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Take off in Segovia, Spain

Hot air balloons are aircrafts, and the companies who operate them are companies of aerial work, i.e. regulated by the normative of the European Aviation Safety Agency under the Ministry of Public Works and Transport. On the other hand, they are very special aircrafts, which do not need an airfield, or airdrome neither a runway, it is enough with an open field with the appropriate size and with no obstructions in the wind direction. Considering all this, in the practice hot air balloons may take off almost from any place as long as some ethical principles of each pilot and aerial regulations are considered.

If the take off is going to be in the vicinity of an airport or any restricted area for aerial traffic it is necessary to apply  for the permissions to the competent authorities and even have a flight plan, notifying the take off and landing to the nearest control tower. However, the flights are made in places without those limitations. The pilot must select a place where there is no trespassing and where the maneuvers to take off do not cause any annoyance or troubles to land owners.