While many children are delighted with a balloon from a toy shop, Fortuin was already drawn to something much bigger at a young age: hot air balloons. Thanks to his father, who is also a balloon pilot, he grew up around these giant aircraft and regularly helped out during flights. ‘So it’s no surprise that I want to become a pilot myself,’ says the student.
To make that dream a reality, he aims to obtain his aviation licence before the start of the new academic year. ‘I didn’t see how I could combine this goal with full-time study, so I decided to take a gap year. I’m glad I can now devote all my energy to ballooning, and hopefully I’ll have my licence by September.’
According to the master’s student, there is far more involved than people tend to think. ‘Some students think taking a gap year is an extreme choice. But it’s much more than just drifting through the air for an hour,’ he explains.
‘I start the day by checking the weather and organising my crew. Throughout the day, I keep a close eye on the online weather forecasts.’ Once he has a clear overview, the real preparation begins in the afternoon. ‘I look at the take-off location, how much weight we can carry, and what kind of airspace I’ll be flying in. Before departure, I’m usually on site at least two hours in advance to coordinate with my instructor and go through the final preparations.’
Flying over UNESCO World Heritage
Although Fortuin is still in training, he has already logged many flight hours, taking him to some remarkable places around the world. ‘One of my most beautiful flights was in Saudi Arabia, during a large festival with around a hundred hot air balloons, many of them from the Netherlands.’
The surroundings were completely different from where he usually flies. In Al-‘Ula, he floated over Hegra, the country’s first UNESCO World Heritage site, known for its more than one hundred Nabataean tombs. ‘Flying with so many balloons in such a unique location was incredibly special.’
He already knows where he is heading next. ‘Mexico. There are several festivals there where balloon pilots from all over the world come together.’
Running low on gas
Some balloon flights can be quite tense, Fortuin admits. One of the most nerve-racking moments occurred when they were close to running out of gas. ‘The suitable landing sites were just out of reach,’ he recalls.
Eventually, Fortuin managed to land along a maize field, on a narrow tractor path. ‘After landing, it turned out to be impossible to pack up the balloon.’ Local residents came to help move the balloon to a nearby field, where the crew was then able to pack everything away safely.
‘Students joke that they wouldn’t dare get in with me’
Just thinking about scenarios like this is enough to make many people break out in a cold sweat. ‘Students sometimes joke that they wouldn’t dare get into the basket with me,’ Fortuin says. ‘But at the same time, I get lots of requests from people who would love to come along one day. They’re very curious about how it all works.’
World trip
During the winter months, the hot air balloon stayed firmly on the ground, but Fortuin certainly did not sit still. Together with his girlfriend, he travelled through Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Australia. ‘Travelling is my other big passion. Winter is a bad season for flying anyway. Planning my gap year around both a world trip and getting my aviation licence was very deliberate.’
Now that he is back, Fortuin is making plans for the future. In the coming period, he will have ballooning lessons twice a week, complete a solo flight, and sit the final exam for his licence. Once that is secured, his focus will shift back to his studies from September onwards, and he will start looking for a job.
‘But no more than four days a week,’ he adds with a smile. ‘That way, I can keep practising my hobby in the air on Fridays or Saturdays.’
