About Byron Bay Ballooning
Byron Bay Ballooning is a local family owned and operated business, formed with the intention of offering everyone the magnificent experience of flying in a hot air balloon over Australia's most beautiful landscape.
Our Chief Pilot Thomas Dattler is the current Australian Ballooning Champion, and will represent Australia at the World Championships in the US next year.
Along with Senior Pilot Chris Dewhirst and his team of highly qualified professional pilots and enthusiastic, friendly and helpful crew, they will ensure that this experience of a lifetime will be a safe and wonderful one from beginning to end.
All our pilots hold a commercial pilot licence issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, which is considered of the highest standard worldwide. Our balloons are all purchased new from the manufacturer, and feature the latest in safety design and quiet burner technology for your comfort during the flight.
From the mountains to the sea - the rainbow region will enchant you with its wonders! We hope to see you soon
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Thomas Dattler - Chief Pilot of Byron Bay Ballooning
Thomas has been flying since the age of 22, when he got his private pilot license in Germany.
He won the Australian Hot Air Ballooning championships in Canowindra this April and will be representing Australia at the world championships next year in the US.
He has been flying over the Byron Bay Hinterland in Gliders, Motorplanes and Balloons for over fourteen years and knows the area better then anyone. |
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Chris Dewhirst - Senior Pilot
Australia’s ballooning legend – we are fortunate to have Chris here to fly with us. He was the first to fly a hot air balloon over Mt Everest, and is the most decorated balloon pilot in Australia.
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Lui Monacelli – Chief Crew
Lui has been working for us for four years now, and is in charge of ground operations. Hot air ballooning is very much a team effort, and the ground crew extremely important for a safe flight.
The crew is in charge of setting up the balloon, helping to inflate it, help passengers into the basket and during the flight make sure they follow the balloon to be as near as possible once it comes in for landing. They are also responsible for landowner relations – very important since we usually land in paddocks owned by local farmers.
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Emiliano Cataldi
Emiliano caught the bug after coming for a balloon flight himself. He was, along with Lui, part of the Byron Bay Ballooning crew that won the Australian Championships this year.
Emiliano is also a professional photographer and usually in charge for the amazing pictures you can purchase on a CD after the flight.
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Adam Garady
Adam has been with us almost from the very beginning, and will usually come out if he is not away working as a rigger throughout Australia. |
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Tara Dattler
The breakfast queen – Tara came up with the idea of our gourmet champagne breakfasts here at our base – they are an intimate affair in a beautiful setting right next to the airfield, where you can see small planes take off and land, as well as skydivers come down to land just across the airstrip.
Tara bakes the muffins, the quiches are made fresh by a local baker, fruit salad, teas and coffees are sourced from local ingredients where possible.
The champagne of course, as it should be, is French.
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Eva King
Eva is often found in the office, arranging bookings and confirming your meeting time for the morning.
She also helps out at breakfasts in the early mornings.
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