Private pilot (balloon) permit exams - BFRA and BMAN

A private pilot (balloon) permit (PP(B)P) permits you to pilot a hot air balloon for recreation.

To be issued with a PP(B)P you must complete two theory exams and meet the requirements outlined in the CASA Recreational Ballooning Procedures Manual, section 2.3.1.

To test your aeronautical knowledge the two exams are:

• Balloon Flight Rules and Aerostatics (BFRA)
• Balloon Meteorology and Navigation (BMAN)

Booking the exams

You book and pay for the exams through our exam provider Aspeq.

You can do the exams in any order.

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

You must pass all the exams within 2 years and one month prior to successfully completing a PP(B)P flight test.

Balloon Flight Rules and Aerostatics – BFRA

The exam consists of about 40 multiple-choice questions.

You have 2 hours to complete the exam.

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

These exams cost $185.67 each ($120.67 invigilator fee and $65 CASA fee).

Preparing for your exam

The exam will test your knowledge on the syllabus in CASA Recreational Ballooning Procedures Manual, section 7.2.1 – Syllabus for Balloon Flight Rules and Aerostatics exam.

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.

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.

Balloon Meteorology and Navigation (BMAN)

The exam consists of about 40 multiple-choice questions.

You have 2 hours to complete the exam.

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

These exams cost $185.67 each ($120.67 invigilator fee and $65 CASA fee).

Preparing for your exam

The exam will test your knowledge on the syllabus in CASA Recreational Ballooning Procedures Manual, section 7.2.2 – Syllabus for Balloon Meteorology and Navigation exam.

Permitted material

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

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

Calculations

The exam includes some questions that require calculation which are fairly straightforward.  They may include calculating ground speed, fuel use and rate of climb and descent.