Pasha Balloons, Operating in Cappadocia, a Major Hub for Hot Air Balloon Tourism, Gains Momentum with Two R&D Projects

Pasha Balloons, located in Nevşehir’s Ürgüp district, specializes in the mass production of hot air balloons and their components. With R&D support from KOSGEB, the company has developed a hot air balloon ignition system designed to quickly resolve ignition issues detected during pre-flight checks, ensuring swift intervention and minimal downtime.

Aiming to End Foreign Dependency

Through a second R&D project titled “Hot Air Balloon Fuel Cylinder,” Pasha Balloons identified the raw materials and welding methods needed for fuel cylinder production. This initiative aims to conduct mechanical tests under TS_EN 14140 standards, enabling the complete domestic production of hot air balloons and their components, thereby reducing the industry’s reliance on foreign suppliers.

A Journey Rooted in Local Production

Founded in 2017 with the vision of producing locally made hot air balloons, Pasha Balloons completed its R&D phase to plan the manufacturing of balloons categorized as aircraft.

Aircraft Design and Production Activities

The company was officially established in 2018 and began collaborating with the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (SHGM). Following rigorous inspections, ground, and flight tests conducted by SHGM’s certification experts, Pasha Balloons received its Design Organization Approval, Production Organization Approval, and Type Certificate in October 2019.

The Type Certificate includes 23 balloon envelope models of varying volumes, 18 basket sizes, and 3 configurations of heating systems. The company has since commenced mass production of certified hot air balloons and their components.

Taking Off Globally

Pasha Balloons has reduced Turkey’s dependency on imported balloon production by 80%. It supplies balloons to the Cappadocia region and other hot air balloon hubs such as Denizli, Afyonkarahisar, Soğanlı Valley, and Çat Valley. Additionally, the company exports to countries including Ghana, South Korea, Egypt, Rwanda, Qatar, and Azerbaijan.