Who are these flights leaving NZ?

[John Hill]

Flight Radar24 at 070710z (today)..

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2907/14593446392_456a416f14_c.jpg

Eight "aircraft" with identity HBAL (and numerals) heading East.

What are these flights? Australia to South America maybe?

[Avsec59]

Google Helium Balloons.


Loon for All ? Project Loon ? Google (http://www.google.com/loon/#utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Global_semBK)

[mattyj]

Might be something to do with that gulfstream doing high altitude testing? Or operation deep freeze?

[nike]

Loon for All ? Project Loon ? Google (http://www.google.com/loon/)


Call sign "High Test"? | Jetcareers (http://forums.jetcareers.com/threads/call-sign-high-test.201067/)

[John Hill]

Now there is nine of them and most have turned left to fly parallel northwards!

I thought of the internet balloons and we did see one over Ashburton (50 miles north of these) a few days ago.

[John Hill]

Maybe they are balloons, the first is labelled HBAL285 and the last HBAL256 in numerical sequence.

Looking at earth :: an animated map of global wind and weather (http://earth.nullschool.net/#current/wind/surface/level/) it would appear likely these balloons (if that is what they are) would end up spread across many of the South Pacific Island countries in a few days.

[smylie]

Google balloons for internet ?Launched from tekapo in the South Island.

[John Hill]

Yes, they sure do look like Google balloons.

[nitpicker330]

I've seen 3 over Australia in the last 2 months, over WA and VIC around FL650 drifting along......drifting .......drifting.

Don't know how long they stayed up but I didn't see them for more than a day or two...

[Hempy]

AIP GEN 3.3
2.5 ATC Initiated FIS
2.5.1 ATC initiated FIS will include the provision of pertinent operational information such as:
a. meteorological conditions and the existence of non-routine MET products;
b. changes to air routes;
c. changes to serviceability of navigation facilities, eg. RAIM;
d. change to serviceability of communications facilities;
e. changes in conditions of aerodromes and associated facilities;
f. change to ATS procedures;
g. changes to airspace status; and
h. information on unmanned free balloons (including “Operation Hibal” activities).
Note: Large helium-filled plastic balloons are launched periodically from various locations in Australia by “Operation Hibal” or the Centre National D’Etudes Spatiales (CNES).

[Ex FSO GRIFFO]

For info on 'Operation Highball', read on.....

Operation Hibal WATCH ONLINE FREE FULL LEINGHT MOVIES DOCUMENTARY FLICK (http://documentaryflick.com/operation-hibal/)
(sic)....

From 'memory'....not always 'that' reliable these days....Op. HIBAL were also launched ex Mildura in the early 70's....
'74 or so (?).....can remember NOTAMS about them...sort of....

"Aircraft in the Mildura area, traffic is/was/be aware of, a bloody big balloon...."

Cheers :ok:

[John Hill]

Hmmm, the 'flight ID' of HBALnnn may look like Operation Hibal but why launch 9 or 10 in such close succession?

[kingRB]

They are Project Loon baloons.

mcw6j-QWGMo

[Heli-phile]

Never has a whacky project been so appropriately named:ugh:

[RENURPP]

Yeah, dont these guys know the earth is flat??

[nonsense]

Hmmm, the 'flight ID' of HBALnnn may look like Operation Hibal but why launch 9 or 10 in such close succession?

Project Loon began with a pilot test in June 2013, when thirty balloons were launched from New Zealand’s South Island and beamed Internet to a small group of pilot testers. The pilot test has since expanded to include a greater number of people over a wider area. Looking ahead, Project Loon will continue to expand the pilot through 2014, with the goal of establishing a ring of uninterrupted connectivity around the 40th southern parallel, so that pilot testers at this latitude can receive continuous service via balloon-powered Internet. (http://www.google.com/loon/where/)

[Gate_15L]

NZ Domestic and Auckland Oceanic Airspace: Atmospheric Research
Project ‘Deepwave’
Effective: 5 JUN to 21 JUL 14
From 5 JUN to 21 JUL 14, a joint atmospheric research project, Deepwave, will be
conducted in the New Zealand and Auckland Oceanic FIRs (NZZC and NZZO). The
aim is to gain better understanding of gravity waves (a potential benefit to
aviation meteorology and forecasting).
Two research aircraft will operate mainly south of Christchurch but also
occasionally as far north as Bay of Plenty, south to the Antarctic, west to Australia,
and eastward to Chatham Islands.
The United States National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) will conduct
approximately 22 long transect flights with a Gulfstream-V aircraft (N677F) at
altitudes above FL400. Each 8 to 9 hour flight will include the use of an airborne
research laser and radio drop sondes. The research laser will be projected upward
from the aircraft and may be visible. It is considered eye safe at 3600 ft. The drop
sondes weigh approximately 160 grams and will descend on a parachute over
about 13 minutes to reach the surface. Flight operations will commence at
approximately 0730 UTC (1930 NZST) and will normally terminate by 1630 UTC
(0430 NZST) each day.
The German Aerospace Centre (DLR) will conduct 15 to 18 box-pattern
measurement operations in an area approximately between Christchurch and
Dunedin, mainly within NZZC, using a Falcon 20 aircraft (D-CMET) operating
between FL270 and FL350. Flights will be carried out over 3.5 to 4 hour periods
both day and night. The DLR aircraft will not be deploying drop sondes or
operating a research laser.
Radiosonde balloons will be released from Lauder between 15 JUN and 15 JUL 14.
Other radiosonde releases will take place, probably from Hokitika aerodrome and
one other site yet to be decided.
During all flight operations, both aircraft will maintain full communications with
ATS. The upward-pointing laser and drop sonde operations will be terminated if
non-participating aircraft are known to be in the area.
Daily operational intentions will be advised by NOTAM

http://www.niwa.co.nz/news/deepwave-project-measures-gravity-waves-in-the-atmosphere

[davys747]

The HBAL callsigns are Google balloons. They also use LOONxxx.

The Deepwave operations are different and I wouldn't expect you would see any of their balloons on flightradar. I don't even think their G-5 has ADS-B.

[nitpicker330]

10 more sitting just off the west coast of NZ now, 2 at or below 500' the rest at FL630+

Tried to copy a photo but cannot.....

[Ollie Onion]

Saw a couple the other day mid Tasman, checked on landing and they are on flight radar.

[nitpicker330]

No there's 16 of them airborne off the west coast of NZ.......

16? Surely it's a data error????????

Some are showing 0' altitude?

[goodspeed]

Saw several launch and ascend today at Tekapo.
Stunning day. Clear skies and snow everywhere.
They should attach a go pro and time lapse it.

[Howling Dog]

Hi Guys,

These are Google Loons. Google launch about 10 a day from Tekapo when the fancy takes them via some arrangement with Airways. It has been mainly experimental so far. The interesting thing is that once they put some serious effort into this thing (some time next year) we are advised they will be launching up to 150 a day.............

[nonsense]

Google to bring 'Project Loon' internet balloons to Australia (http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/digital-life-news/google-to-bring-project-loon-internet-balloons-to-australia-20141117-11o7ad.html) (The Age)