Minimum Balloon heights

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Discussion

strudel

Original Poster:

5,889 posts

242 months

Thursday 23rd July 2009
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A hot air balloon just floated over the middle of Sheffield city centre quite low - maybe 2-300 feet. Do they not have to obey the minimum of 1000 feet like aircraft? I'm guessing not as a police helicopter has just chased after it!

RDE

5,007 posts

229 months

Thursday 23rd July 2009
quotequote all
Air Navigation Order Rule 6: Exemptions from the low flying prohibitions;

(d)(i) A balloon shall be exempt from the 1,000 feet rule if it is landing because it is becalmed.


Did it look as if it might be becalmed?

In case you didn't know, Police helicopters are exempt from pretty much all the low flying rules, because it makes their job more fun.

Edited by RDE on Thursday 23 July 22:42

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

270 months

Thursday 23rd July 2009
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Think it took off from Endcliffe Park...

One nearly took my chimney off, many years ago...

Geneve

3,977 posts

234 months

Thursday 23rd July 2009
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1000ft also applies to built up areas. Elsewhere it's 500ft from any person, vessel or structure. Which means, in open countryside, you can skim along the ground, so long as you remain 500ft away from the above.

dudleybloke

20,553 posts

201 months

Friday 24th July 2009
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the thing about balloons is to a certain degree you are just a passenger!

wiffmaster

2,613 posts

213 months

Friday 24th July 2009
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Geneve said:
Which means, in open countryside, you can skim along the ground, so long as you remain 500ft away from the above.
And they do! Many a time have balloons nearly landed in one of our fields. Then it'll be up to muggins here to go and help recover them and allow them access...maybe they'd give me a free trip, in return for allowing them to get their balloon back?scratchchin

joe20vt

87 posts

238 months

Friday 24th July 2009
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I understand that aircraft are exempt from the low flying rules when taking off and landing, of course without the requirements of an airstrip this may be in some varying places. Otherwise balloons have to largely stick to rules for built up areas, countryside and gatherings of people etc. They also have to adhere to usual VFR requirements.
As for landing sites, crews are usually able to recover the balloon with no additional help, once going through the correct landowner process.

john_p

7,073 posts

265 months

Friday 24th July 2009
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wiffmaster said:
And they do! Many a time have balloons nearly landed in one of our fields. Then it'll be up to muggins here to go and help recover them and allow them access...maybe they'd give me CASH, in return for allowing them to get their balloon back?yes
EFA

strudel

Original Poster:

5,889 posts

242 months

Friday 24th July 2009
quotequote all
Well if it definitely wasn't landing, as it would have ended up in the side of a tower block. The only possible cause is as mbh said, it was taking off from nearby. I do think he could have made more of an effort though, as he was slowly bobbing up and down, evidently not trying to put any real effort into getting up. I did wonder at first whether we would have a crash on our hands.

wiffmaster

2,613 posts

213 months

Friday 24th July 2009
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john_p said:
wiffmaster said:
And they do! Many a time have balloons nearly landed in one of our fields. Then it'll be up to muggins here to go and help recover them and allow them access...maybe they'd give me CASH, in return for allowing them to get their balloon back?yes
EFA
I know most farmers demand cash, but in all honesty....I'd prefer the free balloon ride! Would be nice to see my local area from up there. After I've had my free trip, then I'll revert to asking for cash in the future....

Semi hemi

1,801 posts

213 months

Saturday 25th July 2009
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Geneve said:
1000ft also applies to built up areas. Elsewhere it's 500ft from any person, vessel or structure. Which means, in open countryside, you can skim along the ground, so long as you remain 500ft away from the [b]above.[b]
Below, Surely?
getmecoat

sherman

14,444 posts

230 months

Saturday 25th July 2009
quotequote all
Remember when the old bbc red globe balloon almost took off my parents roof a few years ago. It was landing in the field behind us but when you dont know its aproaching and you hear the pilot firing the gas burners less than 50ft above your house you can get a bit of a fright. Everyone in the estate thought it was crashing and ran to help as well .

Silent1

19,761 posts

250 months

Saturday 25th July 2009
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The baloon people got a bit stroppy last year when they landed on some of our prime milling wheat and driving all over it trashing about 50tons of it, they nearly shat themselves when we presented a bill.

If they'd come and knocked on the door before running their trailer/pickup & minibus across the field we wouldn't have been bothered but it was the way they just did it without a toss.

wiffmaster

2,613 posts

213 months

Sunday 26th July 2009
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Silent1 said:
trashing about 50tons of it, they nearly shat themselves when we presented a bill.
How on earth did they manage to trash so much in just recovering a balloon? That must be 15/20 acres' worth?