Hot News! Explore Coastal City’s Beauty from a Hot Air Balloon
Mangaluru: If you’re a Mangalorean or a regular Coastal city visitor, you probably have driven past the City’s beautiful fields, taken a walk across sun-kissed beaches or soaked in the ocean’s beauty while on a ferry. But you haven’t truly seen it all until you’ve gazed at the picturesque Kudla from a hot air balloon!! And pretty soon for the the FIRST time in the history of Mangaluru, you will experience the naturalistic beauty of this City from high above from a Hot Air Balloon- thanks to the initiative launched by Sheik Abdul Malik: Founder & CEO of Deccan Air Sports, with headquarters now based in Mangaluru and Chennai.
Deccan Air Sports has introduced a new way of enjoying the unparalleled beauty on offer – hot air ballooning. Poised to be a permanent adventure activity, the Hot Air Balloon rides aren’t commonplace in India yet, making Mangaluru one of the few tourist locations to make this sport/service available. The pilots and crew are professionally trained and ensure that strict safety norms are followed. Once the balloon is ready, you’ll take off on a journey of a lifetime! Float over the green fields and golden beaches and enjoy a bird’s eye view of Mangaluru for 45 minutes or an hour. The winds will steer you across as you enjoy breathtaking views from the sky. Whether with family, friends or that special someone, a hot air balloon ride is a magical trip that deserves to be on your bucket list.
Today, 4 March 2017- Deccan Airports kick-started a new age of Aviation in India by empowering and facilitating flying experience to all. They brought in all Air-sports activities under one umbrella and to the standards of the international platform, which includes Hot Air Balloons, Gliders, Sky Diving, Drones, and Paramotoring. They have an international team of experts with diverse skills set for the undertaking. Deccan Air sports embarks on a mission to instill a sense of passion and inspire new minds! Deccan Balloons predominantly runs Hot air balloon operations in India. Increasingly people are looking to take up new and exciting adventure activities in their leisure time. With the country’s economy steadily growing at a rapid 7% GDP, people have more disposable income. Currently, India has a very large young population who are thrill seekers and are constantly on the lookout for novel activities.
Today’s launching of Hot Air Balloon was graced by MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, Congress Chief Whip Ivan D’Souza. MLA JR Lobo, Kishore Alva- Executive Director of Adani Group, S M Rasheed- President, Beary’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, B Ibrahim- Former Rajya Sabha MP, among many others. All these dignitaries took a short joy ride in the Hot Air Balloon- but was not lifted off the ground due to weather condition.
Speaking on the occasion, Ivan D’Souza and JR Lobo complimented Sheik Abdul Malik for his brave and interesting idea in launching this adventurous activity, and they urged the citizens to encourage such sports and patronize them. Other dignitaries on the dais also spoke and complimented Sheik for his unique venture. Qualified British pilots namely Paul Burrows (England) and Martin Cowling (England) under the aegis of Deccan Air Sports demonstrated hot air ballooning, which enthralled the crowd gathered at Nehru Maidan.
Speaking to Team Mangalorean, Sheik Abdul Malik said, ” Deccan Air Sports envisage a new era of Aviation in India and will actively strive to create a platform to provide everyone the opportunity to experience the Sky and Beyond! It is a 15-day tour plan which will embark from Mangaluru. We will then move to Kochi on March 8, onward to Coimbatore on March 10 and culminate at Bengaluru on March 12. He further said, “I graduated in aerospace engineering from Bristol, England where I studied for five years. I always desired to utilize my skills and knowledge in India.”
” Hot air ballooning will be operated by highly qualified pilots from Britain. The city is extensively involved in promoting tourism and so before venturing into this domain, we underwent research, market study. It took a year to get this together. India has a promising future in civil aviation and by 2020 it will be a driving force for us. ISRO and HCL have partnered into achieving new feats and the general public needs this kind of a platform for an experience in aviation. Hot air ballooning can be used in aerial advertising which will boost the Indian economy and aerial advertising is an indication that the city has advanced,” added Malik.
Sheik Malik is also joined by in this venture by Directors of Deccan Air Sports Abdul Salam (Malik’s dad) and Mohammed Nissar (Malik’s Brother-in-law). It is learnt that Sheik Abdul Malik is an Aerospace engineer with Master’s degree from the University of Bristol, England, United Kingdom. Which is one of the top 30 universities in the World and top 3 in the UK? Malik having lived, studied and worked in the UK for 5 years has gained considerable knowledge and first-hand experience in Aviation. This has inspired him to bring back his skills and talents to India in order to place India in the International aviation elites. Today’s programme was compered by Mohammed Swaroop and Mohammed Rafeeq.
