Balloons
I was following a balloon race last week called the 'coupe de Gordon Bennett'. It is an endurance race held every year, the object to travel the furthest. One of the balloons that made a journey of 2000 km was suddenly awarded a final total of 0km in the results standings. The rules state that infingments on atc requirments can cause a reduction of 2% of the travelled distance of the balloon and serious infringments a reduction of 5%. So i was very curious what they had done to lose the whole travelled distance.
Anyway yesterday they gave out a press release:
Incident:
Tuesday, September 12, 05:00, Alt 1252m
Position: N 63°08’ E 021°26”, short of CTR Vaasa
Balloon HB-QHJ has entered TMA Vaasa from West to East without clearance to enter controlled airspace. Pilot called in on Vaasa frequency after 10 to 15 minutes after entering the TMA. The balloon crossed Final RWY 16 of Vaasa airport; therefore a take-off clearance from RWY 34 for an Airbus had to be cancelled. Should it have taken off, an air collision would have been possible.
ATC will write a violation report.
The pilots of HB-QHJ brought themselves and the crew and passengers of an airplane in danger. This affiar caused extremely negative press replies, and brings the whole ballooning community in discredit and endangers the future of Coupe Gorden Bennett in Europe.