World Balloon Pilot Information

Our experience and professionalism equals your safety. Meet our pilots:

Keith Fear

Keith is the owner of World Balloon and its parent company.  He is a 22 year veteran commercial balloon pilot that has flown thousands and thousands of passengers over the years.  His true passion is introducing people to the art and science of ballooning.  Keith began flying in 1989 after he finished his 4 year tour in the United States Marine Corps.  Shortly after receiving his Commercial Pilots license, he began flying ride balloons under the instruction of several very seasoned ride pilots.  He also flew competitively a little, and attended rally’s and races all across the Midwest.  He quickly learned that while competition was fun, he truly enjoyed flying passenger rides far more and that he felt he had far more to offer to the sport through providing balloon rides than he ever would on the competitive ballooning side. 

Keith started a small balloon ride operation in St. Louis called Balloons Over The Rainbow.  He applied his extensive business and technical knowledge to creating what became arguably the best balloon ride business in St. Louis.  Keith then acquired World Balloon from its previous owners in order to keep World in Albuquerque and in operation to continue the now 38 year tradition.  As the oldest continuous balloon ride operation in the southwest, and with its founder involved in creating the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, World Balloon is really a cornerstone of modern hot air ballooning. Keith has substantially grown World Balloon over the several years he has owned the company, and looks to expand further in the near future.

Dean Donley

In 1989 Dean got stationed in Albuquerque, NM while in the United States Air Force. He attended his 1st Balloon Fiesta & volunteered to crew. They assigned him to the Burger King Whopper Balloon. “That was one big heavy balloon!!” said Dean. Shortly after Fiesta he met a local pilot & started crewing for him. The Air Force ended up moving Dean overseas for 4 years but once again he was fortunate enough to end up back in Albuquerque. In 1996 he started crewing for a local balloon company, he did that for a few years & decided it was a lot more fun being up in the air in a balloon than just chasing them. Dean got his pilots license & by 2000 he was flying commercial rides. After 20 years in the USAF Dean retired & now his full time job is flying balloons. Dean says, “I don't really consider it a job since I still love doing it & I get to meet new people every day. My office may be small but I have GREAT views!” Dean has over 1200 balloon flight hours.

Randy Rogers

In 1979 Randy started ballooning by crewing for the Coca-Cola balloon. At that time the owner of the Coca-Cola Co. taught Randy how to fly. The next year, in 1980 Randy earned his private and commercial rating as a balloon Pilot. By flying and working with the Coca-Cola Co. this taught Randy how to be part of a corporate balloon organization. In 1984 Sid Cutter asked him to fly for World Balloon as a ride pilot. While working with World Balloon, Randy trained pilots to fly as part of a FAA 141 Training School. He later got involved flying special shapes like the Cow & Dinosaur. Randy has over 2500 balloon flight hours. He says that he loves to fly, and enjoys meeting new people in a positive environment.

Craig Kennedy

Craig grew up in a ballooning family. Originally from Nebraska, he learned the science from his father, beginning in 1980. In addition to being a 1,000+ hour balloon pilot since 1990, Craig is a Realtor. He also has a 25-year background in television and radio news, as a manager, as well as many years on air, anchoring and reporting.

Craig and his bride Jane moved to Albuquerque in 1990 and immersed themselves into the ballooning community. Craig, as a founding member of the AAAA Education Foundation, and flying sponsor balloons for KOB-TV, KOAT-TV, Delta Dental Plan, Auto Club of Southern California, AAA New Mexico & Texas, and Intel Corporation.

Craig presently serves as secretary of the Board of Trustees for the Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum.

As a volunteer for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Craig organizes and produces the Dawn Patrol Show, which involves flying balloons in the dark. You can do it too! World Balloon can hook you up with Craig or our other pilots for a spectacular “City Lights Flight” opportunity, so you can experience seeing the lights of Albuquerque laid out below, followed by the beauty of the sun rising over the Sandia Mountain range. If done right, a high climb lets you see the sun rise once. Then coming lower sets you up to see your second sunrise of the day, only minutes later!

Craig has followed in his father’s footsteps by building a balloon envelope from his father’s design; and baskets from his own design, as well as that of the father of modern ballooning, the late Ed Yost.

Craig is proud to have shared ballooning with many people over the years, returning to others what was shared with him so freely many years ago.