided here.
If you or your guests have Allergies & Food Intolerances that need to be considered if attending the after-flight breakfast, and outside the range listed, please contact the restaurant directly to discuss specific requirements, or advise when ordering your meal so that your special dietary requirements potentially can be considered on the morning of the flight.
Does your tour have a sensory room/ chill out space?
Due to the outdoor nature of ballooning tour experience, we do not have sensory room / chill out space. NB. The balloon burners do provide a loud noise when turned on. If required, please bring your own ear plugs.
Does your tour provide sensory kits (fidget spinners, earplugs)
Due to the outdoor nature of ballooning and the type of tour experience, we do not have sensory kits e.g. fidget spinners, earplugs. If you require sensory kits or sound cancelling headphones, you are advised to please bring your own. NB. The balloon burners do provide a loud noise when turned on. If required, please bring your own ear plugs.
Can a carer accompany in the activity to provide support where needed?
A support person (carer, family member, friend or relative) must accompany and assist the passenger with a specific need, mobility limitation, health condition or impairment. As the flight is for approximately 1 hour, in accordance with CASA guidelines and Floating Images Operations Manual, all passengers must be able to stand unaided for the duration of the flight. While the flight is gentle, landings can be bumpy and the basket may occasionally lay on its side with passengers lying horizontal for a short time. Participation in the inflation and deflation of the balloon is encouraged however is entirely optional. Passengers with health conditions or impairments are invited to stand back and take pictures of the fun
Discounts & Companion Card
Floating Images is a small Australian family run aviation business, with a limit of 10 people per flight per day on our boutique balloon experience. We do not have the financial capacity to provide a discount or free balloon flights for a special needs passenger, support person or carer. This is up to the passenger, support person or carer to discuss and arrange. Companion cards are not accepted.
Note: It is a safety requirement for Floating Images Hot Air Balloon Flights that all of our passengers are able to walk from the company transfer vehicle across to the balloon basket, board the basket via two foot holes (1.2m in height) and stand for the duration of the flight all unassisted.
Passenger places are transferrable to another family member or friend if you need to change your booking. Terms & Conditions apply to all bookings https://www.floatingimages.com.au/tandc/.
If you would like to speak to a staff member directly about accessibility & inclusion, contact
Contact name: Graeme or Ruth Day
Job title: Chief Pilot & Reservation Manager
Phone Number: 07 3294 8770
Email: contact@floatingimages.com.au
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ATIC Accessbility & Inclusion Report
