Born and raised in Encinitas California, James Lawson is the proud owner of Sky’s The Limit Ballooning Adventures. Operating since 1994, the business is still family-owned and family-run. He is an experienced pilot, having flown all types of aircraft since he was 16 years old. He’s proud to be a Bush Pilot as well as a Sea Plane rated pilot.

He has flown hot air balloons in Africa, Spain, Hawaii and Albuquerque, New Mexico. He got his inspiration one night to fly hot air balloons when he noticed one fly over him in the city of Encinitas. He then got his pilot certificate and later became an instructor. He is also is one of just 24 pilots in the whole country permitted to fly passengers in the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

In James’s own words, “It’s not the flying I love so much, it’s about changing the way people think for a moment while they are up in the air.”