Pilot Requirements

A Student Pilot’s Certificate must be obtained before beginning training. Successful completion of training leads to a Private Pilot’s Certificate, lighter-than-air category with a free balloon class rating. After further training and experience a Commercial rating may be obtained, qualifying an individual to fly for hire, or to instruct. The following are the general requirements for Student, Private and Commercial Certificates.

The following information is extracted and simplified from Federal Aviation Regulations Part 61 - Certification: Pilots and Flight Instructors. For the most current information on pilot requirements please go to www.faa.gov Subpart C - Student Pilots A student must be at least 14 years of age. Must be able to read, write, speak and understand the English language. No medical certificate is required, but the applicant must certify that he/she has no known medical defect that makes him unable to pilot a free balloon. Student Pilot certificates may be issued by FAA Inspectors or Designated Pilot Examiners. Student Pilots may solo after demonstrating to their instructor they are familiar with Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations, pass a pre-solo written examination, and are proficient in the following aspects of balloon operation: pre-flight preparation, operation of controls, lift-off and climb, descent and landing, and emergency situations. A Student Pilot may fly a balloon only under the supervision of a qualified instructor. He/she may not carry passengers or fly a balloon for hire.

  SubPart D - Private Pilots

1. To be eligible for a free balloon Private Pilot’s Certificate a person must be at least 16 years of age.

2. Read, write, speak and understand the English language.

3. No medical certificate is required, but the applicant must certify that he/she has no known medical defect that makes him unable to pilot a free balloon.

4. The applicant must pass a written test on such items as: (a) Federal Aviation Regulations covering pilot privileges, limitations, and flight procedures, (b) use of navigational charts, (c) recognition of weather conditions and use of weather reports, (d) operating procedures with gas and hot air balloons.

5. The applicant must have received instruction on the following pilot operations: (a) ground handling and inflation, (b) preflight checks, (c) takeoff and ascents, (d) descents and landings, (e) emergency conditions.

6. Flight experience must include at least 10 hours of flight instruction in free balloons, which must include at least 6 flights under the supervision of an instructor. These flights must include at least the following: two flights of a least one hour in duration within 60 days of the Practical Test with a Designated Pilot Examiner; one ascent to 2,000 feet above takeoff point; and one solo flight (these requirements are for hot air balloons, requirements for gas balloons vary slightly).

SubPart E - Commercial Pilots

1. The age requirement for a Commercial
   Pilot certificate is 18 years.

2. Read, write, speak and understand
   the English language.

3. No medical certificate is required, but
   the applicant must certify that he/she
   has no known medical defect that
   makes him unable to pilot a free balloon.

4. The applicant must pass a more
   advanced written test on the subject
   matter listed in item 4 required for the
   private pilot standards, additional
   operating procedures relating to
   commercial operations and those
   duties required of a flight instructor.

5. Advanced training must received from
   an authorized instructor to include at
   least 10 hours of flight training in at
   least 10 flights regarding those items
   listed in item 5 as required for the private pilot standards, plus emergency recovery from a terminal velocity descent.

6. The applicant for a Commercial
   Certificate must hold at least a Private
   Pilot Certificate and have at least 35
   hours of flight time as a pilot, of which
   20 hours must be in a balloon. Flight
   time must include 2 solo flights, 2
   flights of at least one hour duration
   within 60 days of the Practical Test
   with a Designated Pilot Examiner, and
   one flight to 3,000 feet
   above takeoff point.

7. The holder of a Commercial Pilot's
   certificate may operate a balloon for
   hire and give flight instruction

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