Airport Imposes Curbs on Hot Air Balloons
Colorful hot air balloons that paint the sky over Sonoma County vineyards may soon be a memory because of airport restrictions on launching and landing.
Officials fear the county might be held liable if a balloon accident happened on county land. In 1999, a balloon crash-landed north of the airport, injuring 17 people.
The county adopted tough rules for balloon landings at the airport last year. And last month, the county barred balloonists from using a popular site near the Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport.
County officials say any balloon pilot who takes off or lands at the airport without clearance will be charged with trespassing.
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