Top 19 How Much Does A Hot Air Balloon Pilot Make Top Answer Update

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The salaries of Balloon Pilots in the US range from $34,800 to $147,890 , with a median salary of $76,150 . The middle 60% of Balloon Pilots makes $76,150, with the top 80% making $147,890.Aeronaut. The pilot of a balloon or airship. Aerostat. A lighter-than-air craft. A hot-air balloon is an aerostat.How many hot air balloons are there in the United States? There are only roughly 3000 balloons registered in the United States, with between 5000 to 6000 hot air balloon certificated pilots.

What are hot air balloon pilots called?

Aeronaut. The pilot of a balloon or airship. Aerostat. A lighter-than-air craft. A hot-air balloon is an aerostat.

How many hot air balloon pilots are there?

How many hot air balloons are there in the United States? There are only roughly 3000 balloons registered in the United States, with between 5000 to 6000 hot air balloon certificated pilots.

Do hot air balloons have pilots?

To pilot a hot air balloon, you must have a pilot’s license, or airman’s certificate, just as you would for an airplane, however a hot air balloon is a different category of aircraft with its own specific set of training requirements.

What are the odds of dying in a hot air balloon?

Most forms of air travel are considered safer than driving a car. Going by injury and fatality statistics alone, this may also be true of hot air balloons. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), only 16 people have died while hot air ballooning between 2002 and 2016—about 1 person per year.

Do hot air balloons have parachutes?

DO BALLOONISTS CARRY PARACHUTES? Not usually. If the burner goes out and for some reason cannot be reignited, the balloon acts as a parachute and descends at parachute speed (about 17 feet per second).

Can you sit down in a hot air balloon?

Prepare to Stand

If you’re thinking about wearing those strappy heels on your flight, you might want to think again. There are no seats or chairs during a hot air balloon ride. The best bet is to wear your most comfortable pair of athletic shoes or some cushy flip flops.

How much does a hot air balloon cost?

On average, you’re looking at spending a wide range of money to make the initial hot air balloon purchase. It can cost anywhere from $20,000 to over $100,000. Granted, if you’re spending over $100,000, you’re probably buying a commercial hot air balloon, which can carry more people than a personal hot air balloon.

Are hot air balloons safer than airplanes?

Hot air balloons are one of the safest ways to travel in the air. In fact, hot air balloons are safer than airplanes and helicopters. This is surprising to some people, but there are many reasons behind this fact. From the year 2000 to 2016, there were 21 fatalities from hot air balloon crashes and accidents.

How big is the biggest hot air balloon?

Cameron Balloons have designed, manufactured, tested and delivered the world’s largest passenger hot-air balloon. The giant Cameron Z-750 (750,000cubic foot / 21,152 cubic metres), which is operated in by Hallier, carries the Groupon logo.

What is the tallest hot air balloon?

The biggest balloon at this year’s Fiesta also happens to be the biggest hot air balloon in the world. “It’s 44 meters (144 feet) wide. It’s 30 meters (98 feet) high,” balloon pilot Herman Kliensmit said. The massive Superbike came all the way from Holland and it takes a big crew to inflate.

How hot is the air in a hot air balloon?

Hot Air Rises

The envelope containing the warmer, less dense air rises and is used to lift the payload of basket, fuel tanks and passengers. The air in a typical balloon may be heated approximately 90 to 100 degrees C above ambient temperature.

How long does it take to become a balloon pilot?

How long does it take to learn to fly a hot air balloon? Most people complete the private hot air balloon pilots training course over a period of 2 to 3 months. During this time they will be involved in a variety of balloon related activities to build their exposure and familiarity with hot air balloon technology.

What happens if a hot air balloon goes too high?

A hot air balloon can reach a point that the fuel to carry it starts to get too heavy. Most hot air balloon rides you will take are only going to be a few miles. The way the hot air balloon business works can be a bit complex, and when people go for very long rides, it tends to throw things off a bit.

How does a hot air balloon return to the ground?

The parachute valve, from the inside of the balloon. A Kevlar cord runs from the valve at the top of the balloon, down to the basket, through the center of the envelope. Hot air balloons also have a cord to open the parachute valve at the top of the envelope.

How fast do ultralights fly?

Ultralights — considered not planes but “vehicles” by the Federal Aviation Administration — are one-person, inexpensive craft that fly no faster than 55 knots, or about 62 mph. An estimated 18,000 are in use nationwide, according to the Frederick-based United States Ultralight Association.

How do I become a hot air balloon pilot UK?

