Hot air balloons tend to attract attention. They're large, colorful, and often fairly close to observers, making the encounter a real treat for those on the ground.
The first manned, untethered hot air balloon flight took place on Nov. 21, 1783, in Paris, France, in a craft built by the Montgolfier brothers and powered by hot air. Since that first launch, balloons have captured the public's imagination, most notably in Jules Verne's novel, "Around the World in Eighty Days," which was made into a movie in 1956.
In 2016, many are attracted by the beauty and romance of hot air balloon rides and attend festivals around the world, leading to questions about the balloons' safety, especially after the recent crash of a hot air balloon in Texas, killing all 16 people aboard.
Here are 10 things you should know about hot air balloons, their safety and how to insure them:
(Photo: AP/Andrew Harnik)
1. FAA regulations
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates balloons as lighter-than-air vehicles that are not engine driven. Because balloons have no directional control and must rely on the winds, they have the right of way in all aviation operations over helicopters, gliders and powered aircraft.
Although most balloons primarily are used for recreation, the pilot still must have training on the principles of flight, operation of the equipment, situational awareness, aeronautical decision-making, emergency operations, use of aeronautical charts, and other key skills to navigate the balloon. The FAA has issued the Balloon Flying Handbook, which provides information for would-be pilots on safety and applicable regulations.
Unlike other aircraft, a support team is necessary in order for the balloon to fly. A ground crew is needed to assist in inflation and set up, weather briefers are needed to keep track of changes in weather, and spotters are required to keep track of where the balloon is and warn of trees, power lines, livestock or other things in the balloon's path of flight or descent. The crew doesn't have to have a license or any formal training; however, it is the pilot's responsibility to ensure that the crew can be relied on for information and assistance.
After a balloon has been inspected, meets the regulatory requirements and is in safe condition for operation, the FAA will issue an airworthiness certificate. Certificates are in effect as long as the balloon receives the required maintenance and is properly registered.
(Photo: AP/Rob Griffith)
2. Hot air balloon equipment
The equipment consists of the balloon itself, a heater system with propane burners and fuel tanks, a pilot-light system, inflation fans, a compass, radios, igniters, a fire extinguisher, a first-aid kit, a drop line, gloves, helmets, and the basket.
Instruments include an altimeter, a rate of climb indicator, fuel quantity gauges and an envelope temperature gauge.
(Photo: AP/Nafeesa Syeed)
3. Hard landings
Hot air balloons have unique and specific hazards, including hard landings, defined as an aircraft or spacecraft hitting the ground with a greater vertical speed and force than a normal landing. In an airplane the wheels will bounce and the plane will drop down again on the wheels; however, in a hot air balloon, the basket could tip over.
The baskets may be padded, but they generally don't have seats or safety belts, so passengers aren't secured to the basket. A report published by the Aerospace Medical Association on hot air balloon tour crashes from 2000 to 2011, based on National Transportation Safety Board data, shows that 83 percent of crashes resulted in one or more serious injuries or deaths. Most crashes occurred during landing (81 percent), and fixed-object collisions accounted for 50 percent of serious injuries.
(Photo: AP/Terri Bordelon)
4. Collisions or contact with obstacles
Contact with obstacles is another significant issue. For example, contact with power lines commonly results in death or serious injury for the pilot and passengers. Trees pose a similar hazard as the basket can get caught in the branches, stranding passengers and risking a fire.
The basket is usually made of wicker because it's strong, flexible and lightweight, which helps with landings as it can cushion some of the force when contacting the ground. However; it might not withstand contact with obstacles, and the wicker construction makes the basket readily flammable.
(Photo: AP Images for Airheads)
5. Property damage
Property damage is also an issue. Because the pilot has no directional control and is dependent on weather and wind conditions, the pilot may land too close to or on someone's property and cause damage in the process. The baskets may weigh 800 pounds or more, which can cause a lot of damage to the balloon itself, its equipment, and the property the balloon lands on.
Even when landing balloons have some speed, and if the balloon is out of control greater speed will be involved causing potentially more damage. Trees and power lines are the most common obstacles struck, but during landings it's not uncommon for the wind to drag the balloon along the ground until it crashes into an object.
The balloon itself is fragile, and can readily be damaged by contact with objects. In addition, the combination of firing the heater at the wrong time with the wrong wind gust can put the balloon — or at least the pilot and passengers — in danger.
