Getting Started
Remember the kid at the airport who used to wash your plane for a ride,
or pump gas for 3 weeks to earn one lesson? Many balloon students earn
instruction the same way. Balloons need crew-not to fly, but to get
airborne and to get back to the launch site. Since balloons drift with
the wind, their pilots can't simply turn around and fly home when they're
ready.
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A two- or three-person crew helps the pilot rig the equipment, holds
open the envelope while it fills with cold air, and applies weight to
the outside of the basket as needed before launch. Then they follow
the balloon on the ground, and after the landing help the pilot pack
everything up and bring it home again. Much of the crew workload consists
of carrying heavy equipment from the truck to and from launch and landing
spots. It's hard work. Large, professional ride operations and flight
schools pay their crew (sometimes). Most sport balloon pilots don't
pay crews in cash, but they do say thank you with rides or lessons.
Of course, you could always pay for flight instruction, but crewing
is also a great way to learn about the sport before your formal training
begins.
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Under FAR Part 61, balloons do not have a CFI. Any commercial balloon
pilot may instruct students, conduct biennial flight reviews in a balloon,
and carry passengers for compensation or hire. Part of the commercial
balloon PTS involves instruction. An NPRM currently in preparation would
establish a CFI for balloons. Balloonists' opinions on this NPRM are
sharply divided. Some feel such a rating would improve and standardize
the quality of instruction. Others feel it would restrict instruction
to urban areas where instructors could attract enough students to justify
the cost of maintaining the CFI. It is unclear at this time what effect
the NPRM would have on BFR's for balloonists.
Choosing a balloon instructor is just as critical as choosing an airplane
flight instructor. You could go to one of the Part 141 schools. These
schools maintain the same quality of instruction as airplane Part 141
schools. However, unless you live near one, you will not learn the intricacies
of flying in your own unique part of the planet. Since micrometeorology
and terrain are of critical importance to the balloonist, this could
be a negative factor. On the other hand, you'll learn from professional
instructors, whose teaching skills are sharp and current. Another option
is to hire a local instructor. The local pilot's teaching skills may
also be sharp and current if there is a lot of ballooning in your area.
The Balloon Federation of America (BFA), the largest organization of
balloonists in the world, maintains a list of instructors who participate
in its Master Instructor Program. The list appears in the BFA Member
Roster, and is a good place to start. In fact, joining the BFA is a
good first step anyway. You'll receive its news, educational, and reference
publications, and be able to check your Roster for pilots and crew wherever
you go.
The FAR's require the balloon pilot to be 14 years of age to apply
for a student license, 16 to take the exam for a private certificate,
and 18 to get a commercial rating. There is no requirement for a medical
certificate, however, you must sign a statement that you have no known
medical defects which would make you unable to pilot a free balloon.
Your flight training will include at least six flights and ten hours
for a private certificate, ten flights and 35 hours for a commercial.
If you already have an airman's certificate in another category, the
flights and time requirements are somewhat less, although you must still
log balloon flight and instruction time. If you already have a fixed
wing certificate, you don't have to take the written.
For a private hot air balloon rating, you must have two flights of
at least 30 minutes' duration each, a solo flight and an ascent to at
least 3,000 feet above the point of takeoff. Commercial applicants must
have two flights of at least 1 hour's duration for a hot air balloon
rating, two solo flights, and an ascent to at least 5,000 feet in a
hot air balloon. In addition, you'll learn and be tested on standard
and emergency flight procedures such as rigging, weigh-off, level flight,
terminal velocity descent, the burner or pilot light going out, and
high wind landings. The test procedure is just like that for airplanes-take
the FAA written, schedule an oral exam and flight check, get signed
off by your instructor, and take the test.
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