Releasing small helium balloons? FOA Leeds Controllers

[Flock1]

A quick query, possible an idiotic one.

A local school is planning to release 30 helium balloons next friday morning. The school's location is just north of Brighouse, just south of Bradford.

Is this okay to do, or are there some CAA rules to think about? Or can they just be released.

[PPRuNe Radar]

I think you'll be fine. Here is the law:

(11) A person shall not cause or permit:

(a) a group of small balloons exceeding 1000 in number to be simultaneously released at a single site wholly or partly within the aerodrome traffic zone of a notified aerodrome during the notified operating hours of that aerodrome unless that person has given to the CAA not less than 28 days previous notice in writing of the release;

(b) a group of small balloons exceeding 2000 but not exceeding 10000 in number to be simultaneously released at a single site:

(i) within airspace notified for the purposes of this sub-paragraph; or
(ii) within the aerodrome traffic zone of a notified aerodrome during the notified operating hours of that aerodrome;

without the permission of the CAA;

(c) a group of small balloons greater than 10000 in number to be simultaneously released at a single site except with the permission of the CAA.

[av8boy]

Just curious... will there be anything connected to the balloons? Sometimes schools will hang notes, etc., from balloons so that when they're found the finder can let the students know where the balloons ended-up. If so, a call may be in order.

And I don't know how it would be received in the UK, but where I'm at a courtesy call to the local ATC unit, regardless of the rules for such a small number of balloons, would not go unappreciated...

Dave

[Flock1]

Thanks for the replies.

And I think a small note will be attached to each balloon.

The school is just under 10 miles south west of LBA.

[Roffa]

And I think a small note will be attached to each balloon.

That should be fine, just don't attach any members of the clergy!