1. What are the health and safety requirements?
   ⦿ Absolutely NO SMOKING in or near the balloon. Flammable fuels are used for hot-air ballooning and ashes or embers can damage the balloon’s fabric, resulting in costly repairs.
   ⦿ If you are pregnant, we are unable to take you at this time.
   ⦿ Children must be age 10 and above to be included as passengers. (If you have reserved a ticket for a younger child, please notify us) Children must strictly follow all pilot and crew directions and instructions. If you feel they would be unable to follow instructions, let’s wait until they are a bit older to take them on a flight.
   ⦿ Keep all children at a safe distance from the balloon during inflation. Children are curious by nature and aren’t aware that injuries could occur if they get too close to our inflation equipment or that stepping on the fabric of the balloon may result in costly repairs.
   ⦿ If you have any health concerns, always consult your physician before flying.

2. How long is the flight and where do we land?
   Wherever the wind takes us! Each flight is different depending on wind direction and wind speed. Your pilot will start looking for a location to land at 45 minutes into the flight, with most flights lasting around one hour. Landings are based completely on opportunity and may occur in a hayfield, a large backyard or even a parking lot. Your entire balloon adventure, from inflation until you are back home again, will take approximately three hours total time (plus travel time for those coming from out of town).

3. What is your cancellation policy?
   If for any reason you need to change or cancel your balloon flight, we require that you give us a 48-hour notice. If less than a 48-hour notice is given, you will be charged for the full balance of your balloon flight. In the case of gift certificate holders, if less than a 48-hour notice is given, your certificate will be void and no longer valid. If you must cancel, please call us at 269-327-6446 and let us know. (leave a message if necessary) We appreciate your understanding and cooperation. 

4. What happens if my flight is canceled due to weather?
   All scheduled flights are weather permitting and subject to cancellation. If your flight is canceled due to wind/weather conditions, you can reschedule another flight from the notification you receive.
   
   On a few rare occasions, our decision to cancel the flight may have been, in hindsight, an incorrect one and it may have been flyable after all. Please keep in mind that the weather can be very difficult to predict at times, even for the experts that we consult before each flight. Our pilots make their decisions utilizing the information provided by the best sources available to us. In making their decision, they keep your safety and enjoyment foremost in mind. These are considerations that we will never compromise.

5. Other than the wind, what adverse weather conditions might cause the cancellation of my flight?
   Obvious conditions would include weather watches or warnings. Others may include poor visibility, low cloud ceilings, weather systems moving in or out of our area or extreme heat/humidity.

6. What type of weather should we look for on the day of our flight?
   Simply put, a mild and calm day. The one weather factor that grounds a balloon more than any other is high wind. It could be a beautiful, sunny day, but if the wind is too high, we will need to cancel in the interest of safety. A balloon must have very calm wind in order to handle and inflate easily. The balloon is made up of thousands of square feet of fabric and in windy conditions, it is very difficult to handle safely on the ground. Ideally, the surface wind should be approximately 5 to 8 mph and not exceeding 10 mph.

7. Where do we meet (Where is the take-off site)?
   Typically, flights begin at Flesher Field on 9th Street in Kalamazoo, Michigan, one mile north of I-94. Please check your reservation to confirm the take-off location. We may also contact you directly the day of the flight for an updated take-off location due to conditions or if the field is unavailable for our use due to sporting events.
   Google Maps Link to Flesher Field

8. When do we meet?
   For sunrise flights, we meet bright and early at sunrise. It’s an early, but beautiful start to the day!
   For sunset flights, we meet 2 hours before sunset. Please check your reservation for the exact meeting time.  We will be in contact with you on the day of your flight to finalize details.

9. How do we get back from the landing site to our vehicles?
   Our chase-crew will pick-up the balloon passengers and pilot with a van at the landing site and return everyone to the take-off site.

10. Is riding in a hot-air balloon safe? Are you licensed and insured?
    Yes, yes and yes! Much like all other federally registered aircraft, our balloons are required to be inspected after every 100 hours and are meticulously maintained. Additionally, all of our pilots are commercially rated lighter-than-air (LTA) pilots through the Federal Aviation Administration and hold second-class medical certificates.

11. When will I be billed for my flight?

    You will be charged for the balance of your flight (subtracting the reservation fee) on the day of your flight after landing.

Michigan Balloon Corporation Pilot Pro-tips:

Ballooning is an informal sport. We suggest you wear casual clothing, long pants (protection for mosquitoes, ticks and tall grass/brush) and a low heel, closed toe shoe. The temperature in the balloon is not measurably cooler than the ground temperature so there is no need to bundle up–simply dress as if you were going to take a walk! If you would like to bring a jacket for after the flight to keep mosquitoes away, or due to the coolness of the setting sun, we would be happy to keep it in our chase vehicle for you so that you will have it at the landing site.

Unfortunately, there is no graceful way to enter the basket.  There are foot holes in the side of the basket that you will use as steps to assist you in climbing in. For those that need additional assistance, you may ask a friend/family member or one of our friendly crew members to assist you by offering a hand. Please contact us if you feel you will be unable to climb in as we have options and can likely make this a success! If you have any health concerns, always consult your physician before flying.

You will likely never see a hot-air balloon free flying in the middle of the day. As the sun comes up, it heats the earth unevenly and causes invisible columns of hot air to rise up from the ground. These columns of hot air are called “thermals.” Thermals diminish the control a balloon pilot has over their aircraft, so measures are taken to avoid them. This is done by taking-off early in the morning, before the sun can do its thermal magic, or just before sunset, when the lower solar angle of the sun allows the earth to cool. The sun’s heat also causes the wind to pick up velocity during the day, so by taking-off early in the morning or two hours before sunset, we are taking-off when the winds are at their calmest.

Use a neck strap with all camera and video equipment and hold on firmly to all cell phones being used as cameras.