Once the balloon is airborne, the pilot can make it ascend by turning the burners on and adding more hot air. To descend, he just lets the air cool off, or he can open a vent in the top of the balloon to let hot air escape.
Lai nolaistos zemāk, pilotam vai nu jāpagaida, līdz gaiss balonā atdziest, vai arī daļa gaisa jāizlaiž laukā pa augstuma maiņas vadības ventili, kas atrodas balona augšgalā.