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El piloto está por desplegar el globo.

El piloto está por desplegar el globo.
The pilot is about to unfold the balloon.
From Lesson 461:Imminent actions (estar por)·Spanish (Latin America)

Questions & Answers about El piloto está por desplegar el globo.

How does está por desplegar differ from va a desplegar or está a punto de desplegar?
Va a desplegar simply means "is going to unfold" in the future. Both estar por desplegar and estar a punto de desplegar mean the action is imminent ("is about to unfold"). However, estar por specifically highlights that the action is currently pending or next on the immediate agenda.
Could we use para instead of por here, saying está para desplegar?
In Latin America, estar por + infinitive is the standard way to express that an event is about to happen. Using estar para instead usually implies being "in the mood for" something or that an object is "fit or ready for" a specific purpose, rather than focusing on the strict imminence of the action.
What is the root of the verb desplegar?
It combines the prefix des- (meaning un-, or reversing an action) with plegar (to fold). So it literally translates to "to unfold." It is also the standard verb for "to deploy," used frequently for parachutes, sails, air balloons, and troops.
Why wouldn't we use the present progressive (está desplegando) in this situation?
Because the unfolding hasn't actually started yet. Está desplegando means the action is currently in progress ("is unfolding"). Está por desplegar means the pilot is at the very final stage of preparation, but the balloon itself is still packed up.

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