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Are hot-air balloon pilots ever required to file flight plans? (can they file?)

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As a balloon pilot: no we do not. We do fly regularly in classes G, D, and E and will occasionally wander into class C; but it is very frowned upon...and you better have an aircraft radio or at least call the tower to let them know you are there. Of course balloons always have right-of-way so if you see us get out of the way; we can't control where we're going.

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    $\begingroup$ Is your comment about right-of-way facetious, or factual? Is there a regulation specifying your immediate right-of-way, or do you mean "because you cannot control your directionality with any serious degree of control, everyone else should look out." $\endgroup$
    – CGCampbell
    Jun 20, 2014 at 15:09
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    $\begingroup$ @CGCampbell It's factual in the U.S. per 14 CFR §91.113(d)(1): "A balloon has the right-of-way over any other category of aircraft." $\endgroup$
    – TypeIA
    Jun 20, 2014 at 15:29
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    $\begingroup$ @dvnrrs Thank's....that may have taken a few moments to dig up. I find this interesting that it is well known to balloonists that we have right-of-way but we often have to explain that to ATC or to other aircraft pilots. Specifically I've had to warn-off several ultralight pilots several times about flying too close to us. $\endgroup$
    – RamaFan
    Jun 20, 2014 at 16:12
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    $\begingroup$ @RamaFan Interesting... my impression is that the right-of-way rules are quite common knowledge among pilots. Not to single anyone out but I don't know the above commenter's qualifications; they may not be licensed. (Lots of enthusiasts-only on ASE.) It's certainly required knowledge for the PPL for all categories, and very likely to come up in the oral exam / written test. No idea about ATC. $\endgroup$
    – TypeIA
    Jun 20, 2014 at 16:17
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    $\begingroup$ @dvnrrs It's probably something fixed wing guys know very well for other fixed wing aircraft and helicopters but many just don't encounter balloons often enough to remember. On the converse side I don't remember very much on the right-of-way for who lands at the airport...we had to know it for the test but I've never had to use it being only a Balloon Pilot. $\endgroup$
    – RamaFan
    Jun 20, 2014 at 16:23
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A quick look at the FAA rules regulating hot air balloons makes it sound like, in the USA, they can enter any sort of airspace provided they can do it safely. So, theoretically, they could file a flight plan or at least alert local ATC to their activities.

All of that being said, having been involved in hot air balloon operations before, I think it would not be terribly feasible.

Firstly, flying a hot air balloon outside of Visual Flight Rule conditions (being able to see several miles) would be extremely dangerous, so you wouldn't need to file a flight plan for that.

Secondly, you generally only want to fly a hot air balloon in very sparsely populated areas (Class G airspace), and while you could have a flight plan there really isn't a need. A more congested area (Class B or Class A) would be extremely dangerous to navigate in a hot air balloon. It's pretty hard to get out of the way, since controlling where you are going is...iffy sometimes.

So, in summary, yes it could be done, but in the vast majority of cases there's little need to do it. Other than to just alert local ATC that you will be in the area.

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    $\begingroup$ It's also often suggested that fixed-wing pilots file VFR flight plans for search-and-rescue reasons; does that apply or no? $\endgroup$
    – raptortech97
    Apr 16, 2015 at 3:00
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    $\begingroup$ @raptortech97 Not really, in a hot air balloon you need to have a chase vehicle following you around (which pulls the trailer you pack the ballon in so you can stow it when you land, wherever you happen to land...). They'll be keeping an eye on you, so there's really no need for what you propose. $\endgroup$
    – Jay Carr
    Apr 16, 2016 at 2:26
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ICAO Standards do not differentiate between hot air balloons and other flights when it comes to flight plans. The following is from Rules of the Air (Annex 2):

3.3.1.2
A flight plan shall be submitted prior to operating:
a) any flight or portion thereof to be provided with air traffic control service;
b) any IFR flight within advisory airspace;
c) any flight within or into designated areas, or along designated routes, when so required by the appropriate ATS authority to facilitate the provision of flight information, alerting and search and rescue services;
d) any flight within or into designated areas, or along designated routes, when so required by the appropriate ATS authority to facilitate coordination with appropriate military units or with air traffic services units in adjacent States in order to avoid the possible need for interception for the purpose of identification;
e) any flight across international borders.
Note.— The term “flight plan” is used to mean variously, full information on all items comprised in the flight plan description, covering the whole route of a flight, or limited information required when the purpose is to obtain a clearance for a minor portion of a flight such as to cross an airway, to take off from, or to land at a controlled aerodrome.

As mentioned in the note, a flight plan may simply be an abbreviated flight plan, which is submitted over the radio. Such a flight plan would typically just include identification, type, flight rules, persons on board and intentions.

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