Commercial pilot — balloon
For Commercial pilot, certificate or rating is Commercial pilot — balloon; part 61 minimum is 35 hours of flight time as a pilot; part 61 section is 14 CFR 61.129(h); key sub-requirements is 20 hours in balloons; ( 2 ) 10 flights in balloons; ( 3 ) Two flights in balloons as the pilot in command, recorded from its source on 2026-08-18.
- Certificate or rating
- Commercial pilot — balloon our reading
- Part 61 minimum
- 35 hours of flight time as a pilot verified
- Part 61 section
- 14 CFR 61.129(h) our reading
- Key sub-requirements
- 20 hours in balloons; ( 2 ) 10 flights in balloons; ( 3 ) Two flights in balloons as the pilot in command verified
Values marked our reading are our classification of what the source says — the source does not print them in those words. The quote below is the evidence for each one; judge it yourself.
What the source says
A person who applies for a commercial pilot certificate with a lighter-than-air category and a balloon class rating must log at least 35 hours of flight time as a pilot, which includes at least the following requirements: ( 1 ) 20 hours in balloons; ( 2 ) 10 flights in balloons; ( 3 ) Two flights in balloons as the pilot in command; and
— ecfr.gov, retrieved 2026-08-18
Source
- ecfr.govhttps://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-61/subpart-F/section-61.129