Hot-air balloon flights in Türkiye

Rules & safety

Only what the authorities' own texts say — each point links its source, read on 1 Oct 2026. Our wording is a summary; the linked text is what counts.

1. Commercial balloon flights may only be run by operators holding an operating licence from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (SHGM).Source: SHGM — Commercial balloon operations instruction (SHT-BALON Rev.3)
2. Operators must hold passenger and third-party liability insurance; flying without it is prohibited.Source: SHGM — Commercial balloon operations instruction (SHT-BALON Rev.3)
3. A passenger manifest is kept for every flight and each passenger is given a boarding card.Source: SHGM — Commercial balloon operations instruction (SHT-BALON Rev.3)
4. The pilot must brief passengers before take-off on what to do during the flight and the landing.Source: SHGM — Balloon flight operations instruction (SHT-OPS-B)
5. No passenger flights when the surface wind at take-off is above 10 knots.Source: SHGM — Balloon flight operations instruction (SHT-OPS-B) · SHGM — Commercial balloon operations instruction (SHT-BALON Rev.3)
6. Passenger flights are allowed from 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset.Source: SHGM — Commercial balloon operations instruction (SHT-BALON Rev.3)
7. In Cappadocia, take-off slots are allocated under SHGM's slot instruction, and each morning's weather is assessed and passed to the slot service centre before flights — so flights can be called off on the morning itself.Source: SHGM — Nevşehir Cappadocia balloon flight area slot instruction · SHGM — Cappadocia balloon flights meteorological assessment circular (notice)
8. Pamukkale has its own SHGM slot and airspace instruction, which also covers paragliders and microlight aircraft.Source: SHGM — Pamukkale flight area slot and airspace instruction