About Us
 

MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission is to provide a safe and reliable opportunity to experience the very best that hot air ballooning in South Africa has to offer by flying in the best areas, employing the best pilots and flying the finest balloons. We acknowledge that our passengers are entitled to experience adventure, romance and excitement, that many flights are undertaken to celebrate a milestone in their lives, and in this regard, we undertake to provide the very best, fun-filled occasion.

 

 

THE TEAM

Marc Nuthall (right)

CEO of Hot Air Ballooning SA and Chief Pilot, 11 years in hot air ballooning, 4 times South African hot air balloon champion, represented South Africa in the World Championships in France in 2002 and Japan in 2006, member of the board – Aeroclub South Africa, Balloon and Airship Federation of South Africa and the Pioneer Hot Air Balloon Club.

 


Warwick Cook
Responsible Person: Safety and Aircraft for Hot Air Ballooning SA, 12 years in hot air ballooning, twice the Provincial champion, and achieved second place to Marc in the 2006 National Championships and second place in the 2008 National Championships. Chief crew member for Marc in the World Championships in 2002. Member of Balloon and Airship Federation of SA. Warwick flew the balloon which dropped the Da Vinci parachute in Mpumalanga, 2000.

 

Ann Cook

Responsible person: Ground Operations for Hot Air Ballooning SA, 12 years ballooning experience as crew. Office administrator and reservations.

 

Terry Adams

We are honored to have Terry, the founder of hot air ballooning in South Africa, as a member of our team. Terry first began ballooning in England in 1972, emigrated to South Africa in 1976 and started Flamboyant Balloons. In so doing, he got ballooning off the ground in South Africa; he has built over 50 balloons. Amongst his most memorable achievements was launching his balloon from the Ark Royal, an aircraft carrier, landing in Malta in the mid 1970s. Terry has ballooned the length and breadth of South Africa and is a legend in international ballooning circles.

 

Most present day balloonists owe their ballooning involvement to Terry.

 

 

THE FLEET

 


ZS-HSE – ‘SATURN’

Manufacturer: Lindstrand Balloons, UK

Volume: 240 000 cubic foot

Maximum all up weight: 1980kg

Maximum operating temperature: 127°C

Height: 30M

Surface area: 1750m2

Maximum passengers: 12 plus pilot



 

 






ZS-HBD – ‘JUPITER’

Manufacturer: Cameron Balloons, UK

Volume: 160 000 cubic foot

Maximum all up weight: 1000kg

Maximum operating temperature: 127°C

Height: 22M

Surface area: 1350m2

Maximum passengers: 6 plus pilot




ZS-HBC - ‘ORION’

Manufacturer: cameron Balloons, UK

Volume: 160 000 cubic foot

Maximum all up weight: 1000kg

Maximum operating temperature: 127°C

Height: 22M

Surface area: 1350m2

Maximum passengers: 6 plus pilot







ZS-HOL ‘JOSEPH’

Manufacturer: Flamboyant Balloons, SA

Volume: 70 000 cubic foot

Maximum all up weight: 500kg

Maximum operating temperature: 127°C

Height: 18M

Surface area: 1020m2

Maximum passengers: 2 plus pilot

(not for commercial use)








 

More balloons in the pipeline ... watch this space!

Hot Air Ballooning SA was established in 2004, is a fully licensed and insured non-scheduled airline, Air Service Licence category A4, N1 Class II, N807D and G2 Class III, G808D.

 

SAFETY RECORD

Incident-free since inception.

Our balloons are inspected annually by the Civil Aviation Authority.

All flights are conducted with a pre-flight safety check, in-flight safety checks and landing checks.

All flights are conducted under the control of Civil Aviation regulations of South Africa.

All flights are conducted weather permitting, and the decision of the pilot is final.