Balloon Pilot’s Licence (BPL)
  1. Hold a LAPL or Class 2 aviation medical.
  2. Train with a minimum of 16 hours flying experience in balloons up to size 120,000 cubic feet. This must include: At least 12 hours flying with an Instructor. …
  3. Take 6 written examinations. These are: …
  4. Pass a Skill Test (often referred to as a “checkout”)

What does a parachute valve do?

The parachute valve is basically an opening that allows hot air to escape. In order to open it, the pilot pulls a cord that extends from the top of the balloon all the way down to the basket.

How much does a hot air balloon cost?

On average, you’re looking at spending a wide range of money to make the initial hot air balloon purchase. It can cost anywhere from $20,000 to over $100,000. Granted, if you’re spending over $100,000, you’re probably buying a commercial hot air balloon, which can carry more people than a personal hot air balloon.


What it takes to become a balloon pilot
What it takes to become a balloon pilot


FAQs – Calm Sky Adventures LLC

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Hot Air Balloon Ride Adventures

What A Blast!!!

Awesome Experience!

Beautiful Ride!

An Amazing Time!

An Amazing Adventure!

What a Great Experience

Great Time

FAQs – Calm Sky Adventures LLC
FAQs – Calm Sky Adventures LLC

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How to fly a hot air balloon – YouTube

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How to fly a hot air balloon - YouTube
How to fly a hot air balloon – YouTube

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Error 403 (Forbidden)

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Error 403 (Forbidden)
Error 403 (Forbidden)

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Average Cost to Become a Licensed Hot Air Balloon Pilot – Outdoor Troop

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The Actual Costs

Associated Costs

Getting Your Own Balloon

Money and Time

Can’t Afford it Right Now

Opportunity Cost

About Us

Legal Information

Average Cost to Become a Licensed Hot Air Balloon Pilot – Outdoor Troop
Average Cost to Become a Licensed Hot Air Balloon Pilot – Outdoor Troop

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Become A Hot Air Balloon Pilot – Hot Air Flight

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How to become a hot air balloon pilot

Do you need a license to fly a hot air balloon

How much does it cost to get a hot air balloon license

How to get a how to get a hot air balloon license

Is it hard to become a hot air balloon pilot

How long does it take to become a hot air balloon pilot

How much do hot air balloon pilots make

Where to buy a hot air balloon

Purchase

Balloon Rides

Pilot License

Community

Become A Hot Air Balloon Pilot - Hot Air Flight
Become A Hot Air Balloon Pilot – Hot Air Flight

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Not Found | PayScale

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Not Found | PayScale
Not Found | PayScale

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You Should Be An Air Balloon Pilot

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How long have you been a balloon operator

Could you describe your educational background and the first steps to becoming a balloon operator Was it something you always fantasized about

What are some of the qualities of a good balloon operator I imagine you can’t be shy given that you are in close quarters with your riders for the duration of the trip

What is the pay like Do you have a sense of the range from beginner to expert Does it make a difference which balloon you’re operating

What are the hours like

What are some of your best memories doing this job

If I were to start operating a balloon what advice would you give me

For more Information about Ballooning check out these websites

You Should Be An Air Balloon Pilot
You Should Be An Air Balloon Pilot

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You Should Be An Air Balloon Pilot

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How long have you been a balloon operator

Could you describe your educational background and the first steps to becoming a balloon operator Was it something you always fantasized about

What are some of the qualities of a good balloon operator I imagine you can’t be shy given that you are in close quarters with your riders for the duration of the trip

What is the pay like Do you have a sense of the range from beginner to expert Does it make a difference which balloon you’re operating

What are the hours like

What are some of your best memories doing this job

If I were to start operating a balloon what advice would you give me

For more Information about Ballooning check out these websites

You Should Be An Air Balloon Pilot
You Should Be An Air Balloon Pilot

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Hot Air Balloon Pilot Salary – Company Salaries

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Hot Air Balloon Pilot Salary - Company Salaries
Hot Air Balloon Pilot Salary – Company Salaries

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Balloon Terminology

Balloon Terminology

All of those words and terms used by the ballooning community which might seem a little odd to an outsider.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K| L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A.B.F.

The Australian Ballooning Federation is the body in Australia that issues sport balloon pilots certificates.

Aeronaut

The pilot of a balloon or airship.

Aerostat

A lighter-than-air craft. A hot-air balloon is an aerostat.

Aerostation

The science of lighter-than-air flight.

