Balloon / Your Way to the BPL
Practice
What you learn during upgrades, trip planning, training trips and landings.
Balloon pilot will start on the ground. You learn the whole process of a ride, work with the crew and take on increasing responsibility under guidance.
Before the journey
With the teacher you assess weather, airspace and terrain. You get to know the training balloon, calculate the permissible load based on his documents and coordinate tasks with the crew. Upgrading and controls are part of the training.
In the air
You learn the behavior of the balloon, observe height and vertical movement, and link instruments to your external perception. Navigation and ongoing landing planning are part of the journey. All operating actions are carried out according to the instructor's instructions and the documents of the respective balloon.
Arrival and landing
Recognizing suitable surfaces, considering obstacles and deciding in time: These skills are developed step by step. Pilot and crew must communicate unambiguously; a certain landing site cannot be approached as with a controllable aircraft.
After the journey
Safeguarding, disarming, retrieving and talking to property owners are part of the complete process. In the debriefing, you will record what worked and what you are working on the next ride.
Your proof of education
Lead your education certificates together with the school. Hours alone describe the progress only partially: Ground procedures, take-offs, landings, decisions and preparation for the supervised solo trip must also fit.
View minimum scope and license path →Sources and additional information
Editorial reviewed in October 2026. For your education, the current requirements of the competent authority and the agreement with the school apply.
YOUR NEXT STEP
Find your place in the basket.
Talk to a training organization about your entry.