Wanted: Hot-Air Balloon Pilot

The future isn't looking .... UP.

Updated 3:30 PM EST, Sun, Jul 5, 2009

Print Email Share TWITTER FACEBOOK

Getty Images

MONROEVILLE, Pa. (AP) -- It's not your usual top-flight career opportunity.

Parkvale Bank has turned to the classified sections of local newspapers to try to find a candidate for a hard-to-fill position -- a hot air balloon pilot.

The Monroeville, Pa.-based bank has offered the high-flying post for nearly three decades as a marketing and public relations tool. The balloon operator often gives rides at events and fundraisers in Allegheny, Westmoreland and Washington counties.

But even in the down economy, the current job search is, well, up in the air.

"You just don't open up the Yellow Pages and look for a balloon pilot," said William Fritz, senior assistant vice president, adding that western Pennsylvania does not have many commercially licensed and qualified pilots. "Whoever was left in the inventory, I've used up."

Fritz said he has had about a half-dozen calls from pilots as far away as New Mexico, Texas and Missouri, but the three-month flight season is too short to attract an out-of-state applicant. And while the bank provides the balloon and passenger insurance, the pilot has to retain and insure a chase crew.

"They might be well-qualified, but I'm not sure that the money and expense would be conducive for them to move here," Fritz said.

David Robinson, a member of the John Wise Balloon Society of central Pennsylvania, said there are 50 to 60 commercial pilots in eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey. But there are fewer among the rolling hills and farms of the western part of the state, according to Bill Hughes, spokesman for the northeast region of the Iowa-based Balloon Federation of America.

"It's not the greatest flying area in the world," Hughes said. "There are a lot of trees, which makes it difficult to find a landing place."

The bank is also advertising for "floating bank tellers," but that's different -- they take deposits, cash checks and sell products and services, and need car at their disposal, not a balloon.