Commercial pilot licence (balloon) exams - CLWB and COPB

A commercial pilot (balloon) licence (CP(B)L) lets you to pilot hot air balloons for work.

To get your licence, you must pass a 2-part examination.

Before you do the CPL balloon exams

Before you take the exams, it helps if you have either:

  • Private Pilot (Balloon) Permit
  • an overseas Balloon flight crew licence.

To prepare for the exams, study the:

Section 3.5 of the syllabus of training also recommends what you should study.

Commercial pilot licence flight rules and air law (balloon) exam – CLWB

The exams include multiple-choice questions and questions where you type a whole number in a box.

You have 2 hours to complete the exam.

To pass, you will need to get at least 75% of the marks.

These exams cost $182.38 each ($117.38 invigilator fee and $65 CASA fee).

Preparing for your exam

The CP(B)L syllabus of training details the training and education you need to pilot balloons.

Permitted material

You may use either the Airservices or Jeppesen list of permitted materials. You need to supply these materials.

You cannot use a combination of materials from both the Airservices list and the Jeppesen list.

Airservices list

CAR 1988 Part 5, Schedule 7 Part 5 and Schedule 8 Part 2

Regulations 67.205 and 67.265 of CASR

Part 91.D.4.6 of CASR

Part 91 MOS, Chapter 2

Part 131 of CASR

Part 131 MOS

CAO 48.1 Instrument 2019 – Appendix 4A

AC 131-01 Airworthiness

AC 131-02 Operations

AIP Book

ERSA

Canberra/Albury VTC

A basic calculator

Jeppesen list

CAR 1988 Part 5, Schedule 7 Part 5 and Schedule 8 Part 2

Regulations 67.205 and 67.265 of CASR

Part 91.D.4.6 of CASR

Part 91 MOS, Chapter 2

Part 131 of CASR

Part 131 MOS

CAO 48.1 Instrument 2019 – Appendix 4A

AC 131-01 Airworthiness

AC 131-02 Operations

Jeppesen Airway Manual

Canberra/Albury VTC

A basic calculator

Your invigilator will give you some things before the exam, which you must hand back at the end. These include:

  • pen
  • pencil
  • ruler
  • eraser
  • scribble pad.

Pass rates

You can see how candidates performed in their CLWB exam.

Year0 - 54%55 - 59%60 - 64%65 - 69%70 - 74%75 - 79%80+%Pass rate
202000012.5012.5012.5062.5075.00%
20210.000.000.000.000.000.00100.00100.00%
20220.000.0050.000.000.0050.000.0050.00%
20230.0016.6716.6716.670.0033.3316.6750.00%
20240.000.0040.000.000.0040.0020.0060.00%

Check the results of candidates from previous years.

Commercial pilot licence operations (balloon) exam – COPB

The exams include multiple-choice questions and questions where you type a whole number in a box.

You have 2 hours to complete the exam.

To pass, you will need to get at least 75% of the marks.

The exams cost $182.38 each ($117.38 invigilator fee and $65 CASA fee).

Preparing for your exam

The CP(B)L syllabus of training details the training and education you need to pilot balloons. It will also test on the laws in Part 5 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988.

Permitted material

You may use either the Airservices or Jeppesen list of permitted materials. You need to supply these materials.

You cannot use a combination of materials from both the Airservices list and the Jeppesen list.

Airservices list

Part 91.D.4.6 of CASR

Part 91 MOS, Chapter 2

Part 131 of CASR

Part 131 MOS

AC 131-01 Airworthiness

AC 131-02 Operations

AIP Book

ERSA

ERC Low 1/2

AUS PCA

Canberra/Albury VTC

Navigation equipment

A basic calculator

Jeppesen list

Part 91.D.4.6 of CASR

Part 91 MOS, Chapter 2

Part 131 of CASR

Part 131 MOS

AC 131-01 Airworthiness

AC 131-02 Operations

Jeppesen Airway Manual

AUS PCA

ERC Low 1/2

Canberra/Albury VTC

Navigation equipment

A basic calculator

Your invigilator will give you some things before the exam, which you must hand back at the end. These include:

  • pen
  • pencil
  • ruler
  • eraser
  • scribble pad.

Pass rates

You can see how candidates performed in their COPB exam.

Year0 - 54%55 - 59%60 - 64%65 - 69%70 - 74%75 - 79%80+%Pass rate
202000011.110088.8988.89%
20210.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.00%
20220.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.00%
2023100.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.00%
20240.0011.1111.110.0022.220.0055.5655.56%

Check the results of candidates from previous years.

COPB covers these topics in the syllabus:

  • balloons general knowledge
  • charts and publications
  • radio communications
  • altimetry
  • navigation
  • operations, performance and flight planning
  • balloon airworthiness
  • aviation meteorology and weather services
  • human performance and limitations.

Booking the CPL (Balloon) exams

Plan when you do the exams carefully and book them only when you understand each exam subject.

You must pass both subjects within one window to get your CPLB. A window is 2 years, unless you have an exemption.

Last updated:
6 Feb 2024
Online version available at: https://www.casa.gov.au//licences-and-certificates/pilots/pilot-and-flight-crew-exams/pilot-exams/commercial-pilot-licence-balloon-exams-clwb-and-copb
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