(Photo: AP/Jake Schoellkopf)
6. Weather changes
Changes in weather affect most modes of transportation, but staying at lower altitudes makes them more susceptible to changes in wind and down drafts, while flying at higher altitudes makes oxygen levels a serious medical concern.
Balloons need to fly in calmer winds, and although wind speeds are reviewed before flight, a sudden change can be significantly hazardous, forcing a balloonist to land in a less desirable area.
Balloons also need solid ground clear of obstacles; a sudden landing may force a balloon into obstacles or swampy land, making landing dangerous and difficult.
(Photo: Shutterstock)
7. Underwriting coverage for the balloon and equipment
Underwriters for hot air balloons want to know, for example, whether the certificate of airworthiness is up to date, and whether the balloon has been inspected. Balloons used for pleasure must be officially inspected annually, and those used commercially or to carry passengers for hire must be inspected every 100 hours.
Underwriters also ask about:
- the year, make and model of the balloon,
- how many hours it has flown,
- the size of the envelope/balloon,
- whether the balloon is the same age as the basket,
- whether there is custom artwork,
- the fabric the balloon is made of and
- whether the suspension wires are made of Kevlar or a similar fabric.
In addition, underwriters want to know how the balloon is used — for pleasure, for hire or for instruction, or for banner or custom envelope flying — and the estimated number of hours to be flown in the next 12 months. Rates will vary greatly for a pleasure balloon used a few times a year and a commercial balloon used weekly for passenger rides.
(Photo: AP/Mel Evans)
8. Underwriting the pilots
The person that's operating the large and possibly hazardous piece of equipment is an important component of the underwriting process. Underwriters will ask:
- Is this a major or minor source of income for the pilot?
- How long has the pilot been flying?
- What is the pilot's license number, type of license, and number of years flying balloons?
- Is the pilot a member of the Balloon Federation of America?
- What is the total number of hours flying as pilot in charge, the estimated number of hours flown in the past year in all balloons and the estimated hours to be flown in the coming year?
- What is the date of last flight review?
- Which safety and continuing education classes has the pilot attended?
- In the past five years' experience has the pilot had any accidents, citations, been denied an FAA medical certificate, or been convicted of illegal or excessive use of alcohol or drugs, whether or not while flying?
An insured who has citations for driving while impaired is apt to be a poor risk in the air as well as on the road. When applying for a balloon pilot's license the individual is not required to disclose any prior drunken-driving convictions, nor do they have to get medical exams from FAA-certified examiners. A statement written by the applicants certifying that they have no medical defect is sufficient.
(Photo: Shutterstock)
9. Coverage for property
Hot air balloon policies are generally provided by specialty carriers dealing with aviation and other nonstandard risks with coverage similar to a commercial general liability and property policy. The covered property includes the balloon, the basket, the equipment, and the belongings of the pilot and any passengers. The policy also covers any property the balloon might crash into, as well as including liability coverage for injuries to any passengers or to those at the landing site.
Coverage for the balloon and equipment is provided up to a specified limit with a separate limit for any personal property of passengers. Most passengers will not have much with them other than what they're wearing plus purses, wallets and cameras.
Standard exclusions for wear and tear, deterioration, mechanical or electrical breakdown apply. Some carriers also have exclusions for damage from vermin or insects.
(Photo: Jan-Joseph Stok/AP Images for Vodafone)
10. Coverage for passengers
Coverage for passengers is similar to any liability policy, that is, it includes coverage for injury or property damage to passengers and third parties for which the insured becomes legally liable as a result of an accident or arising out of the ownership, maintenance or use of the balloon.
Hot air balloon policy exclusions include those for employees, property belonging to the insured other than the pilot's personal effects, and liability assumed under a contract or agreement unless such liability would have existed absent any such contract. Also excluded is damage or injury:
- if the certificate of airworthiness is suspended or invalidated,
- if the pilot is carrying more passengers or a load in excess of the balloon and basket's limits,
- if other insurance applies,
- for noise pollution or other pollution, or
- in the case of nuclear hazards, war, or a hijacking.
Some carriers exclude certain activities unless they are specifically scheduled, such as night flying except when participating with a tethered night glow, occupant carriage for hire and or reward, carriage of external loads, flights for the purpose of breaking records, instructional purposes, or intentional flights over the sea where land mass to land mass exceeds five miles.
With reliable operators and the correct insurance in place, hot air balloon rides can continue to be fun and safe. Up, up and away!
Christine G. Barlow, CPCU, is managing editor of FC&S, a division of National Underwriter Co. and ALM.
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