Blue View – The High Cost of Hot Air
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Hot air can be expensive
While we were visiting the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, I began to wonder what it would cost to get into ballooning. After all those years living aboard Nine of Cups, we were certainly aware of how expensive boating is... boats are expensive to start with and anything that is labeled ‘marine grade’ usually costs 2-3 times what the same item would cost if it was intended for land use. I suspected that ballooning was a hobby that was probably even more expensive than boating. I talked to a few pilots and a couple of balloon salesmen and did some internet research. Here’s what I found out.
You must be FAA licensed to pilot a balloon
License
To begin with, an FAA license is required before you can fly a balloon. The requirements for a private license are as follows:
Minimum Age: 16
10 hours of flight training, including:
six balloon flights under the supervision of an instructor
one solo flight
one flight to at least 2000’ above the take-off altitude
two flights of at least an hour in duration
Oral exam
Written exam
Flight test
The cost is around $2000 if you have your own balloon and approximately $4500 if you need to buy balloon time.
I spoke at length with Jeff Haliczer, who is quite a character and very well known in ballooning circles. He is a commercial pilot who has three balloons and also trains pilots. He told me that completion of the basic private pilot course is akin to having your dad teach you to drive in a mall parking lot. You learn the basics of operating a car and might be knowledgeable enough to pass the driving test, but you’re still a long way from being a skilled and competent driver. Likewise, a balloon pilot should have a lot more flight time than the minimum number of hours and should get experience flying with a range of terrains and weather conditions.
(BTW - Since writing this blog, I received some feedback from Jeff Haliczer, and added his comments as a postscript. Make sure you check them out below… )
Jeff uses Cameron balloons
The gondola and burners
Upfront Cost
Balloon
Trying to establish the cost of the necessary equipment is somewhat like going into a car dealership and asking a salesman how much a car costs; there are so many options, sizes, construction details, and other parameters that the question is impossible to answer. But, just as with cars, I thought I might be able to get the range, from a basic low-end model, akin to the Chevy Spark, to a high-end Corvette or Silverado. So I stopped in the Cameron Balloon booth at the balloon fiesta. Cameron Balloons is one of the bigger balloon companies in the U.S. They make a range of balloons, from low-end, entry-level packages to very expensive, custom-shaped balloons. Al Smith, the Cameron rep, was kind enough to share some of his knowledge with me. He informed me that the cost of the basic setup… balloon envelope, tanks, gondola basket, burner, and instruments is around $40,000. A large, special-shaped envelope and large gondola might be as much as $150,000. Alternatively, just as with cars, there is a lot of used equipment to be found.
Jeff uses a pickup and converted horse trailer as a chase vehicle
Transporter
Next, you need a way to transport the balloon and then follow the balloon to its landing spot after it is launched – aka the chase vehicle. The options we saw ranged from a small, open trailer, to a Transit/Promaster type van, to a large pickup with a lift tailgate. I’d guess the associated cost for these options would be about $2000 for a small trailer to $80,000+ for a deluxe pickup.
Deflator Tool
The tool ready to squeeze the air out of the balloon
The cart used to tote the envelope - along with a couple volunteers for squashing the balloon. Jeff is pictured behind the cart.
Other Costs
One essential additional item is a large, gas-powered fan, which is used to begin the inflation process. These aren’t cheap, typically costing between $2500 and $3000. Then there are a few items that make the deflation and storing operations easier, like a wheeled cart for hauling the envelope around when it is in its bag and an ingenious tool that squeezes the air out of a deflated envelope to make the process of folding the envelope easier. Add maybe another $1000?
Total:
Adding everything up, the upfront cost for new equipment ranges from about $45,000 to $250,000+.
Operating Costs
Fixed Costs:
The fixed costs are the expenses that recur each year, whether the balloon is used or not.
Annual Inspection - $300
Insurance - $900
Operating Expenses:
These are the costs incurred each time the balloon is used.
Typical Propane cost: 15 gallons @ $4/gal = $60
Fuel for the chase vehicle (assuming a launch location within 20 miles of home) @ 15MPG and $3/gal = $10.
Used gear is available
Balloon Life:
The life of the balloon is typically 300-500 flight hours. For argument’s sake, let’s say we take excellent care of the balloon and manage to get 500 hours from it, and we bought the low-end, $45,000 package. This equates to another $80 per hour.
Repairs and Maintenance:
The consensus was about $500/year, assuming you do much of the repair work yourself.
Jeff, the pilot we talked to, indicated that the typical balloon is flown about ten times a year. If my math is correct, this works out to about $320 a flight. Even if you were really into it and flew 30 times a year – most weekends, say, the cost would still be $207 a flight. This figure can vary significantly, however. For example, the cost would be higher if you were driving a few hundred miles to the launch site. Conversely, participants of balloon gatherings like the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta often get their propane for free along with a lot of other perks, like paid hotel rooms and a per diem allowance. Also, this doesn’t take into account all the costs associated with operating and maintaining the chase vehicle, like licenses, insurance, maintenance, depreciation, etc. Finally, every flight we’ve ever been a part of, either as crew or part of the chase team, also included champagne and food at the successful conclusion – another expense for the pilot.
Conclusion
There’s no getting around it – ballooning is an expensive hobby. Perhaps not as expensive as a boating hobby can be, and certainly not as expensive as flying fixed-wing aircraft, but expensive nonetheless. The experience of lifting off and floating with the wind, high above the ground is wonderful, truly unique, and absolutely exhilarating. Only the periodic sound from the burner being ignited disturbs the perfect silence. As for me, however, I think the occasional opportunity to fly in someone else’s balloon will have to suffice.
More in my next blog about flying high in the sky at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta 2021.
P.S. Jeff Haliczer was kind enough to provide the following feedback (edited for brevity)…
“My girlfriend bought a complete system, trailer and balloon, and everything that went with it for $5500, and flew the snot out of it for two years. When it failed its inspection, she bought a replacement envelope for around $7500 and is still flying that one. So deals can be found.
I have 1000 hours on my envelope, so maybe that messes with your numbers (yes, I have replaced lots of panels in it to keep flying it, but till the top 1/3 dies I will keep doing that). My analogy is if your water pump fails you fix it; if your brakes go you fix them. Until the motor dies, you keep it running.
Jeff at home in his balloon
Bandit, Jeff’s co-pilot
Yes, it is expensive but the joy it brings so many people is worth it. Especially the little people as pictured on the cart to mush the balloon down. I love to grab random strangers off the field to gift a ride to.
My rig is different. The trailer never was a horse trailer, just an enclosed utility trailer, although I get accused of that often. It serves the purpose for me and on the longer adventures, up to 12,500 miles one summer, it gives me a place to sleep between events. We (Bandit and I) have seen so much of the USA, and love it and all the adventures along the way.
Be well, be safe and enjoy the journey,
Jeff”
Thanks Jeff!