PLT267: Hot Air Balloon Weigh Off
What code PLT267 covers, why the FAA tests it, and how to study Hot Air Balloon Weigh Off before your checkride.
Recall hot air balloon - weigh-off procedure
What this means for your checkride
The weigh off is the process of heating the balloon until it reaches neutral buoyancy on the ground, so it is balanced against its full load before launch. Many pilots fail to achieve this equilibrium immediately after inflation, which leads to a poor departure, so the pilot confirms the balloon is close to equilibrium and then adds a controlled amount of heat above the neutral buoyancy point to lift off. Testing that the balloon just floats before committing verifies the load and the heat required for a controlled climb.
Confirming neutral buoyancy before launch prevents a heavy or uncontrolled departure and sets a predictable ascent.
Reaching equilibrium is not the launch itself. The pilot must add heat beyond the neutral buoyancy point to begin a controlled ascent.
Where to study it
A code on your test report is an area of deficiency. An authorized instructor must review it with you and endorse that review before you take the practical test, and the examiner may revisit it during the oral. Study it until you can explain it out loud, not just recognize the answer.