Is ballooning safe?
Statistically flight is the safest form of travel, and statistically hot air ballooning is the safest form of flight. Ballooning is inherently safe for several reasons. First, a balloon goes only as fast as the air it is moving in. As long as the pilot chooses calm wind days, the lack of speed contributes to safety. Second, balloons can hover; there fore if there is an obstacle to clear, the pilot need only hover until the balloon clears the obstacle. Third, pendulum weight distribution keeps balloons in flight always upright, creating a natural stability, again adding to safety. With their inherent slow movement, their ability to hover and pendulum-like stability, hot air balloons are considered to be among the safest aircraft.
