Pete Forster

LISTENING to dogs barking and children shouting half a mile away as you peacefully float overhead is indescribably calming. It's surrea. It's not like standing on a tower looking down, because there is nothing connecting you to the ground. Because of this, suffering from vertigo while ballooning is a rarity. You don't take off as much as the ground takes down.

Passengers are often less apprehensive than you might imagine. By the time we take off they have been around me and the basket for an hour, helping with the assembly and inflation, so they are relaxed. I have had passengers of all ages, from teenagers to 90 year olds.

I had always loved piloting planes, but during my first ballooning experience as a young man in the Australian outback I realised what I had been missing. Slowly floating over rooftops puts you in touch with the environment in a way no other airborne activity can offer.

Passengers often comment that it's more tranquil than they were expecting, wondering why the wind isn't swinging or shaking the basket. There is wind, of course, but we are floating with it, giving everyone an hour to relax in the silence before having to worry about the landing.

Approaching the ground, I have to stop the forward momentum by emptying the air from the balloon, causing the basket to tip on its side. This usually entails a few small bumps, but if the wind has picked up we can get dragged through the field. The baskets are strong and sturdy though, keeping everyone safely inside.

I had one alarming experience during a commercial flight 20 years ago. I was badly injured during take off due to a technical malfunction. Going into a mild shock as the balloon lifted, I had to sit in the middle of the basket to keep from fainting. Unable to reach the burners, one of the passengers administered first aid while I instructed another on how to pilot. Passing over a large city with train lines and power lines just below, it was pretty nerve-racking. Fortunately I soon recovered and was able to pilot the rest of the flight.

It told me a lot about human nature. People tend to stay calm under duress and it strengthened my faith in humanity. The entire experience is based on the reciprocation of trust. Everyone is relying on you to give them the experience and bring them down safely, and I feel very privileged.

I wouldn't want Alba Ballooning located in any other country. The beauty of Scotland lies within its variety. Places like Germany, Burma, Chile, or even the pyramids in Egypt tend to be less exciting after the first flight. Scotland is consistently invigorating. Every flight is unique.

Despite having piloted over 2000 flights over 25 years, I still love it. There is one drawback, however: the Scottish weather. There have been quite a lot of balloon companies over the years that have faded away due to the limit of flights per season. It can take a lot of patience to run a weather dependant business, sometimes taking 5 or 6 cancellations before finding a suitable day. It can be annoying for customers but people soon forget the frustrations after the thrill of the flight.

People have quite often said it was the first time that they felt truly happy for as long as they can remember. Giving the public unforgettable memories will always keep me flying.

Also, not many people can say they regularly witness marriage proposals at 3000 feet. The bride always say yes, although you probably would at that height.

Visit www.albaballooning.co.uk