Ballooning is one of the oldest means of flight and promises an enjoyable and scenic day out, hot air ballooning is probably the slowest way to fly and probably not the safest but as far as being the most spectacular it’s hard to beat. Booking a hot air balloon ride is fairly easy and common there are lots of Hot Air Balloon company’s providing excellent flying experience.

Before taking the plunge and booking a flight check out the company and it’s pilots experience as making sure the company has been certified by the CAA and the pilots are qualified and have a good safety record.

I started off going to Hot Air Balloon festivals there are some great shows around UK, Europe and the States the biggest being the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta which is held in October every year. In Britain we have 2 good Hot Air Balloon festivals the biggest being the Bristol Balloon Festival and it was great lots to do and see as well multiple Balloon launches over two hundred balloons took part.

Hot Air Balloons come in a lot of different shapes and sizes depending on the usage the really large ones are used to carry more people and sometimes you can see these saw for miles as they must contain the ability to carry more weight and more fuel on board.

Hot Air Balloons are difficult to pilot and must be flown in the early morning or in the evening as these are the times that the air is most still and manageable for the pilot. During the day there can be too much interference from thermals lots of hot air rising that can cause the hot air balloon to be unstable.

So if you book a balloon trip and its early in the morning don’t forget it can very cold at altitude sensible clothing and a woolly hat are recommended items. Listen carefully to the safety brief from the balloon centre paying attention often makes for a safe landing.

Knowing what to expect does not prepare you for the feeling seeing the burner heating the balloon and standing in the basket waiting for the lift off which is carefully controlled by the pilot to be smooth as not to rise too rapidly.

Once in the air the you see the world from a totally unexpected way as you glide almost silently across the land. Some countries that have wild animals this is one the greatest ways of seeing wildlife in the natural stat without disturbing them.

Having been on many balloon rides in the UK and Europe as well as Africa I can recommend that this is an experience that you will never forget. However on the one in Africa I was a little pre occupied with not coming down in a heard of lions or something else. Fortunately as you will find out the balloons are tracked with GPS so that the support vehicle so that they can quickly pack up the Hot Air Balloon when it lands.

A hot air balloon is steered by the pilot understanding that air at different heights moves in different directions and the pilots skill is to interpret the weather for the day and adjust the height of the balloon to go in the correct direction for the day’s planned flight.

Riding the skies at dusk and dawn is a real thrill and looking down at our busy way of life while drifting across the sky makes for a real fun day out. I urge you to put this on one of your to do before you die lists and get out there and cloud hop across sky.

Helicopters are one of the most versatile vehicles ever invented. Their unique ability to hover in mid-air, fly sideways, backwards and being able to land in a space no bigger than a tennis court make them uniquely suited to perform a wide variety of tasks. These are some of the many professional helicopter pilot positions that are available now and will continue to be available into the foreseeable future.

I. Emergency Medical Services (EMS)- These are the helicopters that respond to life threatening emergencies on our nations interstates, highways, and local roads. EMS helicopter pilots usually fly as a single pilot and sometimes in weather that is less than favorable. The flight time requirements differ but for the most part you will need a minimum of 2000 hrs of pilot in command (PIC) flight time in order to be considered a competitive candidate. As far as who you’ll be working for…most EMS helicopters are owned by a company that is separate from the hospital. The company leases out the pilots and the helicopters to the hospital. Notice that I said most. There are hospitals that directly employ EMS helicopters and their pilots.

II. Electronic News Gathering (ENG)- Pilots who fly Electronic News Gathering missions report on traffic conditions, cover local events like parades and festivals and also give us that wonderful coverage of high and low speed police chases. These pilots usually work a split shift that corresponds with the morning and evening rush hours and are on call in case of developing stories.

III. Government Agencies- The federal, state, and local governments offer a wealth of flying opportunities. On the Federal level agencies such as the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation), DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency), ICE (immigration and customs enforcement), NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), DHS (Department of Homeland Security) as well as others offer flying opportunities that are diverse and wide-ranging. On the state levels state departments of transportation and wildlife.

IV. Military- Military flying can be one of the most rewarding types of flying. In government and military flying money is less of an issue. Excellent training is the norm and you could be flying some of the most advanced helicopters on some of the most exciting missions.

V. Law Enforcement- Flying for state and local law enforcement can also be very rewarding. In most law enforcement agencies they hire pilots from within the ranks of ground officers. So, if you want to fly for a state or local law enforcement agency you can expect to be an officer on the ground for a few years

VI. Petroleum Support- Petroleum support pilots fly workers and equipment from on shore locations to off shore oil rigs. They usually stay at bases strategically located near the rigs and will work an extended number of days and than have an extended number of days off. (for example 7 days on and 7 days off). In the United States most of these pilots work along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico and some work in Alaska.

These helicopter pilot careers are available to anyone who desires a career as a professional pilot. They all offer challenge, adventure, excitement, and financial rewards. If any of these positions interest you, research what skills you need to acquire the position. Put a plan of action in place and act on that plan.