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The Minister of Transport and Logistics has granted SKY BALLOONS, based in Marrakech, and Mery Ballooning, located in Rehamna province, licenses to operate non-scheduled public passenger air transport services using hot air balloons.
The decision, published in Official Gazette No. 7382 on February 27, outlines several conditions. The license remains valid as long as the companies meet the necessary requirements, particularly the issuance of the technical operating certificate.
It is specified that the companies must secure insurance or an equivalent financial guarantee to cover potential liabilities for damages to passengers in the event of an accident related to domestic public transport.
Furthermore, they are required to submit a request to the relevant government authorities for approval of operational areas, geographical coordinates, and flight durations. They must also notify local authorities and the Royal Gendarmerie ahead of any planned flights.
The companies are obligated to submit their request for operational areas at least 30 days before the first scheduled flight to give authorities ample time to review the request.
Additionally, the decision mandates that the balloons be equipped with dual VHF radios to ensure continuous communication with the nearest control towers within the airspace they operate. The maximum flight altitude is set at 3,000 feet.
Pilots must hold a professional ballooning license to operate the flights.
Moreover, the companies must avoid flying over restricted areas, particularly military installations and facilities related to national defense, and must not engage in commercial aerial photography.
It’s worth noting that several companies in Marrakech, a top tourist destination in Morocco, offer hot air balloon tours along designated routes, providing views of villages and oases.
