---
title: "Balloon — EASA Definition · Avioverse"
description: "Article 2, Regulation (EU) No 965/2012: 'balloon' means a manned lighter-than-air aircraft which is not power-driven and sustains flight through the use…"
url: "https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/balloon"
---

# balloon

EASA defines “balloon” in 2 regulations, worded for each regulation's scope. The wording below is reproduced verbatim from the EASA Easy Access Rules, with a link to the paragraph it comes from.

> 'balloon' means a manned lighter-than-air aircraft which is not power-driven and sustains flight through the use of either a lighter-than-air gas or an airborne heater, including gas balloons, hot-air balloons, mixed balloons and, although power-driven, hot-air airships;

Article 2 · Air Operations · Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 · Easy Access Rules, 27 Mar 2026 revision · [Read Article 2](https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/air-ops/cover-regulation/powers-and-recitals#article-2)

> "Balloon" means a lighter-than-air aircraft which is not engine-driven and sustains flight through the use of either gas or an airborne heater. For the purposes of this Part, a hot-air airship, although engine-driven, is also considered a balloon.

FCL.010 · Aircrew · Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 · Easy Access Rules, 25 Nov 2025 revision · [Read FCL.010](https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/aircrew/part-fcl/subpart-a#fcl-010)

## Defined in the same article

- [Accessible](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/accessible)
- [aerobatic flight](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/aerobatic-flight)
- [aeroplane](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/aeroplane)
- [Aeroplane required to be operated with a co-pilot](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/aeroplane-required-to-be-operated-with-a-co-pilot)
- [Aeroplane upset prevention and recovery training](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/aeroplane-upset-prevention-and-recovery-training)
- [aircraft](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/aircraft)
- [Airmanship](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/airmanship)
- [Airship](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/airship)