Hot air balloonists use the torch to change the amount of hot air in the balloon, changing it's height (hot air rises, cool air sinks). By finding the right wind (northward, southward, etc.) the balloonist can change the direction they choose to go.
A hot air balloon pilot is called an aeronaut.
Hot Air Balloon Pilot
The hot air balloon has a basket in the middle, which holds passengers and the pilot. The basket is attached to the envelope of the balloon, where hot air is used to generate lift and make the balloon float.
A balloon pilot controls ascent by heating the air inside the balloon with a burner and descent by allowing the air to cool or venting it.
A hot air balloon pilot or balloonist is typically the term used for the person who operates a hot air balloon.
An aeronaut flies a hot air balloon
The person who controls a hot air balloon is called a pilot or a balloonist. They are responsible for navigating the balloon safely through the air by controlling the burner and the airflow in the balloon envelope.
Heating the air in the balloon makes it less dense than the surrounding air, causing the balloon to become buoyant and rise. As the air inside the balloon cools, it becomes denser and the balloon descends. This process allows the pilot to control the altitude of the balloon.
A hot air balloon is typically piloted by a trained and licensed hot air balloon pilot who is responsible for navigating the balloon, controlling its altitude, and ensuring the safety of passengers on board.
The pilot is just 'the pilot'
A hot air balloon pilot ascends by heating the air inside the envelope using a burner, which makes the air less dense than the cooler air outside, causing the balloon to rise. To descend, the pilot can either allow the air to cool naturally or use a vent at the top of the envelope to release some hot air, increasing the balloon's density and causing it to descend. The pilot controls both ascent and descent by carefully managing the temperature of the air inside the balloon.
Heating the air makes less air take up the same space, so the air inside the balloon is lighter than the surrounding air. The pilot turns off the burner to help the balloon to maintain the current altitude or to descend.