HIGH ACHIEVER

There are fewer than 20 women among hundreds of hot air balloon pilots in Cappadocia, Turkey. Tamara Davison speaks to one, the inspiring Meltem Ozdem, while cruising the sky

- Tamara Davison

Most travellers notice the dark silhouettes of the hot air balloons first. Meandering up the rocky valley before dawn, the gigantic shapes begin to grow in number as teams inflate the balloons under the illumination of truck lights. And then, like lightbulbs, they start to flicker one by one as their pilots fire up the propane-fulled burners.

Amid this daily spectacle, Meltem Ozdem, one of the few female pilots in a male-dominated field, prepares for another flight. This is Cappadocia, a stunning region in central Turkey renowned for its daily hot-air balloon flights. Each morning, around 156 balloons lift from the arid landscapes, attracting tourists eager to float across the sky.

While waking up at 4am was challenging, my early-morning tiredness was quickly replaced with excitement as we saw the balloons emerge in the cool morning. I was one of 28 passengers who clambered over the sides of the basket, awaiting our departure into the cloudless Turkish sky.

Then Meltem took charge, instantly putting the crowd of nervous passengers at ease. In a region where up to 450 male pilots dominate the skies, fewer than 20 women operate commercial balloons as pilots. At just 33 years old, Meltem's role among the small group of female hot air balloon pilots in Cappadocia felt inspiring. Sporting a brightly coloured headscarf, Meltem was in her element as our one-hour cruise across the valley began.