WHO WE ARE?
Lanka Ballooning (Pvt) Ltd is a fully licensed operator and approved by the CAASL (Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka) affiliated to Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation and relevant ministries to operate Hot Air Balloon Rides in Sri Lanka.
As an investment of Uluer Group Companies, Lanka Ballooning (Pvt) Ltd (Sri Lanka Balloon) established in 2016 after years of research and Hot Air Ballooning experience in different countries for more than 15 years. Mahmut Sami Uluer (GM) also contributes greatly to diplomatic, commercial and cultural relations between the two countries as an Honorary Consul General of Sri Lanka to Turkey.
We own and operate 2 Hot Air Balloons, each carrying Sri Lanka Balloon design and designated entirely for passenger carrying use. We have the capacity to carry 26 passengers at the same time.
Our pilots, crew and office staff are fully qualified and highly experienced. All have many years of experience.
Uluer Group (as owner of 2 largest balloon companies in Turkey and largest balloon company in Sri Lanka) setted a record by increasing the number of balloons in its fleet to 18 and the passenger capacity to over 300.
Our Principles
Safety First
Top Level Pilot Skills
Top Quality Equipment
Comply With Regulations
MEET THE TEAM
Our experienced Balloon Pilots will be very happy to take you an unforgettable journey over Sri Lanka. Our local reservation and operation officers also work hard to give you excellent service from beginning to end.
Lanka Ballooning Turkish pilots hold Commercial Balloon Pilots License and validated by CAASL according to their experience and tested every year by the examiners of the Sri Lankan authorities. They have thousands of flight hours as professional commercial pilots.
Mahmut Sami Uluer
Managing Director | Chief Pilot | Attorney-at-Law
Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka to Turkey, Attorney-at-Law, Commercial & Instructor Balloon Pilot.
Graduated from Maltepe University (Istanbul), Faculty of Law.
After completing aviation courses in England, Spain, Russia and Turkey, became Private Pilot in 2007, Commercial Pilot in 2008 and Instructor Pilot in 2009. Worked as Examiner Pilot at Ministery of Transportation of Turkey, Directorate General of Civil Aviation. He has trained many pilots.
Worked as Commercial Pilot, Instructor Pilot, Chief Pilot, Flight Operations Manager, Ground Operations Manager at the World’s Largerst Fleet (18 Balloons) and World’s Larget Passenger Capacity: 300 Passengers per day.
Became Honorary Consul of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in 2013. He has valuable works in the development of commercial and cultural relations between the two countries. As a result, has made a significant contribution to the country’s tourism potential and employment by bringing professional ballooning to Sri Lanka.
Has 1000+ hours of flight experience with hot air balloons in 15+ years. Has been working for many years in ballooning and aviation.
Flown with many different brands and models of balloons from 1 Person (Pilot Only/ Solo Balloon) up to 32 Passengers + 2 Pilots (World’s Largest Balloon) in many locations.
Certified Maintenance Technician of Lindstrand Balloons(UK) and Ultramagic Balloons(Spain).
Scuba Diver, First Aid Expert,
Alparslan Uluer
Pilot
Commercial Balloon Pilot. Flight Instructor. Microlight Pilot.
Graduted from Anadolu University, Economy Faculty.
He took an active role during the establishment of Uluer Group’s balloon companies in Turkey. He flew at Uluer Group Balloon Companies for many years and took charge in managerial positions such as Flight Operations Manager and Maintenance Manager.
Has 3000+ hours of flight experience with hot air balloons in 15+ years. Has been working for many years in ballooning and aviation. Flown with many different brands and models of balloons from 1 Person (Pilot Only/ Solo Balloon) up to 32 Passengers + 2 Pilots (World’s Largest Balloon) in many locations.
Certified Maintenance Technician of the balloons in our fleet Lindstrand Balloons, Ultramagic Balloons and Cameron Balloons. First Aid Expert licenced by Ministry of Health. Licensed RadioTelephon user. He is married and has 2 children.
Instructor Pilot. He trained many pilots in Turkey. He served as a Turkish Civil Aviation Authority Examiner Pilot. In addition to training flights, he performed the test flights of student pilots, license validation of foreign pilots and license renewal test flights as Turkish Civil Aviation Authority Examiner Pilot.
Scuba Diver, First Aid Expert, Lifeguard
Eray Bora
Pilot
Commercial Balloon Pilot. Flight Instructor.
Graduted from Selcuk University, Natural Gas Heating Systems and Technology Department and Anadolu University Faculty of Business Administration.
He flew at Uluer Group Balloon Companies for many years and took charge in managerial positions such as Flight and Training Manager and Quality Manager.
Has 3000+ hours of flight experience with hot air balloons in 15 years. Has been working for many years in ballooning and aviation. Flown with many different brands and models of balloons from 1 Person (Pilot Only/ Solo Balloon) up to 32 Passengers + 2 Pilots (World’s Largest Balloon) in many locations.
