WAIVERS

Hot air ballooning carries inherent risks and dangers.  Waivers can be used as communication tools for these risks with passengers and are good tools should there be a claim.  Recognizing that various jurisdictions view waivers with different gravity, they are nonetheless an important risk management tool for balloonists.  We recommend all passengers sign a waiver.  To help you we have developed a suggested waiver which can be downloaded by clicking on the icon below.

Recognizing that we are not lawyers, there are some common threads contained in waivers that have been effective.  They are:

• Keep to one page.
• Have the signer initial various paragraphs to demonstrate having reviewed the document.
• Be clear on the injuries, including death, that may result and the risks involved.
• Have an effective hold harmless paragraph.
• Retain the signed waiver for a good period of time.
• Get the waiver signed in advance of the flight, not at the last minute.
• Make it known that the pilot is in charge of the flight and passengers shouild follow the pilot's instructions explicitly.

We have developed a waiver which you can feel free to download and use the best elements of our waiver and our waiver to create a solid document.

Note:  This is common sense advice not legal advice.