First name: Johann-François
Name: Frève
Country: Canada
Job: Oncology pharmacist
I have been a hot air balloon pilot for almost 16 years and I have more than 600 hours of flight to my credit. My first flight was when I was a fetus, in my mother’s womb. First woman to have touched burners in Quebec in 1979, she instructed my father who became a pilot in his turn. I followed my parents’ footsteps in 2007.
Since my license, I have participated in more than 40 gatherings and have flown all over Canada, the United States, Mexico and of course France. I also participated as a navigator in the 24th World Hot Air Balloons Championship this year in Slovenia. In the last few years, I have added a few strings to my bow by starting my own balloon company, becoming an instructor, secretary of the Canadian Balloon Association (CBA), director of the Quebec Balloon School (EPMQ) and since this year one of the two balloonmeisters of the International Balloon Festival of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.
My greatest record is to have established in 2020, as a co-pilot, with my friend the longest flight time in Canada: 9:53. This is only the beginning!
My first Grand Est Mondial Air Ballons was in 2015 and also my very first father-son trip. GEMAB is an incredible experience, a cool place and a great reason to come fly with all our friends across the ocean. In 2019, I repeated the experience, but with the whole family this time!
My favorite part is definitely the Great Line. When I fly in the middle of all those balloons, I feel so lucky to be able to experience a magical moment like this but also I have to be focused!
If you are a balloon pilot and you have never been to Chambley, you must live this experience at least once!
A nice story about GEMAB: I was lucky enough to make one of my first flights in Chambley with my mother and father (both pilots). Sometimes we don’t realize how lucky we are, but that flight will always be engraved in my memory!