David Smuck - Senior Pilot
David is our Senior Pilot and we affectionately refer to him as the “Commodore”.
Robert Snyder- Pilot
Rob is our lead pilot and co-owner of Hot Air Events Austin
Here is more about him: Welcome to the skies of Texas! My ballooning adventure started many moons ago when I took my first balloon ride with a friend and was scared out of my mind! I “survived” that first adventure and found myself bitten by the ballooning bug!
Lucky for me, I met and then married Kara who was born and raised in Albuquerque, NM the ballooning capital of the U.S.! This and a good friendship with Dave Bair, the pilot who took me for that first flight, allowed me to get up close and personal with balloons for many years.
Fast forward a bunch of years to when Kara and I empty nested and we were in Alb for Balloon Fiesta. After flying with Dave, I met up with a couple of pilots from Austin and I began training and crewing in earnest. A couple of years later, thanks to David Smuck (our Senior Pilot) who managed the majority of my training, I earned my private pilot certificate and about a year later, I earned my commercial balloon rating.
Since then, I’ve had the blessing of continuing to grow my skills here in the Austin area with occasional trips out of town for events.
I look forward to having you aboard for an amazing experience!
Kara Snyder Event Coordinator
As an Albuquerque, New Mexico native, Kara grew up surrounded by the magic of hot air balloons. They floated above her on her walks to school, were woven into her curriculum from preschool onward, and became as much a part of her daily life as the majestic mountains to the east.
When Kara met Rob, they fell in love—and along the way, Rob fell for the greatest sport of all time: ballooning. Though his dream of becoming a pilot wouldn’t be realized for many years, their shared journey was already taking shape.
Together, they raised two daughters and became deeply involved in Girl Scouts and community events. It was during this time that Kara’s passion for event planning truly took off. This love of bringing people together led the family to Austin, Texas, where Kara pursued a degree in Meeting and Event Planning. Over the next 20 years, she built an impressive career—working on festivals, in food and beverage, and in hotels—before launching her own event business, Karevents Austin LLC. She then spent four years running a stunning wedding venue in Cedar Creek, Texas, gaining invaluable experience in making dream events come to life.
While Kara was managing weddings and special events, Rob finally achieved his lifelong dream of becoming a hot air balloon pilot. When the venue closed, it became clear—this was the perfect moment to bring their two passions together. And so, Hot Air Events Austin was born, combining Rob’s love of flying with Kara’s expertise in event planning to create truly unforgettable experiences.
Kara is excited to help you plan the perfect balloon flight, whether it’s a romantic engagement, a breathtaking wedding, or a unique team-building event. Need an eye-catching way to promote your business with a hot air balloon? She’s got you covered. With years of experience and a deep love for ballooning, Kara is ready to show you the magic of flight and make your event unforgettable.