Commercial hot air balloon pilot
For the love of ballooning
Unlike fixed and rotor-wing training, balloon pilots need only earn their commercial certificate to instruct in a balloon.
“It’s one of those things where I like to say, anyone can fly a balloon. You put heat in, the balloon goes up, you don’t put any heat in, you let it cool, it will slowly start coming down again, if you want to keep it at altitude you just give it some short bursts of heat and it will stay at equilibrium, it will stay at the height you want.”
Although flying a hot air balloon can be done on your own, it takes a crew of around 10 or so people to get the balloon ready to go and put away at the end of the day. Although finding a crew can be challenging, balloon operators like Adler find and keep their crews happy by providing breakfast and lunch.
Adler owns three hot air balloons. He purchased a smaller 65,000-cubic-foot balloon for his initial private training, and then got into a larger 90,000-cubic-foot balloon for his commercial training. A few years later, Adler purchased his largest balloon, a light blue 105,000-cubic-foot balloon that features two large 3D teddy bears on each side. The balloon can hold a pilot plus three passengers and is used for his commercial operations.
A brand-new balloon can cost anywhere from $30,000 to $50,000, but many pilots, including Adler, opt to buy used. Special-shape balloons (different from the traditional balloon, often in interesting sizes and shapes)can cost upwards of $100,000 or more depending on the complexity and size. Other expenses include insurance, which usually costs between $1,800 and $3,000 per year, and propane, which costs around $80 per flight depending on the size of the balloon and your geographical location.
As for the future, Adler says, “I’m just going to continue to do what I usually do, I’m contracted with Special Shapes [Endeavor Ballooning] and I like to do commercial balloon rides, meaning that people are able to pay for a balloon ride and they get to see what Yuma, Arizona, has to offer.” FT
David Adler
Commercial hot air balloon pilot
Qualifications:
Commercial balloon pilot certificate
Work/Life balance:
Because ballooning most often takes place in the early morning to take advantage of low winds and mild temperatures, Adler has the unique opportunity to fly and work in the mornings and spend the rest of the day as he sees fit.
Favorite part of the job:
“I’m always excited to share something new with new people every single day.”
Least favorite part of the job:
“Trying to find crew in early morning will still be the bane of my existence.”
Pay:
Depending on the size of the balloon and how many passengers you can take, part-time commercial balloonists can make anywhere from $25,000 to $30,000 per year. Full-time operators with larger balloon payloads can make $50,000 to more than $100,000 per year.
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