Design Features

To be fully successful a product will have to have a number of built-in design features, and many of these are critical to the design and manufacture of balloons. They are:

• Convenience and efficiency - the balloon has to be efficient to meet the aspirations of pilots. This is even more important when selling to commercial operators.
• Maintenance - maintenance has to be straightforward and good value. This will be true for parts bought in by Cameron's as well as the parts they manufacture themselves.
• Environmentally friendly - balloonists have to respect their environment. Balloons must be as fuel-efficient as possible and disturb people and animals as little as possible. The whisper burners fitted are an example of this.
• Commercial viability - though all Cameron Balloons staff are ballooning enthusiasts, they have to ensure that they are not blinded by their aspirations and nevertheless produce a viable, profitable product.
• Reliability - the importance of this in a balloon should be fairly obvious!
• Safety - these last two are inextricably linked. Cameron Balloons have to ensure that all products are airworthy and meet Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) guidelines.
• Aesthetically pleasing - much of the appeal of hot-air balloons is their visual appeal, and if they are being used for sponsorship / advertising this is doubly important.
• Marketability - this may also be linked to aesthetically pleasing. Balloon designers need to be aware of how easy the design will be to sell. Close liaison with the marketing department will be important here.