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 $189.53 each ($124.53 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.
Airservices list
- CAR 1988 Part 5, Schedule 7 Part 5 and Schedule 8 Part 2
- Part 131 of CASR
- Part 131 MOS
- AC 131-01 Airworthiness
- AC 131-02 Operations
- CASR Part 131 Guide for balloons and hot air airships – Note 1
- AIP Book
- ERSA
- CASA Recreational Ballooning Procedures Manual
- A basic calculator
Jeppesen list
- CAR 1988 Part 5, Schedule 7 Part 5 and Schedule 8 Part 2
- Part 131 of CASR
- Part 131 MOS
- AC 131-01 Airworthiness
- AC 131-02 Operations
- CASR Part 131 Guide for balloons and hot air airships – Note 1
- Jeppesen Airway Manual
- CASA Recreational Ballooning Procedures Manual
- A basic calculator
Note 1: The Plain English Guides may not have current information. If you choose to use these documents, make sure you also have other materials to help with current laws and procedures.
These ‘guides’ include the following notice:
Disclaimer: The guide has been prepared by CASA for information purposes only, and while every effort has been made to ensure that the contents accurately conform to the civil aviation legislation, this guide is not the law. CASA accepts no liability for damages or liability of any kind resulting from its use. You should ensure you are using the most current version of the guide, which can be found on the CASA website.
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 $189.53 each ($124.53 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
Airservices list
- AIP Book
- ERSA
- CASA Recreational Ballooning Procedures Manual
- Canberra/Albury VTC
- Navigation equipment
- A basic calculator
Jeppesen list
- Jeppesen Airway Manual
- CASA Recreational Ballooning Procedures Manual
- 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:
- 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.