ISO 9001-2008 authorized quality inspector. Certified Maintenance Technician of the balloons in our fleet Lindstrand Balloons, Ultramagic Balloons, Cameron Balloons and Kubicek Balloons. First Aid Expert licenced by Ministry of Health. Licensed RadioTelephone user. He is married and has 2 children.
Instructor Pilot. He trained many pilots in Turkey. He served as a Turkish Civil Aviation Authority Examiner Pilot. In addition to training flights, he performed the test flights of student pilots, license validation of foreign pilots and license renewal test flights as Turkish Civil Aviation Authority Examiner Pilot.
Sancho Gonzalez Green
Pilot
Sancho Gonzalez-Green, born in Madrid on 27/02/1974, Is the son of Jesus Gonzalez-Green, the pioneer of modern Aerostation in Spain, who taught his son Sancho about the wonderful world of flying in hot air balloons since he was a little boy. Sancho had his first hot air balloon adventure when he was only 1 year old. At the age of 5 he flied frequently and started to master hot air balloons on his own; when he was 8 years old he was already well known in the aerostation world as “Pequeño Piloto” (Little Pilot).
When Sancho was 8 years old he turned into a real pilot when he carried out his first jump, a free short 10 minute ride, completely by himself.
Sancho was invited by Steven Forbes (Forbes Magazine) to participate in a hot air balloon festival in Normandy, where 30 of the best pilots in the world flew special shaped balloons: Harley Davidson, Beethoven, etc.. In 1992 Sancho participated in the Spanish Gran Prix 92 as official pilot of the “Pabellón de España” (Spanish Pavilion) Balloon. Flights in Seville, Madrid and Barcelona with a total of 100 participant. In 1993, he participated in the yearly hot air balloon festival in Gijón.
When he was 20 years old, in 1994, he was already flying passenger balloons of 180 thousand cubic feet with capacity for 8 passengers plus the pilot.
Worked as a Commercial Balloon Pilot in Spain, Egypt, Namibia and Turkey (Our sister company Discovery Balloons).
Other Adventures: Hot air balloon as BASE jump for parachutists (approximately 25). Sancho has licences to fly: Hang Glider, Paramotor, Ultra-Light motors and gliders. (Total of 500 hours). He holds army diving license (250 hours), enjoys windsurf, fly surf, buggies sailing, bungee jumping and power kites
Languages: Native Spanish, high level in English, low level in French & Turkish.
Aflal
Reservation Manager
Aflal was born and raised in Sri Lanka. After completed the Bachelor Degree at Jamiah Naleemiah and along at University of Peradeniya, moved to Turkey and Reading Master’s Degree at Ankara University in Islamic History & Arts.
He had participated more than fifty conferences in different fields and As he’s a Researchist he had done more that twenty research articles. Also he’s a passionated designer, very talented cricketer, footballer, social media influencer and an aesthete as well.
As a young entrepreneur he held managerial position in commercial organisations in Dubai, UAE and Turkey. He took part in non governmental organisations and diplomacy forums.
Aflal manages online marketing and reservation in the best way by working in coordination with individual clients, travel agencies, hotels and tourist guides.
He speaks English, Sinhala, Tamil, Turkish and Arabic as well. He’s known social worker at Sri Lanka for his various kinds of work in different fields.
Hiras
Operation Manager
Hiras was born and raised in Sri Lanka. After studying Computer Engineering at Antalya University, he graduated from London Metropolitan University – BSc (Hons) in Computing.
He worked as IT Assistant, Turkish Interpreter, Technical Officer (Building Construction Technology) in Sri Lanka.
Then, he started working for Lanka Ballooning.
Hiras has been working in coordination with customers, travel agencies, hotels and tourist guides to manage the operation program in the best way for years.
When you come to our take-off field for the flight, he will greet you and help you with the balloon boarding process.
He speaks English, Sinhala, Tamil, Turkish.
LANKA BALLOONING FLEET
As Lanka Ballooning, we spare no expense in the purchase our balloons. We work with two of the world’s most prestigious balloon manufacturers: Lindstrand Balloons in the UK and Ultramagic Balloons from Spain. Our baskets are designed for VIP use and all of our balloons incorporate the latest design and safety features.
# 1
Registration: 4R-ULR
Own and Operate by: Lanka Ballooning (Pvt) Ltd
Passenger Capacity: 16+1
Manufacturer: Lindstrand
Production Place: UK
# 2
Registration: 4R-BLN
Own and Operate by: Lanka Ballooning (Pvt) Ltd
Passenger Capacity: 10+1
Manufacturer: Lindstrand
Production Place: UK
LANKA BALLOONING VEHICLES
Transport to and from your hotel is provided in our luxury company vehicles.
