By Joe Hizul

At the media launch of the 2nd Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2010, TOKL had the good fortune of chatting up with some of the pilots taking part in the event.

The first pilot we talked to is Captain David Griffiths, an Englishman hailing from Radcliffe in Nottingham, but now calls Seremban home.

How long have you been a pilot?
I’ve been a pilot for fifteen years.

What got you interested in hot air balloon in the first place?
My sister’s husband used to go rock-climbing with his friend. One day they came back from Nottingham and they saw a hot air balloon fiesta. They went to watch what was going on and thought it was a good idea (they were getting old for rock-climbing) so they made enquiries and bought the balloon. They used to go ballooning in one weekend, and rock-climbing the next. I tagged along as I have the time and thought this is really something different.

I used to go to balloon fiesta every weekend to help out. You need lots of people to get the balloons in the air. Like the previous fiesta in Malaysia, the organization was fantastic. Everyone including all the pilots who came from all over the world and they’ve been to balloon fiestas for many years and, Malaysia is one of the best organized ever.

It was okay until I put my hand on the burner. I went to Austria and had the chance to fly a balloon. The minute I put my hand on the burner; which was very addictive to ballooning, and I got hooked. I took my license and got my first second-hand balloon.

Was your first balloon expensive?
Like buying a second-hand car, it breaks down and you need to maintain it. You realize you want a bigger balloon, a new balloon, or a better burner. Once you start flying, you never get enough of it and won’t have enough money. It always goes on equipment.

Which is the best place you have flown to?
I think I enjoyed flying in Austria in the mountain – in the Alps during winter. We can’t fly in UK, so we used go to the Alps for skiing and flying the balloon – it couldn’t be better. Although I fly commercially in the UK with passengers, you can’t beat the spectacular sceneries in the Alps . It’s like the Formula One of ballooning, with the mountains; you have to concentrate the whole time.

Is it dangerous?
It can be dangerous flying in the Alps. Most normal balloon flying is safe. It has its moment. The best description I’ve heard is 59 minutes of ecstasy and 1 minute of terror.

The best thing about hot air balloon?
Fly and drift with the wind, and the elements change all the time. Plan, think and watch the direction at all different levels. As soon as you take off, you watch the directions at all different levels, and think of a place to land. And the sceneries are fantastic. You don’t need to watch Avatar 3D because we have 4D, 360 degrees and panoramic view every time.