AGL

Above ground level

Altimeter

A pressure sensing device (barometer) calibrated in feet which is carried in an aircraft to tell the pilot how high the aircraft is off the ground.

Balloon

A generic term for an aerostat.

Balloonatic

Fanatic balloon enthusiasts. Many of whom eat, drink and sleep ballooning. Why else would they get up at 4:30 in the morning to stand out in the cold and do hard manual labour? Why – because they are balloonatics!

Basket

Also referred to as the gondola; the part of the balloon used to carry the pilot and passengers, fuel tanks, and other equipment. Constructed from wicker and light wood base, or in the case of high-altitude and long-distance craft, pressurizable materials.

British Thermal Unit- BTU

The quantity of heat necessary to raise the temperature of a pound (0.45Kg) of water by one degree Fahrenheit (0.56 degrees Celcius). It is approximately 1.055 kilojoules.

Burner

Device used to ignite and project flammable fuel (usually propane gas) up into the envelope to heat the air in a hot-air balloon. Burners come in a variety of configurations.

Carabiner

A “D”, or “O” shaped locking metal clamp used to connect things together (in particular, load cables to baskets, or tie-off lines to retrieve vehicles).

CASA

Civil Aviation Safety Authority is the Australian government agency that regulates all non military aircraft, pilots, airports and air spaces.

Certificate of Airworthiness

A document which states that an aircraft is fit to fly. A balloon as to be regularly checked to make sure the fabric isn’t getting too weak, the basket isn’t unravelling etc. I

Chase

Also referred to as the “recovery” or more frequently “retrieve”; the process by which the aerostat is tracked during flight and retrieved afterwards by crew on the ground or in another craft (like a boat).

Chase Crew

The crew that chases the aerostat – more frequently known as the retrieve crew.

Convergent Navigational Task – CNT

A ballooning event where pilots attempt to fly from a designated distance to a single point, usually a scoring ‘X’. Also known as Controlled Navigational Trajectory Event, or a Fly-In task.

Cremation Charlie

Some one who sacrifices himself during a flap inflation to stand inside the envelope and hold it up so that no valuable rip-stop gets burnt.

Crown

The top of the balloon envelope.

Crown Line

A rope which, at one end, is fastened to the top (or crown) of the balloon envelope, and at the other end, is used by a member of the crew to help stabilize the balloon during inflation and deflation.

Crown Ring

The ring of metal at the top of the envelope to which all the load tapes are attached.

Drop Line

A rope, belt or other line attached to the aerostat (usually the gondola) on one end. Normally furled or stowed during flight, it can be released by the pilot and secured by ground crewmembers who use it to maneuver the craft into or through tight landing areas.

Envelope

The portion of the balloon which holds the heated air (for hot-air balloons) or gas for gas balloons. Constructed of cloth such as ripstop nylon or nomex, or other light, relatively impermeable material.

Fan

See inflator fan.

First Flight Ceremony

Those who have endured it need no explanation. Those who have not should know that its origins are cloaked in mystery and shrouded in the most sacred rites of ballooning. Suffice it to say that the ceremony involves various liquid refreshment (usually champagne). Once having successfully survived the ceremony, the Initiate has been officially inducted into the Noble Fraternity of Aeronauts.

Flap Inflation

Before the days of inflator fans, the only way to get cold air into the envelope prior to turning on the burner was to flap the top side of the mouth up and down. Once a small amount of air had been put inside the envelope, the pilot would periodically burn to heat the air as the mouth was flapped open. Clearly this might burn the inside of the balloon higher up, so necessitated a Cremation Charlie.

Fly-in Task

See CNT.

Gondola

See basket.

Hopper

An aerostat where the pilot sits in a chair or harness underneather the envelope, as opposed to standing in a basket.

Hesitation Waltz

Competition where multiple judge declared goals are set.

Inflator Fan

Hot air can’t be directly put into the envelope it first has to be filled with cold air using the inflator fan. Only then can this air be heated using the burner. Before fans, the balloon had to be flap inflated.

Judge Declared Goal

Competition where a single target is set and all the balloons fly from the launch site with the aim of dropping their markers as close as possible to the goal.

Landowner

The person, business or organization which holds the title to the property upon which the aerostat launches and/or lands.

Landowner Relations

Extremely important for aerostat activities, especially considering the limited control over landing location. Ideally, the pilot or chase crew should secure permission from the landowner before landing on their property. The wishes of the landowner take precedence during landing and recovery, within the limits of flight physics and safety. Landowner relations also apply to low overflights of landowner’s property.

