Instruction - Learn to Fly a Hot Air Balloon

You have always wanted to fly in a balloon. A hot air balloon flight is one of the most frequent "bucket list" items.

I would also bet the idea of becoming a pilot is one of those things you have thought or possibly dreamt about.

What are you waiting for? We have helped scores of people learn to fly over the years.

Learning to fly a balloon requires a specific set of motor skills:

Coordination - the ability to take physical action in the proper sequence to produce the desired results while launching, flying, and landing the balloon.
Timing - the application of muscle coordination at the proper time to make the flight, and all maneuvers incident to it, a constant smooth process.
Control touch - he ability to interpret, evaluate, and predict the actions and reactions of the balloon with regard to attitude and speed variations, by interpreting and evaluating varying visual cues and instrument readings.

Who We Are

There are two pathways to achieve your pilot certificate. Yes, it is a certificate not a license. There is actually no such thing as a pilots license.

You can choose to train for your certificate under Part 141 or Part 61 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. The main difference being in in intensity and timing. For those students who have the ability to dedicate a solid block of 10 - 14 days for a rigorous flight program a Part 141 school may be the best fit.

We specialize in training Private and Commercial students under Part 61 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. Part 61 allows a pathway to train students on a one-on-one, basis where we customize a training program for the unique needs of the student. We adjust our structured training curriculum to:

Schedule flight and ground training around the available time the student is available.
Bring the training to the student's location anywhere in the US.
If needed we can provide training aircraft at an additional per hour cost.

Our chief flight instructor has over 15 years of training experience and has participated in training students from across the US as well as international students from Central and South America, Europe, and the Pacific rim.

In addition, he has been recognized with the designation of Flight Instructor from the Balloon Federation of America and has achieved the designation as an Elite Balloon Instructor Program as fueled by the National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI).

We are poised and ready to help you achieve your training goals in earning your pilot certificate.

Student Pilot Certificate

Obtaining a student pilot's certificate is the first step on the pathway to becoming a hot air balloon pilot.

The general requirements for Student Pilot are:

The individual must be at least 14 years of age.
Must be able to read, speak, write and understand the English language.

There is no cost to obtain a Student Pilot certificate. You may start the process by completing an FAA form 8710-1. After you have completed the form you may take it to your local FAA Flight Standards District Office or any Designated Pilot Examiner for submission. We highly recommend obtaining you Student Certificate as soon as possible. There are some training activities for Student pilots that can not be accomplished until you have your certificate in your possession.

Student Pilots may solo after demonstration to their flight proficiency to their instructor and by passing a written quiz that they are familiar with 14 CFR Part 91 and Part 61 airspace where the solo will take place, the balloons flight characteristics and limitation and are proficient in balloon operation of pre-flight preparation, operation of controls, lift-off and climb, descent and landing and emergency situations.

A student pilot may not carry passengers or fly a balloon for hire.

Cost - There is no cost associated with obtaining a Student Pilot Certificate from the FAA.

Reference - FAA CFR Part 61 - Subpart C—Student Pilots

Private Pilot Certificate

A Private Pilot Certificate allows you to conduct flight operations on your own without and instructor or supervision. You can carry passengers and fly in any airspace where flight operations are allowed. You must follow and conform with all FAA regulations that are or would be in effect for the area and place of the flight. You may NOT receive compensation for any flight operation but you can share the operational costs on a pro-rata basis with your passengers.

General Requirements for a Private Pilot Certificate are:

Must be at least 16 years of age.
Must be able to read, speak, write and understand the English language.
At this time no medical certificate is required but that may be changing in the near future.
Must pass a written knowledge exam on items such as
- Pilot privileges, limitation and flight procedures
- Use of navigation charts
- Recognition of weather conditions and use of weather reports
- Operating procedures with hot air balloons
Must have received instruction on the following pilot operations:
- Ground handing and inflation
- Navigation
- Airport operations
- Preflight checks
- Takeoff and ascents
- Descents and landings
- Emergency conditions and procedures
- Post flight procedures
Flight experience must include at minimum:
- At least 10 hours in free balloons, which must include 6 flight under the supervision of an instructor (most students take longer).
- These flight must include two training flight of at least one hour within 60 days of the scheduled check ride.
- One ascent to 2,000 feet above take off point.
- Successful completion of a pre solo quiz and at least one solo flight.

