FAA
balloon pilot license
Balloon Pilot's License
The following information is
extracted and simplified from the Federal Aviation Regulation Part 61 --
Certification: Pilots and Flight Instructors
A student pilot's certification 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.
Subpart C -- Student Pilots
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A student must be at
least 14 years of age.
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He must be able to
read, speak and understand the English language (some exceptions
allowed).
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No medical certificate
is required, but the applicant must certify that he 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 that they are familiar with
Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations 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 may
not carry passengers or fly a balloon for hire.
Subpart D -- Private
Pilots
-
To be eligible for a
free balloon private pilot's certificate a person must be at least 16
years of age.
-
Read, speak and
understand the English language.
-
No medical certificate
required. Same as paragraph 3 above.
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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 navigation charts, (c) recognition of weather conditions and use for
weather reports, (d) operating procedures with gas and hot air
balloons.
-
The applicant must have
received instruction on the following pilot operations: (a) ground
handling and inflation, (b) pre-flight checks, (c) takeoff and ascents,
(d) descents and landings, (e) emergency conditions.
-
Flight experience must
include at least 10 hours in free balloons, which must include 6
flights under supervision of an instructor. These flights must include
at least the following: tow flights of at least 30 minutes duration,
one ascent to 3000 feet above takeoff point, and one solo flight (these
requirements are for air balloons; requirements for gas balloons are
slightly different).
Subpart E --
Commercial Pilots
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The age requirement for
a commercial pilot certificate is 18 years.
-
Read, speak and
understand the English language.
-
No medical certificate
required. Same as paragraph 3 above.
-
The applicant must pass
a more advanced written test on the subject matter listed in paragraph
4 above, additional operating procedures relating to commercial
operations, and those duties required of a flight instructor.
-
Advanced training must
be received from an authorized instructor including those items listed
in paragraph 5 above plus emergency recovery from a terminal velocity
descent.
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The applicant for a
commercial certificate must have at least 35 hours of flight time as a
pilot, of which 20 hours must be in balloons, 6 under the supervision
of an instructor, 2 solo flights, 2 flights of at least one duration,
and one flight to 5000 feet above the take-off point.
-
The holder of a
commercial pilot's certificate may operate a balloon for hire and may
give flight instruction.
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