Load Tapes

Reinforced vertical seams along the length of the envelope, connected by the load cables to the basket. The actual load-bearing parts of the envelope.

Mouth

The opening at the base of the balloon envelope through which the flames from the burner passes to heat the air inside the envelope. This is sometimes referred to as the ‘throat’…

MSL

Mean Sea Level

Nomex

Fire-resistant material that the scoop and bottom section of the envelope are made of.

Pibal

A small helium filled party balloon used to show the pilot the direction and speed of the wind. This gives an idea of what direction the flight will take.

Poles

The stabilizing struts between the basket, the burner mount and the load cables. On some balloons the poles are actually load-bearing elements; on others they simply act as stiff or slightly flexible guides for the actual load-bearing elements and connections from envelope sensors to the instrument console. Also referred to as “burner supports”, “supports” or “flexi poles” there main job is to stop the burner knocking you on the head during landing.

PIC

Pilot in Command

Prohibited Zone

A restricted operation zone where balloon launchings and landings are prohibited by the landowner. In some cases, a minimum altitude restriction may also exist.

PUT

Short for ‘Pilot Under Training” or “Pilot Under Tuition”.

Red Line

A rope or nylon strap connected to the top of the envelope. It is used by the pilot to let some or all of the hot air inside the envelope out in order to descend or land.

Red Zone

See prohibited zone.

Rip-stop Nylon

The material that makes up most of envelope.

Restricted Operations Zone

A land area on or over which balloon operations are restricted by the landowner. Also refered to as a prohibited zone (PZ) or a sensitive zone (SZ).

Retrieve Crew

See chase and chase crew.

Rosiere

Type of balloon that uses both gas and hot air. Sometimes called a hybrid or a temperature controlled helium balloon. These have been used for most of the ultra long distance flights since the early 1990’s.

Rotation Vent

A panel located about half way up the balloon which is used to orient the balloon during flight and for the landing. Two lines come from the rotation vent, one to rotate left and the other to rotate right.

Scoop

A specialized-shape skirt which, on American balloons, narrows to an inch or two on one side and widens to extend all the way from the top of the poles to the base of the envelope proper, forming a tilted mouth. The idea of the scoop is to provide better control of the aerostat’s orientation. Ideally, the front (or main part of the scoop) will always be kept in the direction of travel. It may also aid in keeping the envelope full.

Sensitive Zone

A restricted operation zone where balloon launchings and landings may be allowed by the landowner under special circumstances. In some cases, a minimum altitude restriction may also exist.

Skirt

The cloth segment of the envelope below the load cable connections, frequently detachable, often made of Nomex or similar fire-resistant material.

Smart Vent

Is an Australian invented deflation system for balloons. It allows the pilot to release a lot of hot air from the balloon during landing and can be reset.

Spotter

Someone who delights in collecting balloon licence numbers, badges and anoraks.

Supports

See poles.

SZ

See sensitive zone.

Tether

Keeping a balloon tied to the ground so that it doesn’t fly away.

Throat

See mouth.

Thumbs up

The signal from a launch director that the airspace above is clear and you have permission to launch. Any digit other than the thumb means something entirely different.

Uprights

The metal or plastic rods that conned the envelope to the basket and hold the burner up.

Vent

A portion of the top or side of the envelope that can be opened briefly by the pilot to release some hot air to get the balloon to stop going up, or go down.

Weather rock

Any smooth stone thrown at the weatherman when he tells you it’s going to be unflyable again.

ZULU

Refers to the universal time zone used within the aviation community. Also known as Grennwich Mean Time (GMT) or Universal Coordinated Time (UTC)

Technical data content credited to Mr Steve Griffin

Calm Sky Adventures LLC

General Hot Air Ballooning Questions

Is ballooning safe?

Yes, ballooning has an amazing safety record! It is one of the safest forms of aviation there is. Like any adventure or aviation activity there is some risk involved. Ballooning mishaps, while extremely rare, still do occur. The most common mishap is a rough landing due to unexpected winds. The most dangerous is a powerline strike. Our pilot and crew are trained to minimize these risk factors and to make your balloon ride as safe, fun and amazing as possible. The amazing rewards of experiencing a flight in a hot air balloon far outweighs the minimal risks.

Do you need to be licensed to fly a hot air balloon?

Yes. To fly a hot air balloon you need to have flight and classroom instruction, take a written test and take a flight test with an FAA examiner.

To fly passengers for hire a pilot needs to take additional, more intensive training to get their commercial certificate.

