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The 2024 BFA On-Line Seminar registration and viewing is OPEN!   Logged-in BFA members can view the segments at no charge. If you need insurance credit, please register HERE (fee involved).   Th...

Effective May 31,2024 The FAA has published new Practical Test Standards/PTS to be used for both Private and Commercial LTA Checkrides. The old Private and Commercial PTS with effective dates of 1996 and 1997 wil...

      Balloonists around the country have been attending in-person safety seminars all spring and the BFA has been working on its on-line seminar for 2024.  The on-line seminar is a team effort that...

This morning’s fire in the National Balloon Museum as caused internal damage to the museum and its contents, the extend of which is still being determined. There were no injuries as the building was empty at the t...

  I am writing to you to let you know of the plans for the BFA Youth Program Camps that are happening this year. We have three camps planned for 2024: Southeastern Balloon Camp, in Cordele, GA - June 18-...

The Balloon Federation of America would like to thank all the pilots that took the time to complete the “Pilot Survey.” The goal of this survey was to provide us with a better understanding of LTA activity aroun...

The bfa.net website has been a major asset to our members for the past 10 years. Centralizing management of subscriptions and automating formerly manual tasks has saved countless hours and significantly reduced offi...

Good day to all pilots, We’re at a vital crossroads in our sport. In the wake of a few serious accidents over the past few years, ballooning is increasingly portrayed as reckless, dangerous, and out of control by...

January 31, 2024   With the recent accident in Eloy, Arizona and the tragic loss of 4 lives and severe injuries to another passenger, it is becoming apparent that we, as pilots, are still making the same old ...

Many of you have a growing concern about the increase in drone activities in your area. The growth of the number of companies that have obtained an operations certificate, better known as an FAR 135 Certificate is s...

ELECTION 2023         Candidates have been selected by their respective nominating committees and we are please to announce the candidates for the 2023 election.  All seats are for ...

   UAS Beyond Visual Line-Of-Sight Operations On the evening of June 13, 2023, the BFA made its final comments (see attached) in response to the recommendation made to FAA by the UAS community in their...

Most of you will remember that we brought to your attention a few months ago, an attempt by some commercial drone operations to change the right of way rules to allow drones operating BVLOS, or beyond visual line of...

MUST-SEE Safety! Ballooning’s biggest buzzkill – literally and figuratively - is a power line strike. The just-released 20-minute video “Crossing the Line” offers pilots and crew dozens of practical strateg...

The BFA has had some success with the Aeromedical Branch of the FAA lately. Approximately 3 weeks ago the BFA posted a request for anyone having applied for a medical and were waiting for the FAA to respond, to comm...

The 2023 BFA OnLine Seminar is now available! REGISTER HERE All BFA members can watch any of the continuting education videos at no extra cost by logging in and then visiting the Seminar Video Library found under ...

  Dear BFA Members,   As the deadline draws near for the requirement for the second class medical, the BFA is hearing from many pilots that have applied and have some medical deficiency that required ...

President Pat Cannon (515) 961-8809 President@bfa.net     PRESS RELEASE Shoot Balloon Photos, Not Balloons! The Balloon Federation of America strongly suggests calling local authoritiesif you are un...

Balloon Federation of America PO Box 400 Indianola, Iowa   January 23, 2023       The BFA has been continuing to work with FAA to provide better explanations for some of the information...