FAA Private Pilot - Balloon, Hot Air (PBH) exam-day guide
FAA Private Pilot - Balloon, Hot Air (PBH) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring an unexpired government photo ID with your signature, such as a driver's license or passport. Your name must match your FAA Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application (IACRA) record and knowledge-test report. If you have any doubt whether a particular document qualifies, confirm with the provider before test day.
Knowledge test report
Bring the Airman Knowledge Test Report (AKTR) showing you passed the FAA knowledge test. The practical test standards require the report to be presented to the examiner; it must still be within its validity period. If you tested recently, confirm with the provider how they want the report delivered (paper or electronic).
IACRA application
Complete your application in IACRA and obtain the FAA Application / Airman Certificate and/or Rating Application (Form 8710-1) with the FTN and certification from your recommending instructor. Confirm with the provider whether they want a printed copy or will review it electronically.
Logbook and training records
Bring your pilot logbook or an acceptable record of flight time, plus endorsements for the required training, solo (if applicable), and the practical test recommendation. Balloon time, flights, and instructor endorsements must be legible and current. If any entry is unclear, resolve it with your instructor before the test.
Knowledge areas and oral-prep materials
Bring your FAR/AIM, balloon flight manual or manufacturer's handbook, weight-and-balance and performance information, and any charts or reference material you plan to use for the oral. The examiner may ask you to demonstrate where you find information, so know how to use these references rather than memorizing them.
Aircraft airworthiness and maintenance records
Have the balloon's airworthiness certificate, registration, operating limitations, weight and balance data, and maintenance/inspection records available as required. The examiner will review these during the aircraft-related portion of the test. Confirm with the provider which records they expect you to present and in what form.
Weather and flight-planning products
Prepare a weather briefing and flight-planning products for the planned checkride, including surface winds, winds aloft, forecasts, and any NOTAMs affecting the launch or landing area. Be ready to explain your go/no-go decision and how conditions affect a hot-air balloon.
Flight gear and personal equipment
Bring your headset or communications equipment if used, gloves, eye protection, and clothing appropriate for launch and landing conditions. Balloon operations often involve early starts and field landings, so dress for the environment and for participation in inflation, launch, and recovery.
Examiner fee and scheduling confirmation
Confirm the appointment time, meeting location, and fee with the examiner or provider in advance, and bring the agreed payment method. Designated pilot examiner fees and cancellation policies vary, so confirm with the provider rather than assuming.
Medical eligibility documentation
Bring evidence of the medical eligibility you rely on for the certificate or rating sought, such as a current medical certificate or BasicMed documentation if applicable. Requirements depend on the operation and rating; confirm with the provider which documents apply to your situation.
Plan the day
Re-check scheduling and logistics with the examiner or provider: meeting time, location, fee, and what documents they want to see. Review your logbook for completeness and confirm every required endorsement is signed and dated. Re-read the applicable Airman Certification Standards task areas and identify weak spots to review with your instructor.
Complete a thorough oral-prep review covering regulations, aeromedical factors, weather, balloon systems and performance, weight and balance, and emergency procedures. Practice explaining your answers out loud using your reference materials, because the examiner will assess both your knowledge and your ability to find and apply information.
Do a final flight review with your instructor focused on the maneuvers and procedures likely to be evaluated, including preflight planning, inflation and launch, in-flight tasks, landings, and emergency scenarios. Have your instructor verify that the balloon you will use is airworthy and that its records are in order.
Obtain an updated weather briefing and review forecasts for the checkride window. Prepare your flight-planning worksheet, weight and balance, and performance calculations. Decide with your instructor and examiner how marginal conditions will be handled, and confirm the plan if the flight portion must be rescheduled.
Assemble the documents and gear you will bring: photo ID, knowledge test report, IACRA application, logbook, medical eligibility documentation, references, and flight gear. Put them in one place so nothing is forgotten. Get a full night's sleep and avoid last-minute cramming that leaves you fatigued.
Eat and hydrate before an early launch, check the weather one more time, and arrive at the meeting point early. Dress for field conditions and bring water and sun protection. Confirm by phone or message with the examiner if conditions look questionable, and follow their guidance on whether to proceed.
Present your documents when asked and answer questions clearly, using your references to support answers when appropriate. If you do not know something, say so and explain how you would find the answer. The examiner is evaluating judgment and aeronautical decision-making as well as factual recall.
Follow the examiner's instructions, use a systematic checklist and briefing, and verbalize your decisions and risk management. Fly the balloon conservatively and prioritize safety; a poorly executed maneuver can be corrected, but an unsafe decision may end the test. Ask for clarification if an instruction is ambiguous.
Review the results with the examiner, including any areas of unsatisfactory performance or noted weaknesses. If you do not pass, the examiner will explain the retest requirements; confirm with the provider what must be re-accomplished and how to schedule it. Complete any remaining paperwork and keep copies of your records.
Rules to check
Bring and present the identification and eligibility documents the examiner requests. If you are unsure whether a document is acceptable, confirm with the provider before the test rather than arriving without it.
The practical test is scored on the tasks in the applicable Airman Certification Standards. Unsatisfactory performance on a required task or a safety-related action can result in discontinuance or failure; ask the examiner to explain the scoring standard if it is unclear.
You may be asked to demonstrate knowledge using references such as the FAR/AIM and the balloon flight manual. Using references appropriately is acceptable; fabricating an answer is not.
If the test is discontinued for weather, aircraft, or other reasons, the examiner will document what was completed and what remains. Confirm with the provider how the continuation is scheduled and what documentation is required.
Breaks during the oral or between the oral and flight portions are generally handled at the examiner's discretion. Ask before the test how breaks will be managed, especially if you have medical or scheduling needs.
Do not bring or use unauthorized materials during the test, and do not record the test without the examiner's permission. Confirm with the provider what is permitted for your specific appointment.
Arrive on time and communicate promptly if you will be late or if conditions make the flight impractical. Late arrival or failure to communicate may affect scheduling; confirm the provider's cancellation and no-show policy in advance.
Follow the examiner's safety instructions during inflation, launch, flight, and landing. Safety-of-flight concerns take priority over completing a task, and the examiner may discontinue the test if conditions become unsafe.