Balloon Flying Handbook (2026) - (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

THE ULTIMATE BALLOON FLYING GUIDE FOR 2026!

This full-color handbook, released by the Federal Aviation Administration in December 2024, supersedes FAA-H-8083-11A, Balloon Flying Handbook, dated 2008.

A valuable training aid for student pilots who are learning to fly balloons and for certificated pilots and flight instructors who wish to improve their knowledge.

This comprehensive guide, created by the Federal Aviation Administration, supplies balloon pilots with the essential information they need for certification. An all-in-one technical manual, the Balloon Flying Handbook focuses solely on the art and science of balloon flight. With hundreds of detailed color photos, illustrations, and diagrams, the handbook covers the following topics in authoritative detail:

• Hot Air Balloon Design, Systems, and Theory
• Preflight Planning
• Weather Theory and Reports
• The National Airspace System
• Layout to Launch
• In-flight Maneuvers
• Landing and Recovery
• Aeromedical Factors
• The Instructional Process
• The Gas Balloon

Complete with a glossary and various useful appendices, this ultimate resource is the essential tool all student balloon pilots need to get certified and what experienced flyers need to stay safe and informed.

About the Author

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), established in 1958, strives to "provide the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world." FAA publications include the Aeronautical Information Manual; Airplane Flying Handbook; Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge; Aircraft Inspection and Repair; Aviation Instructor's Handbook; Glider Flying Handbook; Helicopter Flying Handbook; Instrument Flying Handbook; Instrument Procedures Handbook; Seaplane, Skiplane, and Float/Ski Equipped Helicopter Operations Handbook;and Powered Parachute Flying Handbook. The FAA's headquarters are located in Washington, DC.