Balloon Pilot Licence Training course

Become a hot-air balloon pilot ✔️

Overview

Balloon Pilot Licence Training overview

The BPL training course is tailored to the privileges of hot-air balloon pilot privileges. The course is both the theoretical as well as the practical. The initial training for obtain the Balloon Pilot Licence provided by ProfiPilot Training is provided in the Hot-air Balloon so-called class and in the balloon envelope of up to 3,400m³ (120,069 cuft³), which constitutes into so-called Group A of Hot-air Balloon class.

The Balloon Pilot Licence training course consists of:

• cca. 80 hours of theoretical knowledge instruction
• 16 hours of flying training in hot-air balloon

The BPL training for hot-air balloons is followed by the BPL skill test with FE(B).

Theory

The BPL theoretical knowledge instruction includes a certain element of formal classroom work but may also include other methods of delivery — for example, interactive video, slide or tape presentation, computer-based training and other media distance-learning courses. Theoretical knowledge instruction is structured into the profile subjects. Except the aircraft category-specific subjects, the theoretical knowledge syllabi is common with other ab-initio pilot licence training such as PPL, LAPL or even SPL.

BPL theoretical knowledge instruction syllabi covers following subjects:

• Air Law and ATC procedures
• Human performance 
• Meteorology
• Communication
• Principles of flight (specific to hot-air balloon group)
• Flight performance and planning (specific to hot-air balloon group)
• Aircraft general knowledge, envelope and systems and emergency equipment (specific to hot-air balloon group)
• Navigation

Privileges

As a holder of the Balloon Pilot Licence you will be authorized to fly the hot-air balloon class as pilot-in-command with limitation to the so-called Group A Hot-air balloons. That means the maximum hot-air balloon envelope you can fly is 3,400m³ (120,069 cuft³). At the begening, the BPL privileges can a only be exercises for the non-commercial flying.

To elevate your privileges and authorisations, you need to gain an experience. Unlike in aeroplanes, in case of balloon aircraft class, all the privileges of a balloon pilot are endorsed into the single BPL licence. To fly commerically, you would need approximately 50 hours, to become instructor, approximately 70 hours and to fly a bigger hot-air balloon group, you would need more than 100 hours spent in the hot-air balloons.