She is a very bright and positive person. It could not be otherwise as she was looking very often life from a high altitude. Her name is Orlina Asparuhova and she is the only balloon pilot in Bulgaria. She flew over three continents-Europe, Asia and South America and has over 3000 hours in the air and many unforgettable stories and emotions behind her back.

© Photo: private archive

“I grew up in a family of a pilot. My father was a pilot and we always talked about aviation at home”, says Orlina Asparuhova. “It is no surprise that one out of the four children inherited this profession. Initially this was my hobby. I graduated economics and started to work in a foreign trade company. I managed to persuade my firm to buy an advertising balloon and later I ordered it from England. Before it arrived, I had to train abroad how to drive it. Thus, in February 1988, I went under a quick training course in the Center for Aviation Training in the town of Leshno (Poland). It was a very serious training. I also studied construction and exploitation of balloons, piloting technique, aerostatics, etc. The full training course includes important subjects such as meteorology, navigation, civil aviation law, radio exchange and other subjects. The current aviation legislation in Bulgaria prohibits people to fly freely in the skies if they decide to buy a balloon. Just like the airplane pilots, balloon pilots have to undergo a special training course and take the exam organized by the Civil Aviation Administration”, says Orlina.

She made her first flight onboard a two-seat balloon in the remote 1988 in the town of Plovdiv during the International Fair, where the Bulgarian producers get help to enter the foreign markets. Two years later, she devoted herself entirely to the balloon flights and founded Orli Club.

© Photo: private archive

“I established a company and signed a contract with the company I worked in for the purchase of a balloon. It took me 5 years to pay it off through commercial flights”, Orlina recalls. “This was my first two-seat balloon. In 1994 I bought a bigger, four-seat balloon. In 2006 I bought the last one-a passenger seven-seat one. I use it to take tourists on cognitive flights. I paid it off with commercial contracts as well. I have always been managing to find people who want to advertise on it, but now during the crisis it is much harder than before. I took part in many European contests as well as in the World contest in Brazil. These were the first World Eco Games. 13 environmentally friendly sports were included in this contest and the balloon flight was among them. The experience was incredible-we flew over the Igiasu waterfall. I also took part in a balloon fiesta in India. The contests were quite thrilling. Such balloon fiestas are held nearly each month in Europe and across the world. The organizers make them with an advertising purpose. However, this is also a place where all followers of this idea meet and exchange thoughts. The organizers cover some of the expenses of the participants at these fiestas, while on the big balloon contests we pay much more for participation as we have to cover accommodation and pay participation fees. Then we definitely need sponsors”, says Orlina Asparuhova.

Which is Orlina’s brightest memory from the past 20 years?

“I have been actively flying balloons for nearly 24 years now since I quit the job at the company where I bought my first balloon in 1990 and I founded the Orli Baloon Club. I wanted to convince myself that I could live on balloon flights only. Since then, my hobby turned into profession and the experience has always been incredible. I had many thrilling experiences and I could not outline something in particular. The flights over the Rila Monastery and mount Musala, where we flew above the clouds at 4000 meters above sea level, gave us an incredible experience. The flights over Saint Petersburg in Russia were also very interesting. I would never forget my first participation at the European contest in France in 1992. Before this contest, I only had participations at balloon fiestas and this was my first performance at a contest of such a large scale. I placed 37th out of 100 balloons at the first day of the contest. My Polish instructor finished 30th and this made me vary happy. Later I placed 14th and 18th, where only I and an English girl were the only women among all 100 participants. Now there are balloon contest for women only. The experience I gained during the commercial flights during the Plovdiv International Fair, the difficult flights at a low altitude over the city and Maritsa River led to positive results”, Orlina went on to say.

© Photo: private archive

According to Orlina, one who wants to develop in this sport should be very brave and calm. Those people should know how to control themselves and avoid panicking and emotional reactions during the flights. “They should know how to read the meteorological situation by every cloud and when a critical situation occurs, they should know how to react immediately, says Orlina.

© Photo: private archive

“I work along with 10 other people in my club. They are very experienced and well-trained professionals. Each balloon is flown by a land crew consisting of minimum four people. They should assemble the balloon properly. Interwoven ropes for example could pose a huge threat over the lives of the crew during a flight. I am a very communicative person and I love to be among other people and meet friends from all over the world during contests. This is an incredible experience. When I first started to practice this sport, there was no Facebook or Internet in Bulgaria. Now I can look at many photos and read comments even if I fail to find financing and participate in a certain contest. I have over 1300 friends on Facebook. I often exchange information and thoughts with them regarding the novelties in this sport. Unfortunately I can not take part in all events, but I am keeping a good shape and I am always ready for a flight. People can see wonderful scenery from above: beautiful landscape, lovely sunrise and sunsets, incredible clouds, pretty villages, etc. I really hope that this great sport will have its followers in Bulgaria in the future”, concludes Orlina Asparuhova.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov