Whether you’re celebrating with a BBQ, at the beach, watching fireworks or spending time in the  back yard with friends and family, The Horizon Blimp crew wishes you a safe, healthy and happy 4th of July!

Keep a keen eye to the sky and you’re likely to see the blimp over the beaches and boardwalks this weekend.   In the evening, we will head back to the safety of our hangar - fireworks and a blimp are not a good combination!

The only worse combination than the blimp and fireworks is drinking and driving.  If you plan on being behind the wheel this weekend, please take it easy and be safe.

If you spotted the Horizon Blimp overhead this weekend, you may have noticed the addition of a new logo that reads, “Healthy U.”  Healthy U is not only the name of the Horizon BCBSNJ 2008 Blimp Tour, but it also is the title of a brand new childhood obesity program that is starting this September. 

So, what is Healthy U you ask?   

The Healthy U program is New Jersey’s first coordinated statewide approach to combating childhood obesity.  A collaboration between The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey and the New Jersey YMCA Statewide Alliance, Healthy U seeks to lower the rate of obesity in 18,000 New Jersey children by 10% over the next four years.   

In a nutshell, 359 YMCA sites will be used to institute the Healthy U program.  Every child between the ages of 5 and 12, who enrolls in a YMCA after-school program can join to get themselves exercising, eating better and feeling better about themselves.   

Throughout the blimp tour, we’ll provide more information on this innovative program and update our blog readers on the children’s progress as they begin the program in the fall.   

I was invited to Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey’s headquarters in

 I had a great time talking to all the employees about what it is like to pilot the blimp, and giving everyone an insiders view into how a blimp operates.    

One great part of the event was that employees had the opportunity to submit a Haiku to win a blimp ride.  The employee’s poem had to express what the blimp tour meant to them. 

Two of the winning entries are below.   

Through a Sky of Blue;

Horizon’s blimp’s goal is true;

Make a “Healthy U” 

~Timothy Collins 

_____________

Blimp so big,

so wide;

I fear attaining your girth;

Must reduce portions 

~Elisa Riesenbach 

The event officially inaugurated the start of the summer tour, and as an added bonus, the Horizon Blimp made its first appearance over north jersey by hovering over Horizon’s Newark Headquarters during the festivities.   

My annual return to

 Terry Dillard

Chief Pilot of the Horizon BCBSNJ Airship

Summer is on the horizon!  In New Jersey that means the return of the Horizon Blimp.  And for year two, it also means the return of the Horizon Blimp Blog.

So with the long, cold winter days behind us, it’s time to have some fun with family and friends and enjoy outdoor activities and the Jersey Shore.  As you’re out and about, don’t forget to look up!  The Horizon Blimp will be helping to bring attention to many of the State’s biggest events this summer.

I’d like to take a moment to tell you about the history of our airship and how it evolved into the icon we love today:

In 1998, Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey changed its name to Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.  To help let our members and public know about our name and logo change, we held the first - and what was to be the only – Horizon BCBSNJ blimp tour. 

To our pleasant surprise, the initial two-week blimp tour was a smashing success!  It seemed that everyone loved our blimp and enjoyed watching it sail overhead.  As a result, we decided to have the blimp tour for one more year.  Well, that’s what we thought.  This year is the Horizon Blimp’s 11^th tour.   

It has lasted so long because we found that the Horizon Blimp was a cost effective marketing tool as well as a unique way we could give back to the community.  Tens of thousands of dollars have been raised by scores of charities for blimp rides we have donated.  Last year, the Horizon Blimp raised over $25,000 for organizations such as The V Foundation for Cancer Research, United Way, Operation Smile and the Special Olympics for New Jersey, to name just a few.   

On this site you will find pictures of our daily adventures, entries from our crew and community partners, comments from passengers and onlookers, and ‘insider’ information about the airship.  We hope you will join our Blimp Blog community to report sightings, share pictures and leave your thoughts. 

At this time I would like to turn HorizonBlimpBlog.com over to you and our contributors.  Here’s to another successful year. 

Sincerely,

Larry Altman,

Vice President, Corporate Marketing and Communications

The Daily Record joined us for a school assembly at Nixon Elementary School in Landing last week. 

If a picture is worth 1,000 words, a video is worth a million.  Take a minute to check out their video coverage of the event by clicking here.

On Sunday, October 14, Lisa Krieger, Board President of the Educational Partnership for Instructing Children (EPIC School) greets the Salek family at Allaire Airport before the family’s ride aboard the Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey Blimp.  Susan Salek placed the winning bid to ride one of only 20 airships in the world to benefit EPIC School. 

EPIC, based in Paramus, is dedicated to education and enrichment of autistic children. 

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey regularly donates blimp rides to aid the fundraising activities of charitable organizations.

From left to right: Lisa Krieger, William Salek, Billy Salek, Amy Salek, Michael Salek (front), Susan Salek and Terry Dillard (Horizon BCBSNJ Blimp Pilot). 

The Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (Horizon BCBSNJ) Blimp made a special appearance at Brigantine Elementary/Middle School on Friday as part of an enrichment program designed to teach students about the airship.  Students grades K-8 enthusiastically participated.

In age-appropriate lessons, students spent classroom hours learning about the history, purpose, physics and mechanics of the blimp before their group assemblies.  Horizon BCBSNJ Blimp pilot, Mandy Scott, aided by a 10-foot long remote control blimp, demonstrated the dynamics of the airship and described life as a blimp pilot. 

 Having a blimp crew that originates from across the country means one thing at this time of year… very heated football debates.

Regardless of what team we root for as individuals, The New York Giants always have our support. With every touchdown, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey donates $500 to Children’s Aid and Family Services.

To date, the “Touchdowns for Families” program has raised $5,000 for abused and neglected children.

Here’s to more touchdowns!

As a blimp pilot, I’m often asked how a person can get a ride on the Horizon Blimp. 

You may already know that blimp rides can not be purchased.  A majority of lucky individuals who ride the blimp won their flight in a charity auction.  Year-round, Horizon BCBSNJ donates blimp rides to worthwhile charities in support of their fundraising activities. 

In 2007, blimp rides were donated to over 50 great organizations such as Operation Smile, The Twilight Wish Foundation, NJ Sharing Network, the American Cancer Society, Morris County Arts Foundation, Ocean County College, the “V” Foundation, and many, many more. 

Having a unique way to give back to the community is one of the greatest perks of flying the Horizon Blimp. 

Today is the official end of summer.  We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: the Horizon Blimp is a staple of summer in New Jersey.  But we have great news for anyone who is feeling bummed about thoughts of autumn!  Although you can kiss your bathing suit and lazy days on the beach goodbye until next year, you don’t have to say goodbye to the blimp quite yet! 

The Horizon Blimp will continue to grace the New Jersey skies until October 27.