Board Liaison: Ursula Richards [contact]
Mission
The AAAA Education Committee provides the necessary support for seminars and ground schools. Its mission is to provide quality training to AAAA members and the public on various aspects of ballooning. Contact the Education Committee Chair for more information.
It takes more than just acquiring your pilot’s license to become a good and safe pilot. It also requires more than just crewing a few times to become a good crew member. Our educational programs and ground schools promote continued learning and increased crew and pilot safety awareness.
Our goal is to keep the AAAA members informed and educated on the safety, operational, and regulatory aspects of hot air ballooning at a reasonable rate. Our seminars are continuously updated with state-of-the-art presentation techniques.
Seminars and Ground Schools
To fulfill the mission, the AAAA Education Committee produces ground schools for both private and commercial certificate-seeking individuals and a safety seminar during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.
Ground Schools
We offer two options for ground school, in-person and online. The in-person ground schools are held in February for a private certificate, and April for a commercial certificate. If there is enough demand, we may offer a June private certificate class. These in-person classes are held over a weekend, starting Friday night, and continuing all day Saturday and Sunday.
The online versions are available whenever you are ready to start the classes. Once enrolled, you will have 6 months to work at your own pace in order to complete the ground school. If you complete the course within a time frame of 6 months, your access to online materials will be extended up to one year from your original date of enrollment.
Both the in-person and online versions come with a 60-day endorsement which allows you to take the written FAA test. Books and supplies are also included in the purchase price. Registration for both in-person and online courses is through the AAAA Online Store.
Balloon Fiesta Safety Seminar
The Balloon Fiesta Safety Seminar is usually held on the Tuesday of Balloon Fiesta each week at the Sid Cutter Pilots’ Pavilion on Balloon Fiesta Park.
The 4-hour session is BFA-sanctioned and is always well-attended. The 2025 Safety Seminar will be held on Tuesday, October 7th at the Sid Cutter Pilots’ Pavilion.
Books
We offer an excellent selection of books and supplies concerning ballooning, regulations, and ground school requirements. The books and supplies are brought to the monthly AAAA meetings for your convenience, or you can order online with shipping costs, if not picked up locally for free.
More Education Resources
Additional resources can be found on our resources page.
Committee Meetings
The Education Committee meets at 6 pm on the second Monday of every month (except for October). All meetings are held via Zoom.
We’re always looking for people interested in educating balloonists. If you would like to assist with AAAA’s educational events, please contact the Board Liaison.