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One of the coolest things about balloons is that commercially rated balloon pilots can provide instruction! In other categories of aircraft (airplanes, helicopters, etc.) a separate flight instructor rating/certificate must be held in order to provide instruction.

The following is a step-by-step guide for students and instructors to utilize that will culminate in the issuance of a private pilot certificate with a lighter-than-air hot air balloon rating.

 

Step 0: Study for the Written Test

The FAA requires private pilot applicants to have passed a written test. The written test must be taken prior to the check ride, however, it is only valid for 24 months so you don’t want to take it too early. It must be valid at the time you start and finish your check ride. Start studying now, and you can take it towards the end of your training.

 

 

Step 1: Get a Student Pilot Certificate

Before you solo, you’ll need a student pilot certificate.  This video provides great instruction on how to apply for a student pilot certificate online. If you apply online, you’ll need to find someone with an airplane/helicopter flight instructor certificate to process your application. The other option would be to use a paper 8710-1 application, in which case a commercial hot air balloon pilot (who has instructional privileges) can process the application. It can take the FAA several weeks (8-12) to process the application and you must have it prior to flying the balloon solo, so do this early in the process.

 

Step 2: Provide the Necessary Instruction Prior to Solo

The FAA requires that a student receive training on the following procedures before the balloon is flown by the student solo (without the instructor on board). Reference 61.87(k).

  1. Layout and assembly procedures;
  2. Proper flight preparation procedures, including preflight planning and preparation, and aircraft systems;
  3. Ascents and descents;
  4. Landing and recovery procedures;
  5. Emergency procedures and equipment malfunctions;
  6. Operation of hot air or gas source, ballast, valves, vents, and rip panels, as appropriate;
  7. Use of deflation valves or rip panels for simulating an emergency;
  8. The effects of wind on climb and approach angles; and
  9. Obstruction detection and avoidance techniques.

 

 

Step 3: Administer a Pre-Solo Written Test

The FAA requires that a student take a pre-solo written test (administered by the flight instructor) before flying solo. Reference 61.87(b).

The test must address the student pilot’s knowledge of –

  1. Applicable sections of parts 61 and 91 of this chapter;
  2. Airspace rules and procedures for the airport where the solo flight will be performed; and
  3. Flight characteristics and operational limitations for the make and model of aircraft to be flown.

The student’s authorized instructor must –

  1. Administer the test; and
  2. At the conclusion of the test, review all incorrect answers with the student before authorizing that student to conduct a solo flight.

A sample pre-solo written test can be found here <>.

 

 

Step 4: Solo!

Once the instructor has provided all the necessary instruction outlined in step 2, has administered and reviewed the pre-solo written test in step 3, is confident the student can safely fly the balloon, and has provided the required endorsements (see below), the student can fly the balloon solo.

Required solo endorsements. Reference AC 61-65.

  • I certify that [First name, MI, Last name] has satisfactorily completed the pre-solo knowledge test of § 61.87(b) for the [make and model] aircraft.
  • I certify that [First name, MI, Last name] has received and logged pre-solo flight training for the maneuvers and procedures that are appropriate to the [make and model] aircraft. I have determined [he or she] has demonstrated satisfactory proficiency and safety on the maneuvers and procedures required by § 61.87 in this or similar make and model of aircraft to be flown subject to the following limitations: [Whatever limitations the instructor wants to place on the student. Typical limitations are things like max x knots of wind, ceiling less than x,xxx ft, etc.].
  • I certify that [First name, MI, Last name] has received the required training to qualify for solo flying. I have determined [he or she] meets the applicable requirements of § 61.87(n) and is proficient to make solo flights in [make and model].

All three endorsements must be given and present in the student’s logbook when they are flying the aircraft solo. The student must also have their student pilot certificate prior to flying the aircraft solo. Each endorsement must be ink signed and dated by the instructor, along with their commercial pilot hot air balloon (CPHAB) certificate number. Example: 02/03/2020 John D Instructor, CPHAB 1234567

Note that the solo endorsement is only good for 90 days. If more than 90 days pass, the instructor must provide the additional endorsement, below, to extend the solo period.

  • I certify that [First name, MI, Last name] has received the required training to qualify for solo flying. I have determined that [he or she] meets the applicable requirements of § 61.87(p) and is proficient to make solo flights in [make and model].
 
 

 

Step 5: Gain Solo Experience

Only one solo flight is required in order to get a private pilot certificate. So, you solo experience could be very short. However, you can solo for as long as you want, providing you get the additional required endorsements every 90 days. This is your opportunity to become familiar with the balloon, brush up on your skills, and make sure your flying is proficient enough to pass the check ride. Many students might fly a time or two solo, then fly with their instructor again to make sure they have not picked up any bad habits. Intermixing solo flight with instruction is a great way to gain experience and confidence without straying from  safe flying.

 

Step 6: Check Ride Prep

Prior to taking the check ride, you need to have the following qualifications. Reference 61.109(h).

  1. A total of 10 hours of flight. This can be a combination of instruction received and solo time.
  2. At least 6 flights with an instructor.
  3. At least one solo flight.
  4. At least one flight involving an ascent to 2,000 ft above the launch site.
  5. At least two flights of 1 hours in length with an instructor within the preceding 2 calendar months from the month in which you take your check ride. This means that if you take your check ride on August 17th, you must have had two flights with an instructor after June 1st.

