Post details: DUBAI BALLOONING
DUBAI BALLOONING
The first DUBAI International Ballooning Festival was held last year from December 20 – 31. Dennis and Margaret Collins who regularly crew with my balloon in Canberra and supported my world record attempt, and I departed Sydney December 18. My balloon, Aurora (VH-BJF) left a day earlier.
All 75 balloon teams were accommodated at the Al Bustan Residences not far from the international airport in Dubai. As these were apartments, the local law allows no alcohol for sale on the premises. We had been warned beforehand so it was not unusual to observe the foreigners checking in at reception with duty free bags laden with their preferred choice of drink.
Dec 20 Day 1 – All aboard the buses that were to become such a regular part of our stay and finally, a glimpse of my balloon at the launch site, Global Village, about 30 minutes drive south of the city.
1600 hrs – After the master briefing, pilots began inflating their balloons in front of a huge white marquee perched in the desert. Inside sitting on red and gold ornate chairs on colourful rugs were Sheikh Majjid Bin Mohammed Bin Makhtoum, his bodyguards and entourage watching the colourful spectacle.
As the only Australian team there, we also participated in the night glow the first night beside Dubai Creek where an amphitheatre had been specially built to house the families for their first look at such a sight.
Next day dawned gently and after our 0600 hrs briefing, all balloons lifted off and drifted away from Dubai Airport, a restricted zone to the east. My goal was to land as close as possible to the other balloon sharing our assigned chase truck and for both of us to finish our flights next to a road. Tahir, our Pakistani truck driver had made it clear he would not, could not, take his truck off-road.
“Will we fly from the Palm?” one of the pilots asked Pat Brake, Deputy Flight Director, mid-week. “Don’t have permission yet”, she replied. We continued to fly from Global Village over the next few days.
Day 8 1430 hrs Onto the buses outside our apartments. “Where are we going?” yelled one of the Brits to the driver.
“To the Burj Al Arab” was all he said.
We spilled out of the buses after a journey through “downtown” Dubai to end up on Jumeirah Beach Road in front of the famous 7-star hotel, shaped like a sail, rising out of the beach, surrounded by the most azure coloured ocean. The flag on top of the building was waving strongly indicating strong winds but everyone was keen to fly.
Mark Sullivan Flight Director from Albuquerque called the briefing with the direction that our height restriction was 500 feet AMSL until we reached our regular approved flying area to the southeast and then only to 1500 feet AMSL.
This was an historic flight for Dubai and offered wonderful ballooning memories and images for those intrepid pilots floating over the city and the folk below.
The Emirates Mall is famous for housing an indoor ski run of 600 to 800 meters, where many of the teams spent two hours snow ski-ing on Christmas Day. I was now flying over the ski roof with only 30 feet of clean air below my basket and the ski-run ceiling.
After the flight we prepared for DINNER IN THE DESERT.
Over the sand dunes into the night blackness we drove and drove till a light appeared in the distance. We finally entered a compound with low tables and cushions on the sand, a stage situated in the middle. in the far corner was the bar. The food was delicious or maybe it was eating under the stars that was seductive. The belly dancer at mid-night excited the guys, well some of them, as two bus loads had already left. We arrived back at our apartment at 0100 hrs – what a day! One could say what an fortnight! What an adventure all up!
The next event is scheduled for early 2008.