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BOC SUPPLIES HELIUM FOR SUCCESSFUL TRANS-ATLANTIC BALLOON CHALLENGE
BOC, one of the world’s leading global gases companies, supported British explorer and balloonist David Hempleman-Adams’ attempt to cross the Atlantic solo from North America to Europe, in a balloon equipped with a wicker basket. Hempleman-Adams launched the balloon from Sussex, New Brunswick, Canada on September 26 and successfully landed in the United Kingdom (today) September 29. The AM-08 Roziere balloon consisted of an open wicker basket and an envelope filled with 70,000 standard cubic feet of high purity gaseous helium provided by BOC. Claus Nussgruber, senior product manager helium, BOC said, "The helium supply for this launch was unique in several respects. Since the launch date depended on prevailing weather patterns it could have occurred at any time over a six week period between August 21 and October 1. Secondly, once a launch date was identified, it was necessary to supply the helium to Sussex in New Brunswick, Canada, in less than 48 hours." According to Nussgruber, "BOC was able to meet these requirements by relying on its unmatched helium supply infrastructure, extensive tube trailer fleet and local sales and technical support." The delivery of the helium was achieved by carefully staging a high-pressure jumbo tube trailer, originating from BOC’s helium transfill in Middlesex, New Jersey, with a local, BOC-approved carrier in New Brunswick. This carrier was then able to deliver the helium to the launch site at very short notice, giving Hempleman-Adams’ team more time to concentrate on the other critical pre-launch activities. "Failure to deliver the helium within the constraints described would have forced Hempleman-Adams to abandon the launch, with the next attempt only being possible in spring 2004 at the earliest," added Nussgruber. Hempleman-Adams traveled at an average altitude of 12,000-18,000 feet and was attempting to land somewhere in Europe depending on the wind drifts. He successfully landed in Blackpool, United Kingdom. "Although I was generally flying at 12,000-18,000 feet, I could have gone as high as 24,000 feet, at which time the temperature could have dropped to minus 30C (-22F). I was wearing several layers of polar clothing to help keep warm, " said Hempleman-Adams. Hempleman-Adams was in regular contact with the Flight Control Center in Bath, UK, manned 24 hours a day by Dr. David Owen and three flight controllers, who worked in eight-hour shifts. Hempleman-Adams ate fresh food for the first few days, and then switched to dehydrated packet food with water for the duration. He also had a small camping stove on which to cook, and drank about 6 liters of water per day.
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