Authorization of Hot Air Balloon Flights in Morocco

Last January, Morocco granted two companies permission to operate irregular air services for public passenger transport using hot air balloons, subject to strict conditions. These conditions include a ban on flying over military installations and the requirement to coordinate flights with air navigation services.

A decree published in the Official Gazette, signed by the Minister of Transport and Logistics, Abdelssamad Qaiouh, confirmed the issuance of these licenses to « MERY BALLOONING » and « SKY BALLOONS, » based in the Marrakech-Safi region.

The government has imposed several conditions to ensure safe and regulated operations. For domestic public transport, companies must provide insurance or any other financial guarantee covering damages to third parties and passengers in case of an incident.

Additionally, companies must submit a request to aviation authorities to approve flight zones, geographical coordinates, and operating durations. This request must be filed at least 30 days before the first scheduled flight. Before each flight, they must notify local authorities and the Royal Gendarmerie. Furthermore, pilots must hold a professional balloon pilot license.

Pilots must comply with inspections conducted by relevant authorities and inform air navigation services before each flight about flight details, including coordinates, altitude, and flight type. Flying over restricted areas, particularly military and strategic sites, is strictly prohibited.

Each year, companies must submit a financial report to authorities to ensure strict monitoring of their economic situation. They are also subject to regular inspections to verify compliance with regulations.

This authorization is based on Law No. 40.13 concerning the Civil Aviation Code, along with various decrees and requests submitted by the companies involved.