By akademiotoelektronik, 24/08/2022

Flight in hot air balloon: a school that takes on discovery height: learn to pilot a hot air balloon

It was during a beautiful summer evening that we met some enthusiasts. The meeting was postponed several times due to the weather. Because we don't fly when it's too hot, when it's raining, when the wind exceeds 20 kilometers per hour. We also don't take off at any time of the day. Flights take place just after sunrise, or just before sunset. This is when the air mass is most stable.

That day, the wind was 3 knots, it came from the northeast and the whole team of the Belgian balloon club, in Namur, got in place. Three balloons will take off from Leuze-Longchamps in the province of Namur. The one that takes our team on board, a balloon reserved by a couple eager for discovery and the school balloon. On board, Guillaume, pilot by training but who wants to discover the world differently. He started his training over a year ago. He will fly with Gauthier, the instructor for the day.

Before obtaining his patent, Guillaume passed a medical examination. He then followed a hundred hours of lessons before taking a first exam which covers aerostation, navigation, Belgian airspace and the weather, undoubtedly the most important data. Because to fly a balloon, you have to tame the wind. It is he who will decide everything, in particular the place of landing.

Anticipate everything

First step: get a private pilot's license. It will be necessary to fly for that about twenty hours in duo and solo. Learn to play with altitude, with air masses. The flight exercises follow one another. Guillaume realizes several "touch-and-go" where he learns precision. He will make several sharp climbs (3m/sec), will learn to reach different levels and to stay there, will rotate the ball 360 degrees. He also takes advantage of the flight to review emergency procedures: how to manage turbulence, what to do if the burner goes out,... Everything must be anticipated.

The most difficult thing, according to him, is the inertia of the ball which takes 15 to 20 seconds before reacting. He will then prepare his landing. It is necessary to choose an open place, which is not cultivated (out of respect for the work of the farmers). Livestock should be avoided as they may be frightened. It is also necessary to avoid other traps such as power lines, high voltage cables. The approach will be smooth that day. A perfect execution that will allow our student to go solo the next time. The patent is not far away. Once he has obtained it, he can extend his training with 50 more flight hours. This is the condition for being able to board passengers.