We STRONGLY RECOMMEND that students pass the FAA knowledge exam for the desired rating prior to starting any flight training. For all most all of our students we require it.

Cost - Private Pilot training costs are $350 per flight assuming the student provides the aircraft. Private Pilot students should plan on an expenditure of $5,000 to $6,000 depending on their performance. We can provide an aircraft at an additional hourly charge of $250 per flight hour. Typical flights are 1.0 to 2.0 hours in length depending on conditions and location. Ground instruction costs are $75 per hour. If needed, crew can be provided for an additional charge of $75 per training flight.

Reference - FAA CFR Part 61 - Subpart E—Private Pilots

Commercial Pilot Certificate

General Requirements for a Commercial Pilot Certificate are:

Must be at least 18 years of age.
Must be able to read, speak, write and understand the English language.
At this time no medical certificate is required but that may be changing in the near future.
The applicant must pass a more advanced written test on the subject matter listed in 14 CFR 61.125, understand additional operating procedures relating to commercial operations and those duties required of a flight instructor.
The applicant for a commercial certificate must have at least 35 of flight time as a pilot of which 20 hours must in balloons (remaining 15 hours maybe in other aircraft). Flight time must include 10 hours in free balloons. 10 hours under the supervision of an instructor , 2 solo flights, 2 training flights of at least one hour duration within 60 days of the scheduled check ride and one flight to 3,000 feet above the take off point.
Advanced training must be received from an authorized instructor covering those items listed in 14 CFR 61.127 (b) (8).

We STRONGLY RECOMMEND that students pass the FAA knowledge exam for the desired rating prior to starting any flight training. For all most all of our students we require it.

Cost - Commercial Pilot training costs are $385 per flight, assuming the student provides the aircraft. Private Pilot students and students doing an add on to an existing FAA Pilot certificate should plan on an expenditure of $4,000 to $4,500 depending on their performance and prior flight experiences. We can provide an aircraft at an additional hourly charge of $250 per flight hour. Typical flights are 1.0 to 2.0 hours in length depending on conditions and location. Ground instruction costs are $75 per hour. If needed, crew can be provided for an additional charge of $75 per training flight.

Reference - FAA CFR Part 61 - Subpart F—Commercial Pilots

Flight Review

For holders of pilot certificates issued by the United States Federal Aviation Administration a flight review is a review required of every active holder of a U.S. pilot certificate at least every 24 calendar months. The flight review consists of

At least 1 hour of ground instruction.
1 hour in-flight with a qualified flight instructor.
Or, completion of any Phase of the FAA WINGS program also satisfies the requirement for a flight review.

For the non-Wings flight the requirements are:

A one hour review of the current general operating and flight rules of FAR 91; and
A review of those maneuvers and procedures that, at the discretion of the person giving the review, are necessary for the pilot to demonstrate the safe exercise of the privileges of the pilot certificate.

Before being able to act as pilot in command (PIC) a pilot must have completed a flight review within the previous 24 calendar months.

It is important to note that a flight review is not a test. There are no pass or fail criteria, although the instructor giving the review can decline to endorse your log-book for a flight review has been unsatisfactorily.

Cost - Flight review training costs are $250 per flight assuming the student provides the aircraft. We can provide an aircraft at an additional hourly charge of $250 per flight hour. Typical flights are 1.0 hour in length depending on conditions and location. If needed, crew can be provided for an additional charge of $75 per training flight.

Reference - FAASafety/Wings Flight Review Checklist, FAA Requirements and Wings Flight Review Info