You too can become a balloon pilot

Learn to fly a hot air balloon

Have you already flown in a hot air balloon multiple times? Are you enthusiastic about the varied and sublime experiences in a balloon and would like to become master of the skies yourself?

With a little enthusiasm, willingness to learn, patience, and time, your dream of independently piloting a hot air balloon will become a reality.

Our Hot Air Balloon School – you too can become a balloon pilot

In our in-house, registered, commercial flight school for hot air balloon pilots, you can obtain the private pilot license or the commercial (professional) license for operating hot air balloons. The theoretical training includes a course in various subjects and lasts 5 to 10 days. Following the theory course, the theoretical written examination takes place using a multiple-choice format.

The practical flight training lasts between 4 and 12 months, depending on your time flexibility. It primarily takes place in Lower and Upper Bavaria. Different areas are selected to introduce students to the diverse flying conditions and potential challenges – flat land, hilly landscapes, and mountains. In Southeast Bavaria, good conditions for balloon flights for training purposes prevail year-round. In winter, we also use the Alps and the Alpine foothills for our flights.

After passing the theoretical examination, the practical examination follows. This involves completing a flight with an examination board member, during which the student must prove that they can easily and safely
independently set up, operate, control, navigate, and land the balloon.

Theory

Air Law: What is allowed, what is mandatory, what is forbidden. And where is all this stated.
Human Performance: How healthy do I need to be to take a balloon flight, what can I expect of myself to still be healthy after the flight
Flight Performance and Planning: What can I expect from the balloon, how much can I carry, and where will I go
Meteorology: The balloon is probably the most sensitive aircraft to weather phenomena, so sound meteorological knowledge is necessary to assess whether and how balloon flights are possible
Principles of Flight: How does the balloon get into the air despite its weight
Operating Procedures: How can I operate a balloon optimally and with maximum safety for myself and other occupants, and what do I do in unforeseen circumstances
General Aircraft Knowledge related to Balloons: What different types of balloons exist, how are they constructed, how do they work, and what instruments and accessories help me with ballooning
Navigation: One should always know where one is and who one might encounter there

Practical Training

The following minimum requirements are specified for practical training:

At least 16 hours of flight instruction,
of which at least 12 hours of flight instruction with a flight instructor and at least 30 minutes of supervised solo flight
10 balloon setups
20 take-offs and landings

This is a minimum requirement; it is rarely sufficient to pass the examination.

Prerequisites for obtaining the license

for private free balloon pilots

A personal interview is required before starting the training.
The minimum age for obtaining a free balloon pilot license is 16 years.
Before starting the training (at the latest before the 1st solo flight), medical fitness must be certified by an aviation medical examiner.
A police clearance certificate and an extract from the central traffic register must be submitted.
To be allowed to operate the balloon in controlled airspace after obtaining the pilot’s license, a Restricted Radiotelephony Certificate (BZF) is necessary.
This can be obtained either in German (BZF II) or English (BZF I).

Prerequisites for obtaining and maintaining the license

for commercial (professional) free balloon pilots

Possession of a private free balloon pilot license.
Min. 50 hours total flight time as pilot-in-command of free balloons in balloon group A (up to 3400 m³).
Annual check ride.
Every 3 years, proof of participation in a course on handling handheld fire extinguishers and a first aid course.