We are Vermont’s most complete and well rounded commercial ballooning company offering a variety of flights, tethered services, and impressive advertising opportunities. We currently maintain three balloons in our fleet ranging in volume from 100,000 cubic feet (2-4 passengers)up to a 210,000 cubic foot (8-10 passenger) balloon which is the largest in all of New England. We operate balloons year round (yes, winter too) and perform between 80-100 successful balloon flights per year.

Above Reality Inc. is based in the Champlain Valley but will fly in other locations around the state. We are members of the Vermont Hot Air Balloon Club, the Balloon Federation of America, the International League of Aeronauts, the Vermont Outdoor Guide Association, the Stowe Area Association, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, and the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Jeff Snyder, the company’s owner and Chief Pilot, is Vermonter who was attending
Penn State University when the idea for Above Reality Inc. was born.  During a recreation business class students were required to design a hypothetical business plan for a company located in Penn State’s back yard --State College, PA.  Jeff and his team thought a balloon ride business would be a great concept and ended up earning an “A” on the project.  After the spring graduation ceremonies, Jeff headed to Colorado Springs to work for a large ballooning company where he learned the ups and downs of the industry. 

Taking an active role in all facets of a balloon company, he learned about ALL aspects of a balloon business such as answering the reservation lines, scheduling flight crews, briefing passengers, refueling propane tanks, and much, much more.  After four months in Colorado, Jeff migrated to Phoenix, AZ where he was completely immersed in a balloon company for six months.  Since Phoenix is a major hub for ballooning Jeff was surrounded by highly experienced pilots and instructors.  He studied under pilots who had been flying for many years and had flown corporate balloons for companies such as American Express, Wells Fargo Bank,  RE/Max, 7-Up, Miller Lite, Burger King, and Verizon Wireless just to name a few.  Jeff even took lessons from a pilot who had flown President Jimmy Carter.  After all the intensive study Jeff obtained his pilot certificate (license) and returned to home to Vermont to bring
Above Reality Inc. to life.

Once he was back in Vermont, Jeff hired an instructor from Phoenix to come here for several weeks and conduct the rest of his commercial training here in the Green Mountain State.  Jeff has now conducted flights for RE/MAX, Ultra Magic, and he even piloted the maiden voyage of the “Montgolfier”, a spectacular replica of the first balloon used for a manned flight by the Montgolfier brothers from France in 1783.  Jeff has participated in many celebrated balloon events such as the
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, the
Great Kentucky Derby Festival Balloon Race, Colorado Springs Balloon Classic,  and of course his home town event, the
Vermont Balloon and Music Festival.