NOTAM abuse for non-existing kites

[TheGaffer]

There are some rumours around that NOTAMs are being obtained by NIMBYs in order to keep aircraft away from their back yard.

I'm a kite flyer who genuinely requires a NOTAM to put on an impressive public display. We just can't do our stuff in a mere 60m:

http://www.tug.com/blog/20090425_Berck/400/136I0943.jpg

I don't want to see kite NOTAMs abused because I don't want to see them declined for those of us with a genuine requirement.

How can I get a feed of kite-related NOTAMS to keep an eye on what is going on?

Andrew

[reportyourlevel]

Impressive photo. You'll need to register at the NATS AIS website (http://www.nats-uk.ead-it.com/public/index.php%3Foption=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=166&Itemid=4.html). If you then prepare a brief for the UK FIRs (EGTT and EGPX) you can then press CTRL+F and type in "kite" to find any references to kite flying. If you want a more automated system, you'll have to speak to someone cleverer than me!

[TheGaffer]

Thanks.

it makes interesting reading. We have:

11 April STREATHAM COMMON, SOUTH LONDON

That's absolutely genuine. I'll be there :-)

Next, we have:

11 April PETERBOROUGH
11 April GILLINGHAM, KENT

These at least look genuine. They are not on "the circuit" of kite events but they could well be something private.

Then we have these:

3 month KIRBY WISKE, NEAR THIRSK
This looks like it is for falconry here: The Falconry Centre (http://www.falconrycentre.co.uk/)
Falconers use kites for training their birds.

3 month BURTON DASSETT
This appears to be a country park that is suitable for flying in and encourages visitors to fly kites through the year. I must visit some time...

However, I can find no evidence in Google to suggest that any of these are genuine:
3 month Stoke on Trent.
3 month Foston
3 month BOSTON LANDFILL SITE
3 month MELTON MOWBRAY DISUSED AD
3 month WREKIN COLLEGE, WELLINGTON
3 month CHARLTON, NEAR WELLINGTON
3 month NEAR LONGNEY
3 month BROOMFIELD, NEAR BRIDGWATER
3 month CLOVENFORDS, NEAR GALASHIELS

Andrew

[reportyourlevel]

If you think some of them are spurious, I suppose the thing to do would be to call the NOTAM office and see where that gets you. Contact details are here (http://www.ead.eurocontrol.int/eadbasic/pamslight-7C40E129A5BF240ACED0B415E4BF9991/7FE5QZZF3FXUS/EN/AIP/GEN/EG_GEN_3_1_en_2011-03-10.pdf) if you need them. If they can't help you, hopefully they will know who can.

[DC10RealMan]

I would have thought that if these events were spurious and it could be proved then the originator could be prosecuted under the Air Navigation Order.

[Lon More]

Might be worth googling the place name and kite before calling the Men from the Min. Also I'm sure there are a number of web sites on the subject. Someone local should be able to help. Being in possesion of the facts helps a lot and especially if you take the time to present them clearly and concisely. Build up their trust in you rather than the other side

[Cpt_Pugwash]

The Boston Landfill site could be genuine if they use kites for bird control (http://www.birdcontrol.net/). See the pic at the link.

[Flex1]

Boston Landfill is indeed used for bird control together with birds of prey - he operates Mon Tues Thurs and Friday - I called him.

Mark
Boston Aero Club

[anotherthing]

Impressive photo but they look more like balloons than kites to me... they seem to have bulbous air filled pockets...

Sure you should not be using a balloon notification, seeing as we are talking about misuse of kite NOTAM :}

[Jerry Swift]

You are not the first to think these kites are balloons - but it is definitely air that holds them open and up - and most will fly independently on a single line - so kites they are! A friend was talking to a BBC cameraman recently who asked where we put the gas in! Only gas is the hot air from our commentator....