High Flier Lands in London

Hot-air balloon pilot Phil Hossack to be granted Freedom of the City, at London's Guildhall - May 29, 2008

May 28, 2008, Press Dispensary. Hot-air balloon adventurer Phil Hossack is preparing for a happy landing when he receives the Freedom of the City of London at the historic Guildhall on May 29, 2008. An ex-championship pilot, Phil represented Great Britain in several 1990s World Championships and was one of the founding members of the British Association of Balloon Operators. He is the founder and chief pilot of outdoor aerial advertising expert, Skypower, and of Go Ballooning, the UK’s premier provider of hot air balloon flights. A 90 foot union jack balloon will go up at noon over the Guildhall to mark the ceremony.

Phil formed Skypower over 20 years ago when commercial ballooning was still in its infancy, and now the Wiltshire-based company provides balloons for film productions, concerts, product launches and stunts, and acts as a consultant to local authorities and private organisers of balloon festivals. Over the years, Phil has flown everything from roadworthy cars to double beds through international airspace.

Sister company Go Ballooning is the largest passenger operator in the country, with a large fleet of balloons going up, up and away every day (weather permitting) from more than 100 launch sites, offering champagne flights with jaw dropping views.

Phil joins the ranks of other distinguished pilots, such as record-breaking balloonist and explorer David Hempleman-Adams, in receiving the Freedom in recognition of his role as an ambassador for British ballooning around the world. The ceremony will also celebrate the first hot air balloon flight in the UK made by Vincent Lunardi from the Honourable Artillery Company in the City of London in 1784.

One of the oldest surviving traditional ceremonies, the granting of the Freedom of the City of London dates from 1237 and is awarded in recognition of outstanding achievement. The Freedom bestows such privileges as the right to herd sheep, carry a sword and be drunk and disorderly without fear of arrest, but Phil intends to use his award as an opportunity to raise the profile of British ballooning:

“Britain leads the way in ballooning – from world-record attempts and competitions to spectacular advertising stunts and breathtaking pleasure trips. I feel privileged to follow in the footsteps of pioneering ballooner Lunardi and hope that I rise to the challenge of helping the sport of ballooning to ‘take-off’, and enable more people to experience the magic of lighter than air aviation,” comments Phil.

A cross-London flight is on weather standby, with up to 20 balloons preparing for lift-off in June, which Skypower hopes to make an annual charity event. The company also funds and runs training schemes to give promising pilots the chance to fulfil their potential, with many past pupils now enjoying private or commercial success.

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Notes for editors
Based in Woodborough in Wiltshire, Skypower and Go Ballooning are run by husband and wife team Phil and Sandra Hossack.

Skypower was established in 1988 and has created original media and publicity opportunities for clients including the BBC, British Gas, Lloyds TSB and John Lewis, has managed annual balloon festivals for UK local authorities and has taken its balloons to events around the world as far afield as Canada and Australia.

The Go-Ballooning network was set up in 2000 to bring together all the main locations throughout the UK for ballooning, making it easier for people to find a launch site.
Both companies are licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority.

Phil Hossack is a founding member of the British Association of Balloon Operators, which represents commercial balloon interests in the UK, and sits on several panels liaising on countryside issues that impact on flying and flight safety.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT
Phil Hossack, PSH Skypower
Tel: 0845 621 0380
Email:
Site: www.skypower.co.uk