You must also be able to perform all the maneuvers in the Private Pilot Practical Test Standards.

 

Step 7: Take the Written Test

As mentioned in Step 0, you will need to take a written test (referred to by the FAA as the “airman knowledge test”) administered by the FAA prior to your check ride. Once you successfully complete the test, you will receive a test report that is valid for 24 months. Your check ride must be completed within 24 months of taking the test, otherwise you will need to retake it.

You can schedule to take the test here. This video will walk you through the scheduling process. Be sure to register for the “PBH – Private Pilot Balloon – Hot Air ” test – not the Unmanned Aircraft test specified in the video. The test contains 60 questions and you must score 70% to pass.

In order to take the test, you will need the following written endorsement from your instructor. Reference AC l61-65.

  • I certify that [First name, MI, Last name] has received the required training in accordance with § 61.105. I have determined [he or she] is prepared for the Private Pilot Balloon – Hot Air knowledge test.
 
 

 

Step 8: Endorsements & Application

Similar to the written test, you must receive the proper endorsements from your instructor in order to take the check ride. As an instructor, when you give these endorsements to an applicant, you are attesting to the fact that they have the required training and they can perform the maneuvers to the required practical test standards. Note that the practical test standards include standards for both the ground (oral) and flight portion of the check ride. Reference AC 61-65.

  • I certify that [First name, MI, Last name] has received the required training in accordance with §§ 61.107 and 61.109. I have determined [he or she] is prepared for the Private Pilot Lighter Than Air Hot Air Balloon practical test.
  • I certify that [First name, MI, Last name] has demonstrated satisfactory knowledge of the subject areas in which [he or she] was deficient on the Private Pilot Balloon – Hot Air airman knowledge test.
  • I certify that [First name, MI, Last name] has received and logged training time within 2 calendar-months preceding the month of application in preparation for the practical test and [he or she] is prepared for the required practical test for the issuance of Private Pilot Lighter Than Air Hot Air Balloon certificate.

You will also need to fill out an application for your private pilot certificate. There is a web based system called IACRA that is the preferred method of doing this. The student will need to fill out the application, and then the instructor will need to recommend the student for the check ride. The following YouTube links provide instructions for submitting the application.

Video explaining how to submit your application can be found here.

Video explaining how an instructor recommends a student can be found here.

 

Step 9: Take the Check Ride

The “final test” to get your private pilot certificate is referred to as a check ride. It can be given by the FAA, or more commonly, a private individual that doesn’t directly work for the FAA, but is instead designated by the FAA to give check rides. These individuals are called Designated Pilot Examiners.

A check ride consists of two parts. A ground (oral) exam usually given the evening before the flight. Think of it as two balloon gurus talking about balloons. Your knowledge about balloon flying, the FAA regulations, airspace, weather, etc. will be evaluated.

The next morning (or in a few days, depending on weather), you will go for a short flight in the balloon with the examiner.

The topics for the ground portion of the check ride and the maneuvers you must demonstrate in flight are published by the FAA in a document called the Practical Test Standards, or PTS. The PTS can be found here. You should review it before your check ride with your instructor to ensure you know all the required information.

 

Step 10: Celebrate!

When you pass your check ride, you will be issued a temporary private pilot certificate and you can now fly with friends & family without having to adhere to the limitations you had as a student pilot. The biggest limitation you have as a private pilot is that you may not accept, advertise, or ask for any monetary compensation from passengers that would be more than the pro rata share of the flight for all individuals (including the pilot) on board. Have fun with it!

 

 

Other Things to Consider:

Logging Flight Time

    • The FAA requires that each applicant document their flight time in some sort of log book. It doesn’t need to be fancy. It could be individual pieces of paper in a 3 ring notebook, napkins, whatever you’d like to use. Most pilots use a commercially available pilot logbook. Here are a few options:
    • Regardless of what pilot logbook you use, you must make sure each flight contains the following information. Reference 61.51.
      • Date of the flight
      • Duration of the flight
      • Type of aircraft a N number of aircraft
      • Whether it was solo (Pilot in Command) or instruction received
      • Location of takeoff and landing
      • Whether the flight was during day or night time
      • For instructional flights, the instructor must provide a description of the training given, their signature, and commercial hot air balloon certificate number for each training flight.

 

Endorsements

Endorsements necessary for solo, the check ride (practical test), written test, etc. may be located in a pilot logbook or separate piece of paper. Most commercially available logbooks will have outlines for the proper endorsements in the back. Be sure to check the latest version of FAA Advisory Circular 61-65 to make sure the recommended endorsement text has not changed. For balloon students using a logbook tailored for airplane pilots, make sure the endorsements reference the correct regulations, where necessary.

How much flight time can I log?

In a hot air balloon, flight time may be logged anytime the envelope is buoyant and there is intent to fly. Example: If you stand up the balloon and then take 10 minutes to get everything organized before leaving the ground, that 10 minutes counts, in addition to the time in the air. If you stand up the balloon for 30 minutes, never leave the ground, and then deflate, none of that time can be logged. Flight time is typically logged in hours:minutes, or “tenths” of an hour – your choice.