by Wendy Ceccherelli
With a name that means "eagle" in Bulgarian,
and a father who was one of the first airline pilots in the country, Orlina
Asparuhova seems to have been destined to become an aviator. In a country
that previously had no balloons, that is only recently adopting a marketplace
economy, a nascent ballooning interest seems remarkable indeed. "This is a difficult time in Bulgaria,"
Orlina explains. "The economy is poor, people have to work. There are
many people who want to fly. But now it costs $3000 (U.S. dollars) to learn
to fly balloons. A Bulgarian license is not recognized by other countries--one
must have an international license."
How ever did she get started, becoming Bulgaria's
FAI representative and the only officially-licensed pilot in the country?
"Everyone in Bulgaria now identifies ballooning
with me. But after my first balloon flight, all the men crossed themselves...."
Orlina started in aviation in 1980, paragliding
and delta gliding. She organized competition for small aircraft and for
gliding through the Bulgarian National Airport Company. Meanwhile, she supported
herself by working for 20 years at a foreign trade company, Electroimpex.
She did the research and purchased a Cameron balloon to use for corporate
advertising at Electroimpex in 1987. It was then that she discovered there
was no one in Bulgaria who flew balloons. She and two other Electroimpex
employees volunteered to take flight lessons from the Center for Aviation
in Leschno, Poland. Orlina was the only one to complete the training, becoming
the first and only licensed hot air balloon pilot in Bulgaria.
"It is difficult to survive on commercial
ballooning only," says Orlina, who began her flying through corporate
sponsorship by Electroimpex, her employer. In 1989, she bought four balloons
from Hungary to advertise for different companies. A Raven balloon rounded
out her fleet, a present from a friend in the United States.
In 1990, she organized "Balloon Club Orly"
to train other balloon students. With as many as 22 students interested
in flying, the difficulties of dealing with the Bulgarian government prevent
all but the most serious from pursuing ballooning as anything more than
a novelty. Orlina is authorized to sign off student pilots for their licenses,
but admits that the cost and paperwork of getting an official balloon license
in Bulgaria is still formidable.
In 1991, Orlina left Electroimpex to become a professional
balloon pilot and instructor. She continues to work with the Bulgarian federal
government to reform licensing requirements, and to advocate for foreigners
to learn to fly in Bulgaria. She has competed in international ballooning
events in India, France, Greece, Slovenia, Poland, Russia and Brazil. She
speaks primarily Bulgarian and Russian, but that doesn't seem to hinder
her in international events. She is quickly becoming a familiar face in
international balloon competitions.
"Everybody wants to help me. At my first European
Championship in France, my first observer on my first competition started
to help me, to direct me to the target. Even though they were not supposed
to. I like competition, because I learn everything about how to organize
flights and maps."
Orlina is optimistic about the future of ballooning
in Bulgaria. "Things will change, and people will have more money,
and will buy more balloons. This is good, because these balloons I own are
very old...." Orlina makes it clear she intends to organize the first
balloon fiesta in Bulgaria. And you know, she just might do it....
Important Dates:
1980 Started paragliding and delta gliding
1987 Purchased a Cameron balloon for corporate advertising in Bulgaria
1988 First balloon flight, ground school, pilot's license in Poland
1989 First and only officially-licensed Bulgarian balloon pilot
1990 Organizes "Balloon Club Orly" as the first Bulgarian balloon
school
1996-7 Juror, First and second Russian National Balloon Competition