Can You Steer a Hot Air Balloon? How the Pilot’s Ropes Work

Many of our passengers ask us: can a hot air balloon be steered, and what are the ropes the pilot holds for?

Hot air balloons are aerostatic aircraft: they are stationary relative to the wind (not relative to the ground). That means a balloon cannot be steered like a plane or a boat – the wind gently carries it along. By climbing and descending, and when conditions allow, the pilot can find different wind currents blowing in different directions and at different speeds, and use them to choose a course.

This is what makes hot air balloon flights so calm and peaceful. It does not mean they are any less safe. The pilot can choose to climb, hold a given altitude or descend by managing the heat from the burners, so the flight is always fully under control.

What are the ropes the balloon pilot holds?

Passenger hot air balloons have two types of ropes (control lines):

– The lines that open the parachute valve at the top of the balloon

– And the rotation vent lines

With the first, the pilot opens the top panel of the balloon to let hot air escape, so the balloon descends or lands.

With the vent lines, the pilot opens a small flap on the side of the envelope to rotate the balloon on its own axis, either to give passengers views on both sides of the basket or to line up the basket for landing.

So how do you steer a hot air balloon?

During a balloon flight, there are different layers of wind at different altitudes. These layers can have different headings and speeds.

By changing altitude with the burner, the pilot can move from one layer to another. When the layers blow in different directions, the pilot picks the ones that best suit the intended course and gets as close as possible to the planned landing area.

If you simply want to enjoy a smooth hot air balloon flight, you will find all the information on our website. All you have to do is enjoy it!

Here you will find all the information and prices for every type of hot air balloon flight.