Press Release

JDA Wins FAA Approval for Cloud Nine's Las Vegas Balloon Ride

For Immediate Release
October 29, 2009

Contact - JDA
Mike Rioux - 301-940-1460
mrioux@jdasolutions.aero

BETHESDA, MD, - When a Las Vegas enterprise faced what it thought were insurmountable obstacles with the FAA for a new attraction in the Entertainment Capital of the United States, the company turned to JDA Aviation Technology Solutions for help. As a result visitors today are now experiencing a new and exciting look of the city, "flying" on Cloud Nine's new tethered helium balloon ride and enjoying a one-of-a-kind vista 500 feet above the famed Las Vegas Strip.

Kevin Michaels, President and CEO of Cloud Nine, was ecstatic. "The balloon would not be flying today if it were not for the efforts made by JDA on our behalf. The JDA team was able to take a project that nobody thought was possible and make it a reality."

FAA approval was needed for the attraction because of the height the balloon attained as well as it's proximity to McCarran International Airport. Cloud Nine contracted JDA to address a myriad of FAA requirements to ensure safety of the ride and for the air carriers operating in and out of the Las Vegas airport.

JDA's Vice President of Airspace and Obstacle Evaluation, Benjamin Doyle, summed up some of the hurtles that Cloud Nine had to overcome in order to get its business off the ground. "It was a real challenge to obtain the required FAA waivers for this project because of the proximity of the balloon to McCarran International. However, JDA was able to show the FAA and airport management conclusively that the balloon's operation would not pose a safety or operational impact to flights at the airport."

The 110-foot-tall balloon can carry up to 30 passengers on a 10-minute flight. Michaels is confident that the balloon ride will be successful, drawing on the 40 million people who visit Las Vegas annually as well as many of Las Vegas' two million Las Vegas residents who might want to experience the thrill of a hot air balloon ride. It took two years to get the project completed and Cloud Nine hopes to expand to other tourist destinations in Hawaii, California, Mexico, and Europe.

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About JDA - For more than 15 years, JDA Aviation Technology Solutions has been a leading aviation industry consultant, delivering innovative solutions for aviation client challenges in safety, compliance, real estate development, technology infusion, litigation and organization/management.

JDA offers a wide range of certification and operations-related services and products including technology transfer, new carrier certification, obstruction evaluation, safety-based manual systems, ATOS Conformance Audits, Virtual Safety Offices, Crisis Management, Security Plans, and Safety Management Systems.

The company's client base includes many of the leading aviation and aerospace companies and airports in the country, including, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Republic Airlines, Piedmont Airlines, Sentient Flight Group, Frontier/Lynx Airlines, CJ Systems Aviation, Sundance Helicopters,, Olympus Aviation LLC Charles E. Smith Inc., Nevada Development Corporation,. JDA also represents ESCO, which manufactures and installs the Engineered Material Arrestor System (EMAS), the FAA certified breakaway-concrete surface installed at the end of runways to provide overrun protection.

For additional information on JDA Aviation Technology Solutions and CertAssure™ visit JDA's website at www.jdasolutions.aero or call 301-941-1460 to arrange for a private briefing.

Contact JDA

JDA Aviation Technology Solutions
4720 Montgomery Lane
Suite 950
Bethesda, MD 20814

Toll Free: 1-877-JDA-AERO (877-532-2376)
Local: 301-941-1460

Email: info@jdasolutions.aero