Flight Instruction

1-800-286-5401

           Hot air ballooning is a great adventure and a wonderful way to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends. Best of all, balloonists form a community unlike any other. (There are only around 35 actively flying licensed balloonists in Massachusetts) In order to be able to fly a balloon, you must first receive flight instruction from a commercial pilot qualified to give flight instruction.

            After getting your student pilot’s license (sort of like a learner’s permit) you must pilot a minimum of 10 hours and pass a computerized FAA exam (similar to the ones – with many of the same questions - that fixed wing pilots take). Then you can go on to your final test flight with the FAA examiner. Along the way there are certain instructional and soloing requirements (all too complicated to list here).

            If, as the years go by, you go on in your training beyond the private pilots license and get your commercial license and are certified to instruct, you may want to give back a little of what was given to you. This is how I feel today and is why I am offering to give instruction. If you are interested, call me toll free at 1-800-286-5401 (Cummington, MA 413-634-5401) or send me an e-mail at billvolk@westmass.com . We can talk and work out the details from there.