Hot-Air Balloons - Legal Question
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Hot-Air Balloons - Legal Question
Today we had a hot-air balloon attempt to land on an areas of ground on a residential housing estate no the edge of a small town.
The balloon pilot changed his mind some 40 feet above the ground and then passed over the neighbouring houses at some 30 feet above them to land in a field nearby for a change of fuel tank.
Did he breakl the law?? I have a PPL but could not find any information on minimum heights for balloons.
Thanks
PFO
The balloon pilot changed his mind some 40 feet above the ground and then passed over the neighbouring houses at some 30 feet above them to land in a field nearby for a change of fuel tank.
Did he breakl the law?? I have a PPL but could not find any information on minimum heights for balloons.
Thanks
PFO
niknak
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Assuming that a balloon is an aircraft, and I cant find anything in the ANO to contradict that, the minimum height rule does not apply to "aircraft" taking off and landing, no matter what your interpretation of his actions were.
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Thanks Niknak,
I don't think it is a case of whether he was landing or taking off, but a question of the location. The area of land is only approx 40 metres square at the T junction of two roads on a residential housing estate.
If he had attempted to land then he could have caused damage to property or people.
The nearest safe sight to land is just 100 metres away.
He had sufficient fuel to land in that field, so why didn't he?
PFO
I don't think it is a case of whether he was landing or taking off, but a question of the location. The area of land is only approx 40 metres square at the T junction of two roads on a residential housing estate.
If he had attempted to land then he could have caused damage to property or people.
The nearest safe sight to land is just 100 metres away.
He had sufficient fuel to land in that field, so why didn't he?
PFO
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I think part of the point niknak is making is that your interpretation of his actions may not have been correct. He may never have intended to land in the small field - it just looked that way to a casual observer.
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Wrong Stuff.
Just to clarify, it would appear that he was intending to land on a residential housing estate. The basket disappeaed below the house behind ours (only about 20 metres away). I believe he must have changed his mind at the final moment!
PFO
Just to clarify, it would appear that he was intending to land on a residential housing estate. The basket disappeaed below the house behind ours (only about 20 metres away). I believe he must have changed his mind at the final moment!
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PFO, the balloon pilot was entitled to land in the square but may have noticed a subtle change of wind direction near the ground. In law he would have to prove that his approach to land was intentional. Also I would just add that it can be very difficult to assess the actual height of a balloon when it is in flight (even a 'small' balloon is about 80 feet high from crown (top) to basket base. Forty metres is a nice size field as long as the wind is calm 
Cheers
JWF. .
Cheers
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PFO
Please could you define what you mean by
'...for a change of fuel tank...'
as Hot Air Balloons can change fuel tank supply to the burners in flight. Was their ground crew present? Did the balloon then fly out or was it de-rigged? Was the field that it landed in public property or privately owned? Alot of unanswered questions before legalities of the balloon pilots actions could be questioned.
<img src="cool.gif" border="0"> Merlot
Please could you define what you mean by
'...for a change of fuel tank...'
as Hot Air Balloons can change fuel tank supply to the burners in flight. Was their ground crew present? Did the balloon then fly out or was it de-rigged? Was the field that it landed in public property or privately owned? Alot of unanswered questions before legalities of the balloon pilots actions could be questioned.
<img src="cool.gif" border="0"> Merlot
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PFO, you wrote that "The balloon pilot changed his mind some 40 feet above the ground and then passed over the neighbouring houses at some 30 feet above them to land in a field nearby for a change of fuel tank."
Did you speak to him or hear him say that it was hios original intention to land in the 40sq m bit, or are you assuming it from his dropping to the 40 fooot height?
It occurs to me that he might have been dropping to a level "below glide path" and then burning a bit to reach the field which may have been his intended landing area, or he may have been dropping low, below the wind shear, to be able to select the first good place on his then downwind track. Balloon approaches have to be managed differently from powered a/c, as you may know or realise.
Just wondering.
Did you speak to him or hear him say that it was hios original intention to land in the 40sq m bit, or are you assuming it from his dropping to the 40 fooot height?
It occurs to me that he might have been dropping to a level "below glide path" and then burning a bit to reach the field which may have been his intended landing area, or he may have been dropping low, below the wind shear, to be able to select the first good place on his then downwind track. Balloon approaches have to be managed differently from powered a/c, as you may know or realise.
Just wondering.
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[quote] Assuming that a balloon is an aircraft, and I cant find anything in the ANO to contradict that, the minimum height rule does not apply to "aircraft" taking off and landing, no matter what your interpretation of his actions were <hr></blockquote>
At a 'Licenced' aerodrome....if I choose to land in a field behind my house, I cannot decend below 1500' below the highest object blah de blah......during take off or landing.....
Don't know if this applies to H A balloons as they're 'lighter than air' and haven't bothered to check....
[ 23 February 2002: Message edited by: englishal ]</p>
At a 'Licenced' aerodrome....if I choose to land in a field behind my house, I cannot decend below 1500' below the highest object blah de blah......during take off or landing.....
Don't know if this applies to H A balloons as they're 'lighter than air' and haven't bothered to check....
[ 23 February 2002: Message edited by: englishal ]</p>
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Actually Englishlal does have a point and balloons are not exempt from the '1500' rule.
But does it really matter?
So the balloon pilot was having fun, was anybody hurt? No? so who cares?
Give the guy a break
JWF
But does it really matter?
So the balloon pilot was having fun, was anybody hurt? No? so who cares?
Give the guy a break
JWF
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outofdutyhours why shop another pilot?
I would not shop another pilot - however I would not hesitate to report a "heroic" pilot to the Authority if his deliberate actions put others at risk - we don't need that sort of publicity.
Vfrpilotpb - yes it was nice to see such a beautiful balloon - just not that close to people and property!
Merlot - a ground crew arrived approx 5 minutes after landing - a fuel tank was swapped. Then the balloon took off and disappeared into the cloud (8 octas) - wind was a max of 4-5 knots - can you fly a balloon under IFR?
PFO
I would not shop another pilot - however I would not hesitate to report a "heroic" pilot to the Authority if his deliberate actions put others at risk - we don't need that sort of publicity.
Vfrpilotpb - yes it was nice to see such a beautiful balloon - just not that close to people and property!
Merlot - a ground crew arrived approx 5 minutes after landing - a fuel tank was swapped. Then the balloon took off and disappeared into the cloud (8 octas) - wind was a max of 4-5 knots - can you fly a balloon under IFR?
PFO
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PFO
Not a question of can you fly a balloon in cloud ..........but more a case of would you want to? I don't know a single balloon pilot who would elect to do so given the choice, which this guy sounded like he had. More to this than meets the eye, me thinks!
<img src="cool.gif" border="0"> Merlot
Not a question of can you fly a balloon in cloud ..........but more a case of would you want to? I don't know a single balloon pilot who would elect to do so given the choice, which this guy sounded like he had. More to this than meets the eye, me thinks!
<img src="cool.gif" border="0"> Merlot
