Our Pilots
All the Pilots with Orlando Balloon Rides are fully certified by the FAA. We pride ourselves on having full-time professional staff to take care of you. Our pilots have over 100 years combined experience in Ballooning and a perfect safety record. They fly this area every day and know where all the sites to be seen are. They all have outgoing and genuine personalities and will keep you entertained and informed throughout the wonderful flight. We realize that this incredible adventure is about you, the customer and we promise that our pilots are highly focused on this. Come fly with us and see for yourself.
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Damien Mahony – Chief Pilot
Damien has been involved in commercial balloon rides in Orlando since 1999. He was crew chief with Blue Water Balloons for several years before graduating to commercial pilot in 2006. Since then he has been flying our flagship 315,000 cubic foot balloons almost exclusively and has more time in this size balloon than anyone on the Eastern seaboard. He has traveled extensively in the US flying balloons over the years and has flown many events such as Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta and the Helen to the Atlantic balloon festival, two of the oldest balloon events in the world. In 2010 he flew from the Stratosphere in South Dakota to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Explorer II, a balloon flight to over 72,000 feet!
Damien has more experience flying the Orlando area than anyone in the past 5 years. His experience and Irish charm will keep you highly entertained as you take to the skies!
Damien hails from County Kildare, Ireland.
Ian Swift – Pilot
Ian has flown balloons since the 1980s and has amassed more than 2,000 hours. He started his career flying passengers in England and has worked extensively in Europe, Central America, the US and The Middle East. He has also flown across the English Channel from England to France on 3 occasions. He is also half of the team which won the Great British Long Jump 2005 title. Along with co-pilot Dave Sutcliffe, Ian flew the furthest in the UK in a single flight. He has also flown corporate balloons for Emirates Airlines, Guinness, Rover and Virgin.
Ian comes from York, England.
Mark Roberson – Pilot
Mark started his career in the US Marine Corps in 1977, flying fixed-wing aircraft. He obtained his balloon ratings in the 1980s and became involved with the FAA. He is a designated pilot examiner, aviation safety counselor, chaired the FAA Balloon Safety Seminar in Lakeland, Florida, for seven years, and has amassed more than 3,500 hours. He has flown all over the US, Central and South America in corporate balloons for The Hard Rock Café, The Ball Park Frank, Bryan, Ford, Mossy Oak, Virgin Atlantic Airlines, Miller Genuine Draft, and was chief pilot for Orlando’s world-renowned Rosie O’Grady’s Flying Circus for several years. He speaks fluent Spanish.
Mark is a native of Kissimmee, Florida
Mike Comerford – Pilot
Mike took his first flight with Orange Blossom Balloons, trained in the UK and US and became a commercial pilot. He has flown extensively for Orange Blossom Balloons and Blue Water Balloons and has also flown in Europe and Central America. He now flies in our 315,000 balloons almost every day over the Orlando countryside. His dry wit will certainly keep you highly amused!
Mike is from Stoke-on-Trent, England
Pat Schmitt - Pilot
Pat began his flying career with the purchase of an ultra-light aircraft. After several hundred hours of flight time he received his Ultra-Light Flight Instructor rating. In 1999 he even assisted in training the stunt pilots for the James Bond movie The World Is Not Enough. His love of aviation expanded into other aircraft as well. Since then he has obtained his Helicopter rating and Lighter than Air ratings. Pat has attended Balloon Festivals all over the United States. He has flown over the Historic YO Ranch in Mountain Home, Texas, Sedona, Arizona, Upstate New York and the Tetons of Wyoming. He has amassed hundreds of hours of experience in balloons from two passengers all the way up to 20 passenger balloons.
Pat is originally from Brockport, New York.
Cameron Freeman – Pilot
Cameron is a rarity here in Florida, he was actually born here! He has been involved with Orlando Balloon Rides since 2004 and has graduated from crew member to pilot in the last few years. Don’t let Cameron’s youth fool you, he has been flying our balloons for years and has amassed hundreds of flight hours over the past few years. Cameron is also very personable. His sense of humor will keep you smiling as you fly with Orlando Balloon Rides!
Cameron is from Orlando, Florida
To book your flight of a lifetime, call us today on 1.407.894.5040,
email flyme@orlandoballoonrides.com or complete our online booking form today! |
