FAA REQUIREMENTS
The following information is extracted and simplified from the Federal Aviation Regulation Part 61 — Certification: Pilots and Flight Instructors
A Student Pilot’s Certificate must first be obtained before beginning flight 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 Pilot’s Certificate may be obtained, qualifying an individual to fly for hire and to instruct.
The following are the General Requirements for Student, Private and Commercial certificates:
Subpart c - Student Pilot - REQUIREMENTS
- A student must be at least 14 years of age.
- They must be able to read, speak, write and understand the English language.
- No medical certificate is required.
- Student pilot certificate may be issued by an FAA Inspector or designated pilot examiner (DPE).
- Student pilots may solo after passing a written exam and demonstrating to their instructor that they are familiar with 14 CFR Part 91 and Part 61 airspace where the solo will take place, the balloons flight characteristics and limitations, and that they are proficient in the balloon’s operation of pre-flight preparation, operation of controls, inflation, launch, and ascent, level flight, descent and landing, and emergency situations.
- A student pilot may not carry passengers or fly a balloon for hire.
Subpart d - private Pilot - REQUIREMENTS
- A person must be at least 16 years of age.
- They must be able to read, speak, write and understand the English language.
- No medical certificate is required.
- The applicant must pass a written test on such items 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
- The applicant must have received instruction on the following pilot operations:
- Ground handling and inflation
- Navigation
- Airport operations
- Pre-flight checks
- Takeoff and ascents
- Descents and landings
- Emergency conditions and procedures
- Post flight procedures
- Flight experience must include at least 10 hours in free balloons, which must include 6 flight under the supervision of an instructor. These flights must include two training flights of at least one hour within 60 days of the scheduled check ride, one ascent to 2,000 feet above take off point, and one solo flight.
Subpart E - Commercial Pilot - REQUIREMENTS
- A person must be at least 18 years of age.
- They must be able to read, speak, write and understand the English language.
- No medical certificate is required.
- 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.
- Advanced training must be received from an authorized instructor covering those items listed in 14 CFR 61.127 (b)(8).
- The applicant for a commercial certificate must have at least 35 hours of flight time as a pilot of which 20 hours must in balloons (remaining 15 hours may be 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 a one-hour duration within 60 days of the scheduled check ride and one flight to 3,000 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.
gAS BALLOON TRAINING
We do not offer the flight training required to become a gas balloon pilot; however, we can offer you guidance and recommend qualified instructors both here in Albuquerque, or in Germany, for you to contact.