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Get Involved in Ballooning

If you are one of those who find hot air balloons fascinating, you've probably dreamt of going for a balloon ride, or maybe even piloting one.

Did you know it's relatively easy to get involved in ballooning? Getting involved can be as simple as following a balloon and meeting it at its landing spot. There are lots of other ways to get involved, a few of which we explain here:

Buy a balloon ride

Buying a balloon ride for yourself is often the most direct way of learning about the sport. Ask if you can help with the inflation and deflation of the balloon - most passengers enjoy helping which maximizes your experience.

There are lots of companies who offer balloon rides. The flight lasts generally an hour, and you should plan to spend about 3-4 hours for the entire adventure. Flights will take place near dawn and dusk since that's when the wind is the calmest.

You can find a balloon ride company in our Ride Directory or in your local phone book.

Call a Local Pilot

If there are any local hot air balloon pilots in your area, give them a call and tell them you are interested in crewing. Most balloon pilots are very happy to accept new crew people. You'll help with all aspects of the flight, and will ride in the chase vehicle as it follows the balloon during flight. Don't expect to fly, as this very important job will keep you grounded. Your efforts will be appreciated and you'll learn all about balloon flight quickly.

Go to a Festival

Balloon Festivals are a popular place to watch balloons fly. There are hundreds of balloon festivals around the world each year, with the majority occurring in the summer or fall. Some festivals allow spectators to walk amongst the balloons, while others may keep spectators away from the pilots and crews.

If you go to a festival, don't be shy -- balloonists are happy to answer your questions, and its possible you'll find a balloonist that lives near you. We are working on the new version of our Festival Directory, and if you'd like to know when it's available, just subscribe to our newsletter (in the box to the left).

Find a Balloon Club

There may be a balloon club near you, which would be a great way to find a balloonist to help. Many pilots welcome new crew members, and volunteering to be an a balloon crew is probably the quickest way to learn about the sport. Our Balloon Club page is a great place to find out of there is a club near you.

Learn to Fly

If you've as fascinated about the idea of learning to fly a balloon as we are, we think you'll enjoy the new edition of the FAA's Balloon Flying Handbook.

This 252 page guide provides comprehensive information about flying balloons. It is used by some flight instructors as they train students.

It covers all the important aspects including both actual flying and regulatory matters. While some of the topics are best understood while training, it serves as a window into the world of ballooning for even the casual armchair pilot.

The Balloon Flying Handbook is in PDF format and can be downloaded immediately.

Click the image to purchase and download this book now.

New Balloon Ride Business Guide

We are often asked about the feasibility of starting a balloon ride business in some far-off location. Unfortunately, there are no easy answers since there are many variables to consider. Everything from weather, location, regulations, to the size of balloon that is used can make or break a balloon ride business.

Our article about how to get a balloon pilot's license is a great overview of the steps needed to learn to fly a balloon, but for those interested in the business side of starting a balloon ride business will get valuable information from our new book.

Balloon Flying Handbook Starting a Balloon Ride Business
We've just published our own guide that will give all the items, point by point, that you need to research before you spend tens of thousands of dollars on a hot air balloon and support equipment.

This book was written by a veteran of the balloon business who has been a pilot for over 30 years. This insider's guide will prove invaluable as you do your research.

We've got other great books in our Pilot's section.

California Lawsuit Update

We've been covering the lawsuit filed by JCM Farming, the secretive unpopular landowner in California's Cochella Valley. They have been using the legal process to force many hot air balloon companies out of business.

After years of suing anyone remotely associated with flying balloons in the area, they have unexpectedly withdrawn the lawsuit one day before the court-ordered inspection of their property.

While this is undoubtedly a huge relief for the balloonists who have been targeted, it doesn't undo the damage done to them by JCM Farming. Many have gone out of business, lost income has been in the millions, and there are still staggering legal bills to pay.

While we are thrilled to see the lawsuit withdrawn, we can't help but wonder of JCM will continue what many have called their abuse of the legal system and file a new lawsuit. We're cautiously optimistic that this attack on balloonists is over.

You can read more about the background of this lawsuit and the recent developments in this L.A. Times article:
A hot air balloon fight...

Give the Gift of Flight

Balloon ride gift certificates are a popular holiday choice. This unique gift is easy to give, unique, appreciated and allows the recipient to schedule their flight at their convenience. Most balloon flight certificates are also transferable, so if your recipient has a deep-seated fear of flying that you didn't know about, the certificate can most likely be transferred to someone else.

Shop Smart

To ensure a wonderful experience, do some smart shopping. It's important that you do a little research before you buy a certificate from anyone. Our directory of approved balloon ride companies is the easiest way to guarantee you are dealing with a genuine balloon flight company that operates its own balloons, not a certificate mill that doesn't fly any balloons but resells the passengers to the company providing the flight.

Ask Questions

If you are considering purchasing from a company not listed in our Approved Ride Company Directory, be sure to call the company you are considering purchasing from and ask a few questions. If you don't get clear answers or feel comfortable, move on and call someone else. Here are some questions to ask:

Do you own your own balloons?
Do you fly full time or part time?
Where is your company headquartered?
Are gift certificates refundable or transferable?

You're looking for straight answers, not a run-around. If they tell you their certificates are redeemable at multiple locations, you are likely talking to one of the certificate mills, not a ride company that owns and operates their own balloons (One notable exception is Sundance Balloons in Canada, who operates their own balloons and directly employs their flight staff across the country.)

Check the Better Business Bureau for the company's rating.

Your goal is to purchase directly from the company who will be providing the flight. You'll get the best service, lowest prices, and direct answers to your questions.

Take Note

Special care should be taken if looking for a balloon ride company online, or responding to a newspaper advertisement. When looking at a balloon company's website, look for a local phone number. Some of the misleading sites have started adding fake local addresses [Details].

There is one company that has set up hundreds of websites selling balloon rides and skydiving certificates, yet they are not known to own or operate any balloons themselves. Many in the balloon and skydiving industries feel the websites are misleading by giving the impression the company is local to the market the website is focused on. Customers have reported difficulty redeeming their certificates, or are sometimes forced to drive hundreds of miles to redeem their certificate when they were told there was a local company who would honor it. More information on this company, with links to information about a lawsuit, Better Business Bureau records, and a list of many of the hundreds of websites they operate can be found here.

A new gift certificate reseller with questionable business practices has surfaced. Check out our warning about Flights Over America who we do not recommend.

Of course you are free to patronize any company you select. We hope this information is valuable. Balloon gift certificates are a wonderful gift, and our goal in providing this information is to make sure you don't get taken advantage of by the unscrupulous tactics of companies more interested in your money than in providing memorable flight experiences for their passengers.

Is 1-800-SKY-RIDE a SkyScam?
Are ThrillPlanet and 800-SKY-RIDE related?
Flights Over America warning