0 Comments Add Basic requirements of pilot training Posted in Learn to Fly on June 29, 2010 Hot air balloons are not easy to pilot, rather that, they are very difficult. They must be flown early in the morning or during the evening. This is because the air during this time is still quite controllable for pilots. During the day, a lot of interference may be there with hot air rising (thermals) which give instability to hot air balloons. As regards decision of any of you to become a pilot you will find that there are many types of pilot licenses that require thinking and planning. Planning has to be done with respect to money and time. It needs to be checked first of all what are the rules in the area one is living. A total of 16 hours of flying time has to be showed as experience (in the UK). There is a time limit for achieving this and this is usually 2 years. Four instructor flights have to be shown which are perfect in every sense without any errors, which result in a “Completed without help” tick in one’s training book. As well as a checkout, recommendation and solo flight must be conduct in that very order. Only after having completed this requirement, a friend can be taken along for the ride with the student now being a fully qualified private hot air balloonists. 0 Comments Add Requirements for Becoming a Hot Air Balloon Pilot Posted in Learn to Fly on June 07, 2010 Hot air balloons are not easy to pilot rather they are very difficult. They must be flown early in the morning or during evenings. This is because the air during this time is still quite controllable for balloon pilots. During the day, a lot of interference may be there with hot air rising (in the form of thermal pockets) and can give instability to hot air balloons. As regards decision of any of you to become a balloon pilot you will find that there are many types of pilot licenses that require thinking and planning. Planning has to be done with respect to money and time. It needs to be checked first of all what are the rules in the area one is living. A total of 16 hours of flying time has to be showed as experience. There is a time limit for achieving this and this is usually 2 years. Four, faultless, instructor flights must be conducted allowing the student to prove their proficiency at handling the hot air balloon. After having completed this requirement, the trainee pilot can look at doing a 'recommendation' flight and a 'checkout' flight. 0 Comments Add Becoming a Pilot- The Exams Posted in Learn to Fly on May 15, 2008 After having spent time in Spain and Austria flying and studying. I’ve now taken all my exams for my PPL (private pilots license). There were 5 exams in total, Navigation, Meteorology, Human Factors, Ballooning Systems and Air Law all of which have 20 questions (except for Human Factors, which has 10). In the end the exams were a success, I passed Air Law with 100% in Spain (with the famous Kevein Meehan and Tim Revel as my instructors/tutors) and then at Cameron’s Factory in Bristol I passed the other exams with Colin Wolstenholme as the examiner. On the whole I was happy with my results, granted I had to re-do Navigation (obviously, the hardest exam), but in the retake I got over 80%. 0 Comments Add First Thoughts of Ultramagic Posted in Learn to Fly on March 05, 2008 After settling into my new home for the next 2+ weeks, the previous night, I prepared for the task ahead of me: Passing 5 CAA exams (Navagation, Meteorology, Human Performance, Ballooning Systems and Air Law) as well as a tether and one solo flight. A daunting aspect for any mere mortal! It was 6AM in the morning when I woke to my mobile alarm, with winds of +15kts even I knew we weren’t going to fly. So I packed my pilot’s bag and awaited being picked up and being told what I was going to do that day instead. Upon being picked up we proceeded to the Ultramagic factory. Due to excess winds we had a day of practicals ahead of us. Firsly a tour was in order, a tour of the factory, meeting owners, designers and manufacturers. As a frequent visitor of Balloon Manufacters (Cameron Balloons e.t.c) I was surprised by Ultramagic, not only were they more friendly but I personally was able to see 3 friends balloons being manufactured as well as seeing plans for the new Aerosaurus Hot Air Balloon!! This gave me a large sense of realisation, thinking actually balloon manufacturing is now being outsourced to foreign countries, where you can purchase the same product for nearly roughly and eighth of the price. 0 Comments Add Ballooning In Spain Posted in Learn to Fly on March 05, 2008 Once again this young PUT (Pilot Under Training) is lucky enough to be abroad ballooning. I’m currently in Spain at the Ultramagic Academy in Igualada attending a course on Hot Air Ballooning. The end aim being that I pass all my exams and successfully fly one solo flight. This then will mean I’ll officially be a PPL (B) license holder (English Definition: I’ll be a private Hot Air Balloon Pilot). I’ve just arrived at Hotel Robert and will be writing blogs now hopefully daily keeping everyone upto date on my hot air balloon adventures abroad. I hope these blog entries are of interest to you. I’d also like to thank Arthur Street (MD of Aerosaurus) for making this possible. 0 Comments Add Western Region BBAC Training 2008 Posted in Learn to Fly on January 07, 2008 During the months of February and March (2008) there will be training courses for PUT’s (Pilots Under Training) or anyone else who is entangled with ballooning (crew, staff e.t.c). The Following is available: