Enhancing parade balloon safety through science
The giant balloons that step off from New York’s Central Park West each November are a much loved tradition in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Following two separate incidents, RWDI was engaged to help develop stringent operational guidelines for flying the balloons. The city’s adoption of our various recommendations has improved public safety for the millions who line New York City streets for the Thanksgiving Day parade. At the same time, our science-based guidelines for balloon operation have taken much of the guesswork out of the balloon captains and handlers’ responsibilities, reducing the potential for accidents and preserving a great holiday tradition.