Our Pilots

Our pilots are FAA certified Commercial Lighter than Air pilots. This is our full time business and our pilots are full time professional pilots. It is our company policy that all our pilots attend a FAA safety seminar annually. We are proud of our 100% incident free safety record.

Pat Schmitt – Chief Pilot, President

Pat is originally from Brockport, a small college town in upstate New York. He 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. He then worked with an ultra-light manufacturer testing new products and training new students. 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 to the Tetons of Wyoming. He is especially fond of Hot Air Ballooning because of its simplistic form of flight. As Pat puts it, " Its old fashion seat of the pants flying with modern technology and safety". He has amassed hundreds of hours in balloons from two passenger all the way up to 20 passenger balloons.

Trever Engler – Pilot

Trever has been in aviation his entire life, literally growing up at an airport. He is a commercial pilot for airplanes, jets, helicopters, and balloons. He is a Class D skydiver with more than 2300 jumps. Trever is also an FAA certified aircraft mechanic and inspector.