Learning to fly a balloon requires a specific set of motor  skills:  Regulations (14 CFR) part 61 pertains to the certification  of pilots, flight instructors, and ground instructors. 14 CFR  part 61 defines the eligibility, aeronautical knowledge, flight  proficiency, as well as training and testing requirements for  each type of pilot certificate issued.  14 CFR part 91 contains general operating and flight rules.  The section is broad in scope and provides general guidance  in the areas of general flight rules, visual flight rules (VFR),  instrument flight rules (IFR), aircraft maintenance, and  preventive maintenance and alterations.  Within the FAA, the Flight Standards Service promotes safe  air transportation by setting the standards for certification  and oversight of airmen, air operators, air agencies, and  designees. It also promotes safety of flight of civil aircraft  and air commerce by: A skilled pilot becomes one with the balloon and learns to  assess a situation quickly and accurately. He or she also  develops the ability to select the proper procedure to follow  in a situation, to predict the probable results of the selected  procedure, and to exercise safe practices. In addition, a skilled  pilot learns to gauge the performance of the balloon being  flown and to recognize not only personal limitations, but also  the limitations of the balloon. This knowledge helps the pilot  to avoid reaching personal or machine critical points.  The focus of interaction between the FAA Flight Standards  Service and the aviation community and general public is  the Flight Standards District Office (FSDO).  [Figure 1-1] The FAA has approximately 130 FSDOs. These offices  provide information and services for the aviation community.  FSDO phone numbers are listed in the blue pages of the  telephone directory under United States Government  Offices, Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation  Administration. Another convenient method of finding a local  office is to use the FSDO locator available on the Regulatory  Support Division’s website: http://www.faa.gov/about/ office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/afs/afs600. Developing the skills needed to fly a balloon requires time  and dedication on the part of the student pilot, as well as the  flight instructor. Each balloon has its own particular flight  characteristics, and it is not the purpose of balloon flight  training to learn how to fly a particular model balloon. The  purpose of balloon flight training is to develop skills and  safety habits that can be transferred to any balloon. The pilot  who acquires the necessary flight skills during training, and  demonstrates these skills by flying with precision and safe  flying habits, easily transitions to different model balloons.  Student pilots should also remember that the goal of flight  training is to develop a safe and competent pilot. To that end,  it is important for the flight instructor to insure the student  pilot forms the proper flying habits by introducing him or her  to good operating practices from the first training flight. In addition to accident investigation and the enforcement of  aviation regulations, the FSDO is also responsible for the  The United States Congress has empowered the Federal  Aviation Administration (FAA) to promote aviation safety  by establishing safety standards for civil aviation. The  FAA accomplishes this goal through the Code of Federal  Regulations (CFR). Title 14 of the Code of Federal  1-2 Figure 1-1.  Atlanta Flight Standards District Office (FSDO). Role of the Federal Aviation  Administration (FAA)  •  Coordination—the ability to take physical action in the  proper sequence to produce the desired results while  launching, flying, and landing the balloon.  •  Timing—the application of muscle coordination at  the proper time to make the flight, and all maneuvers  incident to it, a constant smooth process.  •  Control touch—the ability to interpret, evaluate, and  predict the actions and reactions of the balloon with  regard to attitude and speed variations, by interpreting  and evaluating varying visual cues and instrument  readings. •  Situational awareness—the ability to sense instantly  any reasonable variation of altitude, airspeed, and  directional change, as well as a constant perception  of relative position to ground-based structures and  planned flight track. • Accomplishing certification, inspection, surveillance,  investigation, and enforcement; • Setting regulations and standards; and • Managing the system for registration of civil aircraft  and all airmen records.