Page 28 - ParentsWorld June 2020

Licensed balloon pilots
are hired by adventure
tourism companies
and advertisers. They
require intensive
training and
licensing as they are

responsible for the
safety of passengers,
crew and equipment

(mainly freelancers) are hired by adventure tourism com- enced pilots. Advertisers who hire balloons and the services
panies and advertisers. They require intensive training and of their owners (usually pilots) tend to pay Rs.80,000-1.5
licensing as they are responsible for the safety of passen- lakh per season.
gers, flight-path decisions, crew and equipment. Balloon rides don’t come cheap and can cost up to
The adventure tourism industry which has recorded Rs.2,000-3,000 per adult for a 15-minute joy ride.
significant growth (17 percent CAGR) globally and is pro-
jected to attain a revenue of $13 billion (Rs.9,100 crore) ProfeSSionaL ProgreSSion
by 2023, has revived and boosted the ballooning business “Rising awareness of the thrill of adventure sports and
worldwide. substantial growth of the adventure tourism industry glob-
ally, has positively impacted the ballooning business world-
Study PrograMMeS wide, India included. Given India’s diverse topography
To qualify as a hot air balloon pilot, aspirants over 18 and rich cultural heritage, I believe there is endless scope
years of age are eligible to apply to balloon flight training for adventure tourism in our country. With a growing
schools in the UK/US/Europe. As yet, formal balloon number of private tourism companies such as Sky Waltz,
flight training schools havent sprung up in India. Tiger Balloon Safaris, Deccan Airsports, and state govern-
To meet the civil aviation ministry’s testing standards for ment ministries investing in heritage tour time charters,
hot air ballooning, flight schools offer study programmes employment opportunities are abundant,” says Bangalore-
in practical knowledge and flight instruction. The syllabus based Rita Yadav, India’s second certified hot air balloon
covers subjects such as meteorology, airmanship, naviga- pilot and also the first licensed Indian airship pilot certified
tion, flight rules, codes of conduct, pre and post-flight by the civil aviation authority of the UK.
procedures, balloon manoeuvres, emergency procedures Inspired by her husband Col. M.K. Yadav, also a hot
and knowledge of basic civil aviation regulations. After air balloon pilot, para-trooper, sky diver and mountain-
logging a minimum 35 hours flying time as a light airplane eer, Rita began her career in aviation in 2001. For over
pilot, 20 hours flying time in balloons, six hours flying time six years, she worked with her sister-in-law Anita Yadav,
with a flight instructor, two solo flights, two flights of over India’s first hot air balloon pilot. In 2007, Rita took a bank
one hour, and one flight over 5,000 ft, candidates are ready loan to invest in her own balloon which cost her Rs.30
for a final flight test and certification by an examiner. lakh, and went freelance, offering balloon services to public
Foreign licence holders are required to write a compos- and private corporates. In 2009, she signed up with the
ite exam conducted by the Delhi-based Director General south Goa-based Camping Retreats of India Pvt. Ltd (aka
of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Tiger Balloon Safaris) and is the company’s official pilot.
Now a master trainer, Yadav has also held workshops for
Pay & PerKS cadets of the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla.
Hot air balloon pilots in India are usually paid according “India has too few certified balloon pilots. My dream is
to the number of flights logged during a season. Freshers to start India’s first balloon flight training school and give
(co-pilots) can expect Rs.30,000-60,000 per month with youth the benefit of this offbeat highly rewarding profes-
pay packages rising to Rs.1-2 lakh per month for experi- sion. I am awaiting government sanction,” she says.

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