It used to be the boy who stood on the station platform and watched the big steam trains who said “one day I want to be an engine driver”, more likely now he would be saying that he wanted to be a pilot.

Piloting a Hot Air Balloon requires lots of training by qualified instructors, all of whom are of course qualified CAA registered Hot Air Balloon Pilots. The route that most people take to begin with is to become part of the crew which is vital in any Hot Air Balloon ride operation. Since balloons drift with the wind, their pilots can’t simply turn around and fly home when they’re ready. A two or three-person crew helps the pilot rig the equipment, holds open the envelope while it fills with cold air, and applies weight to the outside of the basket as needed before launch. Then they follow the balloon on the ground, and after the landing help the pilot pack everything up and bring it home again.

Why not get the “feel” of it by taking a Hot Air Balloon Ride from one of the many local locations that we can offer through our national voucher scheme. You never know, you could be flying one of our balloons one day!

It takes two or three people to help the pilot of the Hot Air Balloon rig the equipment, hold open the envelope while it fills with cold air, and then apply weight to the outside of the basket as needed before launch. Once the Balloon Ride is under way, the ground, or launch crew then follow the Hot Air Balloon on the ground to the place the pilot has chosen to land. After the landing they help the pilot pack everything up and bring it home again, without these wonderful volunteers Hot Air Balloon Rides just would not happen.

It is great fun but it can be hard but often rewarding work as many professional Balloon Ride operators in the UK pay the crew, others offer free rides or even lessons. Crewing is a great way to learn about the sport following which maybe you could start formal training and become a pilot yourself.