Yes, to fly a passenger for an airfare in any FAA- Regulated Aircraft requires a COMMERCIAL PILOT'S LICENSE Hot Air Balloons in passenger service are regulated aricraft.

As a professional pilot you can rely on our Aviation Captain's vast experience with aviation and passenger flying. He has flown Passengers over 500 hours and has been flying since 1989.

Your pilot will choose a landing site that is large enough to deflate and pack up the balloon. Most landowners are thrilled to see a beautiful balloon land on their property.

This is the real surprise to everyone. There's really no difference between the temperature on the ground and in the air at the altitudes we fly. We travel with the wind, so you are not dealing with a wind chill factor. Always dress to be outside based on the current outside temperature for the day you fly with us.

Our flights vary between an hour and an hour fifteen minutes, depending on factors such as the amount of weight in the basket, the time of day and the temperature. We actually have enough fuel to fly longer to give us a comfortable safety margin. The actual length of the flight is dictated by the number of safe landing sites. Either way, we do have to be back on the ground before the winds start picking up and before sunset.

Very little steering is involved. We use the wind to steer. The wind speed and direction varies at different altitudes, so as long as we know that, we can vary our altitude to catch the proper wind currents. But we really go where the wind goes. There's something nice about that, because hot air ballooning is not about where you end up, it's about the journey you take to get there.

Actually, it is a lot less dangerous than operating a car, but the pilot needs to take proper safeguards (wind, weather, etc). It is the pilot's discretion if your flight is a go or not. If the winds are too strong (more than 8 to 10 mph), we simply don't go up. After all, "I'd rather be on the ground wishing I were in the air, than in the air wishing I were on the ground".

Dusk and dawn are really the only time the weather is conducive for balloon flying. At other times of the day, when the sun strikes the ground, thermals are created building up tricky air currents that make the air unsafe for passenger flight. The winds are calmest at sunrise and about two hours before sunset.

To dress for your flight it is best to wear jeans or slacks, sneakers or hiking shoes. We recommend that you do not wear dresses, skirt or shorts, as they may not be suitable for some of our landing sites. We do not allow purses, open-toed or high-heeled shoes. Baseball caps and sunglasses are useful in the summer months. Dress for the temperature and your own personal comfort.

Yes! A camera or a small camcorder is a must for balloon ride. We ask that you follow the pilot's instructions for stowing your equipment when it is time to land. Remember to make sure the batteries are working and you have plenty of film.