Evaluation of and Possible Improvements to Current Methods for Protecting Hot-Air Balloon Passengers During Landing

The guidance that hot-air balloon operators provide on the passenger position to be adopted
during landing varies and none have been subjected to scientific scrutiny. The objectives of this study were to evaluate by numerical simulations, current methods for protecting passengers of balloons during landings, and to propose possible improvements. The protection methods include the passenger landing positions as well as the protective measures in the basket.