O.C. balloon ride can't take to the skies
3:15 PM, February 28, 2008
Forget about up, up and away -- the Orange County Great Park Balloon ride has been grounded.
Investigators are checking out the Irvine amusement for safety violations like flying too high, and flying during windy weather and in low visibility.
The helium balloon, which is tied by a cable to a concrete platform, is not allowed to fly higher than 499 feet, and cannot be flown within 1,000 feet of clouds or if visibility is less than five miles, according to an FAA waiver issued to the park.
Tony Barboza has the details of what comes next.
-- Veronique de Turenne
Photo: Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times
