While a hot air balloon ride in Sonoma is meant to be an exhilarating, joyful and light-hearted experience, we do take safety very seriously. The safety of our guests and crew is our top priority and as an outdoor activity, our decision to proceed with or postpone a flight is contingent upon weather conditions. For the safety and enjoyment of all, we ask that you respect and follow every instruction provided by your pilot, crew and our staff.
Safety First
Our pilots run through a rigorous pre-flight checklist and if they are not completely satisfied with conditions at the time of take off, they will call off the flight.
You're in Good Hands
All of our pilots are FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) Certified Pilots, have flown without major incident, undergo routine physicals and are throughly educated on local topography and conditions.
Proper Maintenance
Our state-of-the-art balloons are inspected every 100 hours of flight / annually per FAA guidelines by certified professionals. Our crew takes careful inventory and examination of all equipment prior to set-up and after tear-down.
Continued Education
Our pilots are required to maintain flight hours above the industry standard to stay current. We attend flight safety trainings throughout the year, staying up-to-date on the latest protocols and procedures. The team’s also encouraged to participate in large-scale balloon festivals to hone their skill sets and learn best practices.