AMID the global coronavirus scare, the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, the most highly anticipated and longest-running sports aviation event in Asia, is still pushing through at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite from March 6 to 8.
Capt. Joy Roa, director of the event, gave assurances that they are taking all precautions to ensure the safety of both the local and foreign delegates and spectators.
“We have thermal scanners as people coming in, and we have [The] Medical City on standby so that we can take care of everybody in case there’s any doubt if anyone is feverish, or whatever,” he told reporters at a media briefing for the upcoming festival and welcome cocktails with the Balloon Pilots held on Wednesday at Okada Manila in Parañaque City.
Part from the Philippines, the 23rd hot-air balloon festival will be participated in by representatives from Belgium, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Roa confirmed that Indonesian delegates have already canceled their participation to the event. He pointed out, though, that this is not because of the issue on COVID-19.
“There was a government policy and they are working with the Indonesian air force. So they had a difficult time getting the approval to travel,” he explained.
The three-day spectacle will show nonstop flying exhibitions—paragliding, skydiving, helicopter, demonstrations and kite flying. New activities include Paramotor Slalom Races and First Person View Drone Racing.
Festivalgoers can have a chance to experience a hot-air balloon ride, tandem paragliding or skydiving, and helicopter flights. They may also visit the fly markets, food booths and family entertainment areas.
Those considering a
profession in the airline industry may attend the Aviation Career Seminars to
be given by renowned aviators and industry practitioners.
“Aviation is a very difficult
industry. It will depend on the economy of the country [or state of] the
business [community]. It takes also very long to train somebody to be a
competent pilot [or] a competent mechanic. If we don’t start them young, we
don’t start them now, when the peak comes, we have nobody to depend on,” Roa
said.
The event’s director also sees the festivity as a boon to both the aviation and tourism sectors since they expect to draw around 15,000 viewers a day and about 50 pilots from abroad.
“It brings in people to travel from the provinces to see this place. The reason why the airline is [at] a low era is because people are afraid to travel. They’re afraid of this virus issue,” he stressed. “But when there are activities [like this] happening, it is a tourism activity, and people like to go and see. So I’m sure it helps a little bit in the economy and with the airlines.”