Few restrictions to where hot air balloons can land

After a hot air balloon landed in a north Columbia neighborhood Wednesday evening, ABC 17 News is looking into where pilots are allowed to land.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration Balloon Flying Handbook, the pilot should consider the safety of the passengers as well as the safety of the people and property on the ground when choosing a landing site.

The FAA recommends picking a landing site that’s bigger than the balloon and free of any obstacles.

“Most of the time our landings, they’re not crash landings,” said David Holmes, who has been flying hot air balloons for 20 years. “They’re calculated.”

Holmes said pilots would prefer to land in an open field or empty parking lot, but said sometimes neighborhood streets are the best option.

“If you’re flying and you get over town and your wind dies down, you may not have many choices,” he explained. “It’s a street, or a cul-de-sac, or something like that. Don’t be surprised. Most of the time we’re in good shape.”

Holmes said he has insurance in case of any property damage or injuries during a landing.

The FAA inspects hot air balloons at least once a year or every 100 hours of flight, according to Holmes.