Frequent questions

The flights are usually made in the early hours of the morning and it is not a fad that to get up early, but it depends again on the heat. After sunrise the sun begins to heat the atmosphere and the soil, and to generate all kinds of movements in the air. The first hours of the day and the last hours of the afternoon are the quietest moments in which the wind tends to be more gentle and constant. Also when the sun warms the ground, and everything in it, the air rises and the thermal currents occur. These invisible hot air currents are the ones that allow the vultures to fly with little effort and that the paragliders use to maintain the flight, currents that must be avoided by flying in a hot air balloon.

The meteorology is very important in this activity, so we will be in contact the days prior to the activity to keep track of the weather forecast. If the day before the flight the forecast is very bad we will cancel the flight and look for another date. It can also happen that the forecast is good and the same tomorrow the conditions are not so much that to be able to fly; In this case the pilot may also decide to cancel the flight and will be postponed for another day. In no case will this entail any cost of the flight activity for the customer.

The temperature during the balloon flight is the same as on the ground, you have to go dressed in the usual clothes for the time and comfortable shoes. SUMMER: We recommend a cap to protect the head from the sun and the heat from the balloon burner (can be annoying to those who are higher than usual) and sun cream. WINTER: the temperature first thing in the morning on the ground is usually about 0 °, in the Pyrenees is usually some negative degree up to 10 ° below zero, in this case we recommend to wear a thermal net under the pants, thermal or double socks, Coat, hat, gloves and scarf.

We advise a minimum age of 5 years for children and we do not put maximum age for the elderly. It is a very quiet and safe activity.

There are special prices for children between 5 and 10 years.

The balloons have no direction control, that is, we will go wherever the wind takes us. What we can control is the height and with that we will play, looking for the currents of air that interest us most. The maximum height will be determined by the zone and the winds in each flight.

Of course! Although it is not a forced task for the passengers, this work will be appreciated because the more passengers a bigger and heavier the balloon will be, so that to pick it up will require more effort. Helping to collect the equipment is also a perfect time to touch the balloon and see what is done, to ask all those doubts and curiosities that have arisen during the flight and to spend a pleasant time with the flight crew and the rest of passengers Before the toast and aerial baptism.

Burners in a hot air balloon are generally powered by propane (C3H8). In cold climates or in the winter months, propane is mixed with nitrogen, a gas that is neither flammable nor combustible, nor does it emulsify with propane, but which increases the pressure of the bottles.

After the first experiments of the Montgolfier brothers in 1783, in which the air was heated by a bonfire, a cumbersome and impractical system, the hot air balloons were displaced by the gas. The resurgence of hot air balloons took place in October 1960 when Raven Indrusties gave a good boost to the ballooning when making the propane burner and using nylon for the candle, which would mean the revival of hot air balloons.

To pilot a balloon it is necessary to take a course through an authorized school and pass a practical exam and a theoretical one to obtain the title of pilot of aerostat. This is accompanied by a current class 2 medical certificate. The pilot must be at least 16 years old to begin his or her course. The practical course consists of a minimum of 16 flight hours that must include a minimum of 8 flights. One of those hours, at least, you must do alone, once you have achieved enough skill. The theoretical part includes: air law, general knowledge of aircraft, performance and flight planning, human performance and limitations, meteorology, navigation, operational procedures, and flight principles. All pilots must renew their license annually by demonstrating an activity in flight in the last year and with their medical certificate envigor.

The first aeronautics of history were Jean-Francois Pilâtre de Roziers and the Marquis d'Arlandes, who after their flight on Paris in 1783, celebrated the happy event toasting with champagne. Since then, anywhere in the world where you fly in a balloon, this tradition is maintained by offering a toast to all passengers. In Catalonia we have adapted that tradition by replacing French champagne with Catalan cava.