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To summarize, if there is an obstacle between the balloon and the landing site, the following are the three safe choices. 

1. Give the obstacle appropriate clearance and drop in from altitude. 

2. Reject the landing and look for another landing site. 

3. Fly a low approach to the obstacle, fly over the obstacle allowing plenty of room, and then make the landing. 

The first choice is the most difficult, requiring landing from a high approach and then a fast descent at low altitude. The second choice is the most conservative, but may not be available if the pilot is approaching the last landing site. The third choice is preferable. Flying toward the site at low altitude provides an opportunity to check the surface winds. By clearing the obstacle while ascending—always the safest option—the pilot ends up with a short, but not too high, approach. 

## Some Basic Rules of Landing 

When a landing site is being considered, a balloon pilot should first think about the suitability of the site. “Is it safe, is it legal, and is it polite?” 

Plan the landing early enough so that fuel quantity is not a distraction. Always plan on landing with enough fuel so that even if the first approach to a landing site is unsuccessful, there is enough fuel to make a couple more approaches. 

The best landing site is one that is bigger than the balloon needs and has alternatives. If the balloon has three prospective sites in front of it, the pilot should aim for the one in the middle in case the surface wind estimate was off. If the balloon has multiple prospective landing sites in a row along its path, the pilot should take the first one and save the others for a miscalculation. Unless there is a 180° turn available, all the landing sites behind are lost. Before beginning the approach, the pilot should plan to fly a reasonable descent path to the landing site using the step-down approach, the low (shallow) approach, or a combination of the two. 

## Congested Areas 

Making an approach in a congested area, and subsequently discovering the site to be impossible or inappropriate, is another example of a situation in which a pilot could be falsely accused of low flying. There are some inconsiderate pilots who fly too low in congested areas without reason, but they are rare. Every pilot has an occassional aborted landing situation. According to Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 91, section 91.119, a balloon may fly closer to the ground than the minimum altitude, if necessary for landing. For example, during the approach the 

balloon turns away from the obviously preferred landing site, but there is another possible site only one-half mile in the proper direction. The pilot has two choices: (1) go back up to a legal altitude and try again, or (2) stay low in the wind that the balloon pilot is sure will carry the balloon to a good site and try to make the second landing site. 

In making the first choice, the pilot could be accused of intentionally flying too low. However, with the second choice, he or she flies lower for a longer period of time, which might appear to be a blatant violation of the minimum altitude regulation. This is not an argument in favor of either technique. Many pilots prefer the second choice on the “once the pilot goes down to land, he or she had better land” theory. [Figure 8-7] 

<img src='content_image/523209.jpg'>

## Practice Approaches 

Approaching from a relatively high altitude with a high descent rate down to a soft landing is a very good maneuver to practice periodically, regardless of the experience level of the pilot. This is used when landing over an obstacle and maneuvering to the selected field is possible only from a higher than desired altitude. This maneuver can also be used when, due to inattention or distractions, the pilot is at a relatively high altitude approaching the last appropriate landing site. Practicing this type of approach should take 