How many hot air balloons are there in the United States?

There are only roughly 3000 balloons registered in the United States, with between 5000 to 6000 hot air balloon certificated pilots. However, not all of those pilots actively fly.

Flying Hot Air Balloons

How do balloons fly?

Science! As magical as balloon flight seems there is actual science behind what makes our balloon lighter than air.

We use a heater system, called a burner, that takes vaporized propane and burns it producing a huge, hot flame! Our burner output is around 9 million BTUs, in contrast the average heater in a home is around 90,000 BTUs. The air is heated inside the envelope which causes the air to be less dense than the air outside of the envelope. And as we all remember from science class, less dense, hot air rises! The balloon envelope is the container which holds in this hot air.

So to rise we heat the air more, to descend we let the air in the envelope cool or we can open a vent on the top of the balloon to allow some of the hot air to escape, causing us to descend faster than if we let it cool on its own.

Can you steer a hot air balloon?

No, not in a conventional way. Unlike other aircraft or cars balloons have no direct means to control their horizontal movement. However, balloon pilots can control the vertical movement of the balloon within inches!

Balloon pilots use this fine amount of vertical control to climb or descend into different winds at different altitudes. Sometimes the wind at 500 feet is the complete opposite direction of the wind at 1000 feet! Pilots use their knowledge of the local wind patterns and winds aloft forecasts to roughly plan their flight path. By no means is this precise as we never know exactly what the winds will be at a given altitude, which is all part of the fun and adventure of ballooning!

What does it feel like to ride in a hot air balloon?

Our pilot, Mike, has hundreds of hours of flying time in all kinds of different aircraft. Commercial jets, small aerobatic planes, ultralights, warbirds, helicopters and even a zeppelin airship. Yet he always says nothing he has ever flown compares to the experience of the hot air balloon.

Flying in a balloon is the feeling of pure freedom, gently drifting along with the air currents. The unobstructed panoramic views are like none other. It is peaceful, quiet and calm, yet adventurous, exciting and exhilarating!

How high do hot air balloons fly?

The world record for a hot air balloon is 69,000 feet!!! However, we fly at much lower altitudes. The joy of ballooning comes from flying low over the terrain! We normally fly from inches off the ground to 1000 feet above the ground, although the majority of our flying is under 500 feet up!

Is it cold up there?

The simple answer is that it is about the same temperature as on the ground. We normally don’t fly our balloon high enough to feel the effects of heat loss due to altitude. While the burner puts out a lot of heat that heat is rising up into the envelope. We do feel some radiant heat from the burner and air in the envelope, but not enough to make much of a difference of what we feel. That said, since we float along with the wind we do not experience any kind of wind chill factor like you may on other aircraft or skydiving

Where do we land?

Without accurate directional control we never are 100% sure where we will land. That is part of the adventure of ballooning! We plan on some landing areas based on winds and launch location, but it is never a sure thing to land in a certain spot!

We land in parks, backyards, fields parking lots and even cul-de-sacs!

An important part of ballooning is establishing long lasting relationships with area landowners so that we can use their land as a landing site! Without the generosity of landowners letting us land on their property ballooning would be in trouble.

Hot Air Balloon Equipment

Is it considered an actual aircraft?

Yes. Our balloon is an FAA certified and registered aircraft. We are required to maintain the balloon to manufacturer specifications and we must take the balloon to a repair station every year or 100 hours of flight time (whichever comes first) where it undergoes a in-depth inspection.

What is the balloon made from?

Our balloon has a basket that is made of Rattan wicker and wood. Wicker is strong, yet flexible and has been used for many, many years in hot air balloon baskets because of its lifespan, ease of care, strength and flexibility!

The envelope (the “balloon” part) is made of a rip-stop polyester fabric that is coated with a special coating to extend its lifespan.

What does it use for fuel?

We use propane for fuel. Literally the same propane that you use in your grill!

How to Become a Hot Air Balloon Pilot

Step 2: Understand the Requirements for Your Level of Interest

To pilot a hot air balloon, you must have a pilot’s license, or airman’s certificate, just as you would for an airplane, however a hot air balloon is a different category of aircraft with its own specific set of training requirements.

Becoming a balloon pilot is a Lighter-than-Air (LTA) certification, which requires one-on-one lessons with a flight instructor, as well as other requirements. There is no certified flight instructor rating for hot air balloons, meaning the holder of a Commercial Balloon Pilot License may provide flight instruction. In order to obtain your pilot certificate, you must meet and complete the below, starting at the student level.

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