By Robert N. Rossier, EAA 472091
This piece originally ran in Robert’s Stick and Rudder column in the June 2024 issue of EAA Sport Aviation magazine.
Last fall, my wife and I had an opportunity to take a balloon flight across the early morning skies in Tampa, Florida. In command was the owner and operator of Big Red Balloon, Dave Gardner, a seasoned 25-year commercial balloon pilot with about 3,000 flight hours.
While flying a balloon is different from flying a powered airplane, some common threads run through the fabric of aviation skills and judgment for both lighter-than-air pilots and those of us with wings and gas-guzzling powerplants. Shifting gears to see how a balloon pilot operates helps remind us of the thought processes, skills, and judgment needed for commanding anything that navigates through the sky. Balloon pilots may fly low and slow by comparison, but, like us, their skills and judgment must be honed sharp to maintain an edge on safety.
Preflight Planning
As with any flight, preparation begins with a detailed analysis of the weather to help guide the planning. Unlike powered pilots, a balloon pilot might use the prevailing wind direction to find a launch site commensurate with the desired landing site. As I learned, a balloon pilot must collect a significant amount of weather information as part of the planning process.
Dave was quick to point out that ballooning is highly weather-dependent. Like us, balloon pilots must deal with the vagaries of changing winds, but these are scrutinized at a smaller, more localized scale.
We know that in the morning, surface winds are often calm, with stronger winds aloft. As the day progresses, stronger winds aloft may make their way to the surface. Considering the inherent limitations of landing a balloon, earlier mornings are often the preferred time to fly a balloon. For our flight, winds near one local airport were a mere 2 knots. Just a few miles away, conditions were a bit breezier — maybe 5 or 6 knots.
While surface wind speed is critical, the real issue is direction, and how it changes with altitude. In the Northern Hemisphere, we normally expect winds to increase and shift to the right as altitude increases, but the magnitude and direction of the wind shift with altitude can be critical to a ballooning flight plan. For a flight planned between treetop level and 1,500 feet, a measure of the wind direction as a function of altitude is critical to balloon pilots.
When a trial balloon was floated at our proposed point of departure, Dave found that the wind conditions were not conducive for navigating to our desired landing zone, so off we went to find another field that held promise for arriving at the desired location. Considering the potential for shifting winds, one rule Dave sticks to is “never leave without fuel full.” He plans his flights to land with 40 percent reserve, just in case a diversion to an alternate or unplanned landing site is needed.
Up, Up, and Away
With the planning completed, we prepared for departure. Our aircraft consisted of a 60-foot fabric envelope, a woven basket (called a gondola) that could carry five people plus the requisite propane tanks, and twin burners erected on a framework above the gondola. A gas-powered blower is used to inflate the envelope, after which the burners can be fired to heat the air. Within minutes, the balloon was erect and the basket was ready to board.
Following the standard safety briefing that primarily covers bracing positions for landing, Dave hit the burners, and the hot air gently lifted our balloon into the sky. We started out in virtually calm conditions, but by the time we were at 600 feet, we were screaming along at 12 to 15 knots. It’s not overwhelming for powered flight, but it’s a perfectly delightful cruise speed for sightseeing in a balloon.
Navigation, Maneuvering, and Terrain Clearance
Despite the low altitude and relatively slow speed, ballooning has its risks. Of particular concern on a low-level balloon flight are such obstacles as power lines. Balloons (and airplanes) can get tangled up in the trees, power lines, and towers, and that’s a scenario best avoided. Hence, a balloon pilot must always keep a sharp eye out for obstacles and maintain the requisite clearance.
Altitude controls are managed through buoyancy. Firing the burners heats the air in the balloon, decreasing density and causing the balloon to rise. As the air in the envelope cools, the balloon sinks. As with any aircraft, it is critical to learn to judge momentum and altitude changes. Experience teaches a balloon pilot what to expect from a burst of power (or heat) in terms of climb rate. Firing the burners does not translate into an immediate gain in altitude; there is some lag involved. This lag must be part of the pilot’s calculus for maintaining obstacle clearance.
Situational awareness involves paying attention to wind indicators, such as ripples on the water, smoke rising from a smokestack, waving of flags and pennants, and movement of tree limbs. A review of basic aviation meteorology reminds us that at 2,000 feet AGL, the wind is generally 20 degrees to 40 degrees to the right of surface winds, and the wind speed is greater. These natural effects form the basis for directional control in a balloon. Balloon pilots steer by changing their altitude — up for a right turn and down for left.
An interesting phenomenon in ballooning is “false lift,” which can be caused by the momentum of the balloon as altitude changes and relative wind is encountered. Wind over the top of the balloon causes lift, but that lift diminishes and the balloon will sink just as soon as the speed stabilizes.
As with powered aircraft, balloon pilots must respect noise-sensitive areas. Dogs, cows, sheep, and people can be easily alarmed by a looming, fire-breathing balloon. More than once, Dave reassured folks on the ground that we were not in danger, but just passing through the area.
Good landings require a bit of practice and a calibrated eye, but for a balloon, assistance from a ground crew can also be pivotal. In the end, a champagne toast and a prayer form the centerpiece for a celebration of a safe flight — a tradition I might consider for all my flying.
No Free Ride
Another reminder from our balloon trip is that no matter what we fly, there’s no free ride. While a balloon has no engine to worry about, that brightly colored envelope that hoists a four-passenger gondola carries a price tag of easily $25,000, and might last for as much as 500 hours of flight time.
That $25,000 translates to $50 per hour of flight time, plus whatever maintenance may be required to keep it in airworthy condition. Our hourlong flight burned about 25 gallons of propane to provide the heat needed to keep us aloft. At a relatively modest price of $2.50 a gallon, that’s another $60-plus per hour. And just like a powered airplane, the balloon requires an annual inspection or 100-hour inspection to ensure its integrity and promise of safety.
Sightseeing by balloon brings us back to one of the greatest pleasures of aviation. Floating along with the birds, we gander at a landscape that floats by silently (except for the occasional blast of the burner). Sharing a flight with others is perhaps one of the greatest joys we can experience, no matter how low or slow we may choose to fly.
Robert N. Rossier, EAA 472091, has been flying for more than 40 years and has worked as a flight instructor, commercial pilot, chief pilot, and FAA flight check airman.