Courses - AIMO Balloons EN

Flight Courses

Leading to the PPL licence

An English or Italian Licence

John Aimo Balloons offers the opportunity to obtain a licence as a hot-air balloon pilot either in accordance with the English rules of the BBAC/CAA or according to the Italian norms of the EASA.

Milano Mongolfiere: Italian Flight School

For those without a knowledge of the English language, flight school in Italian is held in collaboration with the society Milano Mongolfiere for which John Aimo is an instructor and examiner.

BBAC: English Flight School

For those with competence in English, courses follow the rules of the BBAC. For those wishing to obtain a professional licence, the English CPL is also recommended as this is recognized world-wide outside the EASA area. Many pilots who have been on our BBAC/CAA courses and then obtained the CPL are today professional pilots in various parts of the world, having set up companies for the public transport of passengers.

Flight Practice and Theory

The practical course with just one pupil on board requires:
• A minimum of 16 hours flying with an instructor.
• An exam flight with an English examiner.
• Passing 5 theory exams: Navigation, Aviation Law, Meteorology, Human Performance, and Airmanship/Balloon Systems, which deals with the technicalities of balloons and ballooning. These exams are in a quiz, multiple choice form.

Course Location

Courses take place in Mondovì (CN) at the Balloon Port: porto aerostatico, corso Francia 18, where the Aero Club Mongolfiere di Mondovì is situated.
It is well equipped with a large hall for briefings, a hangar, a field for take-off and a bar/restaurant. Flights take place early morning and late afternoon with take-off in various parts of the county depending on the direction of the wind.

Length of Courses

While experiencing a variety of climatic conditions is always ideal when learning to fly, it is possible, however, for any student pilot coming from afar to complete training in the Mondovì area in 7 to 10 days. This means getting in the flight hours, studying the theory, taking the exams and doing the solo flight.

Compulsory Medical

For an Italian licence, a second class medical is required from either an institute of the Military Air Force (Medicina Legale dell’ Aeronautica Militare ) or from an EASA-approved AME doctor. For an English licence, a declaration from the student’s own family doctor on the requisite CAA form is sufficient.

Aeronord Aerostati

La John Aimo Balloons organizes flights with Aeronord Aerostati Company gas balloons of Milan.

Course fees

School Fees

– Enrolment: 350 Euro – 2 log books included
– Each hour of flight with the instructor: 350 Euro
– Each theory exam with an English examiner: 30 Pounds Sterling
– Practical flight exam: 200 Pounds Sterling.
Shared Costs

If the examiner is already present at the exam location to examine other students, it is possible to share the examiner’s expenses, such as the cost of board and lodging and travel to and from Mondovì. (A return air ticket and hotel stay comes to around 500 Pounds Sterling.)
The Examiners

The theory exams can be taken anywhere with any examiners. The practical exams can be taken only at Mondovì with examiners used to flying in the area.
Agreement with Cameron Balloons Italia

For students wishing to buy their own balloon, John Aimo Balloons, representative of Cameron Balloons in Italy, offers very favourable terms.
CPL

For students wishing to go on to gain the CPL commercial licence, special packages of hours and prices are available.
Advanced Courses

For those who have already obtained a licence but wish to fly with instructor John Aimo to perfect skills or train for competitions the cost per hour is:
– 250€ in a 77,
– 280€ in a 90/105,
– 310€ in a 120.
Additional passengers friends of the pilot pay 120 Euro per flight.