100+ Free FAA Private Pilot — Balloon, Hot Air (PBH) Practice Questions
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What is the recommended body position for occupants during a balloon landing?
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Key Facts: FAA Private Pilot — Balloon, Hot Air (PBH) Exam
60
Official PBH Questions
FAA Airman Knowledge Testing
2.5 hours
Time Limit
FAA Airman Knowledge Testing
70%
Passing Score
FAA Airman Knowledge Test standard
16
Minimum Age for Balloon Rating
14 CFR 61.103
No medical
Medical Certificate Required
14 CFR 61.23
~$175
PSI Test Fee
PSI FAA airman knowledge testing
The FAA PBH knowledge test has 60 multiple-choice questions, a 2.5-hour time limit, and a 70% passing score, delivered by computer through PSI. A balloon rating requires a minimum age of 16 and an instructor endorsement to test, and no FAA medical certificate is required to exercise private pilot balloon privileges. This free bank provides 100 selected-response practice questions across all six PBH knowledge areas with full explanations.
Sample FAA Private Pilot — Balloon, Hot Air (PBH) Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your FAA Private Pilot — Balloon, Hot Air (PBH) exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Under 14 CFR Part 61, what is the minimum age to be eligible for a private pilot certificate with a lighter-than-air (balloon) category rating?
2A hot air balloon is which category of aircraft for certification purposes?
3Per 14 CFR 91.151, a hot air balloon flown VFR in the daytime must carry enough fuel to complete the planned flight plus a reserve of at least how many minutes at normal operating consumption?
4During balloon operations, who is directly responsible for, and the final authority as to, the operation of the aircraft?
5What is the basic VFR daytime flight visibility requirement for a balloon operating in Class G airspace at 1,200 feet or less above the surface?
6Which airspace generally surrounds a busy primary airport from the surface up to 10,000 feet MSL and requires ATC clearance before a balloon may enter?
7Per 14 CFR 91.119, except when necessary for takeoff or landing, what is the minimum safe altitude over a congested area such as a town or city?
8Under 14 CFR 61.57, to act as pilot in command carrying passengers in a balloon, a pilot must have made at least how many flights within the preceding 6 calendar months, each at least 30 minutes (or as otherwise specified)?
9A private pilot with a balloon rating may NOT do which of the following?
10Which document is NOT required to be available for a balloon during flight operations?
About the FAA Private Pilot — Balloon, Hot Air (PBH) Exam
The FAA Private Pilot — Balloon (Hot Air) Knowledge Test, test code PBH, is the airman knowledge test for the private pilot certificate with a lighter-than-air balloon rating. It covers Federal Aviation Regulations and airspace, balloon systems, lift theory and gas-law buoyancy, aviation weather, balloon operations, and aeromedical and human factors. The official test is 60 computer-based multiple-choice questions delivered through PSI.
Assessment
60 multiple-choice, 2.5 hours, 70% to pass, computer-based via PSI (official FAA PBH test); this practice bank is 100 selected-response items
Time Limit
2.5 hours
Passing Score
70%
Exam Fee
~$175 (PSI testing fee) (Federal Aviation Administration (FAA))
FAA Private Pilot — Balloon, Hot Air (PBH) Exam Content Outline
Federal Aviation Regulations & Airspace
14 CFR Part 61 certification and currency, Part 91 operating rules, fuel reserves, right-of-way, minimum altitudes, required documents, airspace classes, and VFR weather and cloud-clearance minimums.
Balloon Systems
Envelope and fabric, load tapes, parachute/deflation valve, burner and blast valve, pilot/whisper burner, propane cylinders and valves, and instruments including pyrometer, altimeter, and vertical speed indicator.
Lift Theory, Gas Laws & Buoyancy
Archimedes' principle, Charles's Law, air density versus temperature, density altitude, weigh-off, equilibrium and neutral buoyancy, false lift, and altitude effects on lift.
Aviation Weather
Surface winds and wind gradient, stability, thermals, inversions, mechanical turbulence and rotors, fog, frontal passage, METAR/TAF/winds aloft/AIRMET interpretation, and go/no-go decisions.
Balloon Operations
Preflight, cold and hot inflation, launch, in-flight altitude and wind-steering control, approach and landing, high-wind and dragging-landing contingencies, obstruction clearance, and chase-crew coordination.
Aeromedical, Human Factors & ADM
Hypoxia, carbon monoxide, fatigue, dehydration, spatial disorientation, IMSAFE and PAVE, hazardous attitudes, plan continuation bias, and aeronautical decision making and risk management.
How to Pass the FAA Private Pilot — Balloon, Hot Air (PBH) Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: 70%
- Assessment: 60 multiple-choice, 2.5 hours, 70% to pass, computer-based via PSI (official FAA PBH test); this practice bank is 100 selected-response items
- Time limit: 2.5 hours
- Exam fee: ~$175 (PSI testing fee)
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
FAA Private Pilot — Balloon, Hot Air (PBH) Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are on the FAA PBH knowledge test and how long is it?
The official FAA Private Pilot Balloon (PBH) knowledge test has 60 multiple-choice questions with a time limit of 2.5 hours. It is delivered by computer at a PSI testing center. This free practice bank provides 100 selected-response questions so you can drill more deeply than the live test.
What is the passing score for the FAA PBH test?
You need 70% to pass the FAA airman knowledge test, including the PBH balloon test. A passing knowledge test result is generally valid for 24 calendar months for use toward the practical test, so plan your training timeline accordingly.
Do I need an FAA medical certificate to fly a balloon?
No. Under 14 CFR 61.23, no FAA medical certificate is required to exercise private pilot privileges in a balloon. The pilot self-certifies fitness to fly, which makes personal checklists such as IMSAFE especially important before every flight.
What does the FAA PBH knowledge test cover?
It covers Federal Aviation Regulations and airspace, balloon systems such as the envelope, parachute valve, burner and propane fuel, lift theory and gas-law buoyancy, aviation weather and go/no-go decisions, balloon operations, and aeromedical and human factors with aeronautical decision making.
How much does the FAA balloon knowledge test cost and who administers it?
The FAA airman knowledge test is administered by PSI at approved testing centers, with a fee of about $175. The Federal Aviation Administration sets the test content and standards, and you must have an instructor endorsement before testing. Confirm the current fee with PSI before scheduling.
What is the minimum age for an FAA balloon private pilot certificate?
You must be at least 16 years old to be eligible for a private pilot certificate with a balloon (lighter-than-air) rating, which is lower than the 17-year minimum for an airplane rating. You also must be able to read, speak, write, and understand English.