Hot air balloon passenger requirements

All hot air balloon passengers must be able to climb in and out of the basket unassisted. A step on the side of the basket may be used. Passengers must be able to stand for the duration of the balloon ride. It is your responsibility to notify us of any injuries or surgeries the passengers have endured that may be sensitive to hot air balloon flight, prior to the flight. No pregnant persons may be flown. Hot air balloons are weight sensitive. Please advise us of any passenger weighing more than 225 pounds. This is very important as a safety issue. We reserve the right to refuse anyone who, in our opinion, would be a safety liability to their self or others. All hot air balloon passengers must sign a waiver of release. Minors must have a legal guardian sign their release.

Rescheduling balloon rides

Hot air ballooning is weather sensitive. Weather cancellations do occur. In the event Air Time Ballooning cancels your flight, you may reschedule it for a different date and time. Deposits may be refunded if you do not wish to reschedule, however pre-paid flight certificates are non-refundable, and must be rescheduled.

Cancellations

Air Time Ballooning requires 48 hours in advance to the scheduled flight date and time to cancel the flight or reschedule. Failure to do so will result in the loss of your deposit. For pre-paid flight certificate holders, cancellations of flight date and time made without 48 hours of notice will result in your certificate being voided. The flight date and time is the last date and time decided upon between you and Air Time Ballooning for the flight to take place.

What to wear

We recommend wearing comfortable clothing when going on a hot air balloon ride. Make sure you have shoes that support and protect your feet. No high heels, sandals, or open shoes will be permitted. Be advised that you may have to walk in rough terrain. Expect wet grass, particularly in the morning. It is advisable to dress in layers since your adventure will occur near sunrise or sunset. It is advisable you wear long pants. It is not typically cooler while in a hot air balloon, contrary to popular belief, due to the low altitudes in which we fly.

Balloon pilot and aircraft information

Like any hot air balloon pilot for hire, Ron Grant holds an FAA issued commercial pilot license. The rating on this license is lighter-than-air free balloon, limited to on board heater. This commercial license also certifies the pilot to act as a hot air balloon pilot instructor. Ron received his commercial license from an FAA part 141 school, which is a flight school closely regulated by the FAA to provide intense flight training. Only a few part 141 flight schools are certified to instruct hot air balloon pilots.

The aircraft we use are federally registered aircraft. They are subject to FAA regulations that require the hot air balloon to receive an annual inspection by an individual certified by the FAA to do so. These inspections are required every 100 hours of flight time or every 12 months, whichever comes first. An annual inspection includes multiple fabric tests including visual inspection, strength tests on each color and type of fabric at critical locations, and a porosity test on each color and type of fabric at critical locations. The fuel tanks are disassembled and inspected annually, and periodically subjected to purge tests. The burners are also disassembled, inspected, cleaned, and lubricated. Instrumentation is tested. The basket is inspected from the inside and outside before the balloon is certified airworthy for another year. Replacement parts must be certified by the FAA and installed by an individual certified by the FAA to do so. 

Controlling the balloon and returning to the launch site

Hot air balloons have no steering capabilities. The ability to steer rests solely on the pilot’s ability to understand what the wind is doing at various altitudes, and putting the balloon in those currents to cause the balloon to go in a particular direction. Ultimatly, the balloon goes the direction of the wind at that altitude. This makes the decision of where to launch the balloon very important, as the pilot needs to ensure he will have suitable landing areas downwind. A chase crew follows the balloon with a recovery vehicle throughout the flight, and will transport equipment and passengers back to the launch site after the flight.

Facts about the balloon

Hot air balloons used to carry passengers typically hold between 90,000 and 120,000 cubic feet, although some passenger balloons can be as large as 600,000 cubic feet. The envelope, or bag of air, is made from a rip-stop nylon, covered in a variety of coatings to make it durable, resistant to the elements, and able to hold air. The fabric is specifically designed and manufactured for hot air balloons, usually by DuPont. The baskets are made of wicker as they have been since the early years of ballooning. Wicker is not only traditional and cosmetically appealing, it is very durable, able to withstand and absorb landings, lightweight, and easy to care for. Air Time only uses balloons with multiple burners, although single burner aircraft are common. Each of the two burners have two separate systems, and feed off of separate stainless steel or titanium fuel cylendars, through separate fuel lines. Each propane fueled burner produces 15 million BTU, for a total of 30 million BTU. This is 1,000 times that of the average backyard barbeque grill. Instrumentation includes an altimeter, variomitor (how fast you are assending or descending), a paromitor (the internal temperature of the balloon), a themometor (the temperature of the outside air), fuel level indicators for each tank, and a GPS which shows direction and speed, as well as location. An aircraft radio used to communicate with other air traffic is used in addition to a radio to communicate with ground crew.