Hot Air Balloon Pilot License: FAA Requirements, Training and Ratings

Under federal rules (14 CFR 61.3), a person serving as a required pilot of a U.S. civil aircraft, a balloon included, must hold a pilot certificate issued under the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Part 61 rules. If you have ever watched a launch and wondered what it takes to get there, or if you are trying to judge whether the pilot behind a ride you are booking is properly qualified, the rules are public. This guide summarizes the main ones in plain language and points to the regulation text so you can check each point yourself.

This is general information, not legal or professional advice. Regulations are amended, so always confirm the current wording in the Code of Federal Regulations or with the FAA, and talk to a qualified instructor, before you act on it.

A "hot air balloon license" is a pilot certificate with a rating

People search for a "hot air balloon pilot license," but the regulations talk about pilot certificates (private, commercial and others) and the category and class ratings on them. Under 14 CFR 61.5, balloon is a class rating within the lighter-than-air category, so a balloon pilot holds a certificate with a lighter-than-air category and balloon class rating. Within that class, the training requirements differ depending on whether the balloon is a gas balloon or a balloon with an airborne heater, which is what most people mean by a hot air balloon.

Basic eligibility

Under 14 CFR 61.103, a person applying for a private pilot certificate must meet several general conditions:

• Age: at least 16 years old for a balloon (or glider) rating, compared with 17 for other aircraft ratings.
• English: able to read, speak, write and understand English. If a medical reason prevents that, the FAA can place operating limitations on the certificate.
• Instructor endorsement: a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor who trained the applicant (or reviewed the applicant's home study) and certified that they are prepared for the knowledge test.
• Knowledge test: a passing score on the required knowledge test covering the aeronautical knowledge areas the regulation lists.

The commercial certificate has its own eligibility rules in 14 CFR 61.123. The minimum age there is 18, and the same pattern of English proficiency, instructor endorsements and a knowledge test applies.

What the private pilot flight training looks like

The balloon-specific training minimums for a private certificate are in 14 CFR 61.109(h). In summary:

• At least 10 hours of flight training, including at least six training flights with an authorized instructor in the areas of operation the regulation lists.
• For a balloon with an airborne heater, the regulation requires at least two training flights of one hour each with an instructor, done in preparation for the practical test within the two calendar months before the test month; one solo flight in a balloon with an airborne heater; and at least one flight that involves a controlled ascent to 2,000 feet above the launch site.
• For a gas balloon, the requirements differ: at least two flights of two hours each, made up of a training flight with an instructor in preparation for the practical test, a flight performing the duties of pilot in command with an instructor, and a flight with a controlled ascent to 3,000 feet above the launch site.

These are regulatory minimums, not a prediction of how long training will take. The time any one student needs depends on the student, the weather and the instructor, so treat any specific total you read elsewhere as an estimate.

Moving up to a commercial certificate

The commercial certificate is the one the regulations tie to carrying passengers for pay. Under 14 CFR 61.133(a)(1)(i), a commercial pilot may act as pilot in command while "carrying persons or property for compensation or hire," provided the pilot is qualified under Part 61 and the other rules that apply to the operation. Under 61.133(a)(2)(ii), a commercial pilot with a lighter-than-air category rating may also give flight and ground training in a balloon. For a balloon, the aeronautical experience rules are in 14 CFR 61.129(h). An applicant must log at least 35 hours of flight time as a pilot, which includes:

1. 20 hours in balloons
2. 10 flights in balloons
3. Two flights in balloons as pilot in command
4. 10 hours of flight training that includes at least 10 training flights with an authorized instructor

For a balloon with an airborne heater, the flight training portion includes two training flights of one hour each with an instructor in preparation for the practical test, two solo flights, and one flight with a controlled ascent to 3,000 feet above the launch site. Gas balloons have their own list, including a controlled ascent to 5,000 feet.

Do balloon pilots need a medical certificate?

It depends on what the pilot is doing. Under 14 CFR 61.23(b)(4), a person exercising the privileges of a private pilot certificate with a balloon class rating, in a balloon, is not required to hold a medical certificate. Commercial privileges are treated differently: the regulation lists a second-class medical certificate for commercial balloon privileges exercised for compensation or hire, subject to exceptions listed in the same section, such as providing flight training. If this matters to you, read 61.23 in full or ask an FAA-designated medical examiner or a flight instructor, because the details are easy to misread.

Study material: the FAA Balloon Flying Handbook

The FAA publishes a Balloon Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-11B), available for download as PDF files from the FAA website. Its preface says it is written for student pilots as well as those pursuing more advanced pilot certificates. Its chapters cover topics such as preflight planning, weather, the national airspace system, layout to launch, in-flight maneuvers, landing and recovery, and aeromedical factors. The handbook states that its use of words such as "must" is not intended to add to, interpret or relieve a duty imposed by Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and it tells readers to become familiar with the pertinent parts of 14 CFR and the Aeronautical Information Manual as well.

What this means when you book a ride in New York

You do not need to read the regulations to take a balloon ride, but a few questions are reasonable to ask an operator before you pay:

• Does the pilot hold a commercial certificate with a balloon rating? Because carrying passengers for compensation falls under commercial privileges, you should expect the answer to be yes.
• How does the company handle weather? Balloon flights depend on the wind and the forecast, so ask how the company decides whether a flight goes and how it tells you if a launch is delayed or cancelled.
• What is the rebooking or refund policy? This is a business policy, not an FAA rule, so read it before you buy.

If a company cannot tell you clearly what certificate its pilot holds, consider asking more questions before you book.

Thinking about flying yourself?

The path is simple to describe even if it takes time to complete: find an authorized instructor who teaches in balloons (as noted above, commercial balloon pilots can give balloon flight training), study for and pass the knowledge test, log the required training and solo flights, and pass the practical test. Ask any instructor you are considering how they schedule training around weather, because balloon flights depend on the weather and your calendar will need to flex.

If you are curious about balloons in New York before committing to training, a passenger flight is one way to watch a pilot work up close.

Sources

• 14 CFR 61.3, Requirement for certificates, ratings, privileges, and authorizations: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/61.3
• 14 CFR 61.5, Certificates and ratings issued under this part: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/61.5
• 14 CFR 61.103, Eligibility requirements: general (private pilot): https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/61.103
• 14 CFR 61.109, Aeronautical experience (private pilot, paragraph (h) balloon rating): https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/61.109
• 14 CFR 61.123, Eligibility requirements: general (commercial pilot): https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/61.123
• 14 CFR 61.129, Aeronautical experience (commercial pilot, paragraph (h) balloon rating): https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/61.129
• 14 CFR 61.133, Commercial pilot privileges and limitations: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/61.133
• 14 CFR 61.23, Medical certificates: requirement and duration: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/61.23
• FAA, Balloon Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-11B): https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/Balloon_Flying_Handbook
• FAA, Balloon Flying Handbook front matter (preface): https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/Balloon_Flying_Handbook_FAA-H-8083-11B/bfh_front.pdf