Balloon Launch Procedure

Stingray Don

Stingray Don

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Stingray Don
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The other day a balloon was launched at my home airport as I was on base about to call final. After turning final I had to sidestep to the upwind and go around to avoid the balloon which was crossing the runway. I'm not sure of the protocol for launching a balloon at an airport. I realize that in flight a balloon has right of way over a plane. Also, an aircraft on final has right of way over anyone on the ground. The FAR/AIM refers to landing aircraft and specifically calls out aircraft on final. However, a balloon takes so much longer to clear the runway after launch. Even if an aircraft is on base it is still a landing aircraft, so shouldn't a balloon pilot hold on the ground until the landing aircraft is clear? :dunno:
 
I've run across a balloon at my local Class D field. It set up on an area away from the rwy, but surface winds were going to take it across midfield. I was in the pattern, and I remember him contacting tower when he was ready to launch. I can't remember specifically the balloon getting takeoff clearance, but probably did. Tower then told me to be aware of the balloon in the pattern. It's still see and avoid in VMC, even with a tower.

At an untowered field, I'd still expect the balloon to minimize disruption. I'll let others debate whether "landing aircraft" includes base.
 
A hot air balloon takes a long time to do anything. That includes set up, take-off, fly, land, and tear down. Odds are he already had it stood up and was prepping to launch before you were even in the pattern. If a hot air balloon pilot were suppose to hold on the ground until it was completely clear, he may never get off the ground. He has just as much right to use the airport as powered fixed wing, ultralights, helicopters, and gliders. Yeah you could throw the "landing priority" card, but it's a balloon. It ain't gonna make him move any quicker.
 
Gucci Pilot said:
A hot air balloon takes a long time to do anything. That includes set up, take-off, fly, land, and tear down. Odds are he already had it stood up and was prepping to launch before you were even in the pattern. If a hot air balloon pilot were suppose to hold on the ground until it was completely clear, he may never get off the ground. He has just as much right to use the airport as powered fixed wing, ultralights, helicopters, and gliders. Yeah you could throw the "landing priority" card, but it's a balloon. It ain't gonna make him move any quicker.
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Agreed.... The OP should have seen the inflated balloon from 20 miles away... Not just from the base leg...:rolleyes:
 
N801BH said:
Agreed.... The OP should have seen the inflated balloon from 20 miles away... Not just from the base leg...:rolleyes:
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I said he launched when I was on base about to turn final. I saw him inflating well before, but I don't know anything about balloons and how long it takes for them to inflate and launch. I was just curious about the protocol for launching a balloon at an airport.
 
Stingray Don said:
I said he launched when I was on base about to turn final. I saw him inflating well before, but I don't know anything about balloons and how long it takes for them to inflate and launch. I was just curious about the protocol for launching a balloon at an airport.
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Was he actually ON the airport ??:dunno:... Or in a field next to the airport?:dunno:
 
Controlled or uncontrolled?
 
N801BH said:
Was he actually ON the airport ??:dunno:... Or in a field next to the airport?:dunno:
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The balloon was being launched from the airport and was about as close to the runway as he could safely get. This is a non-towered airport and he did make a radio call as he launched. I'm not saying he did anything wrong. I'm just curious about the protocol. I know nothing about balloons other than they are full of hot air just like our politicians.
 
Yes they are allowed to operate from airports, both controlled and uncontrolled. As far as "protocol" hot air balloons are more like the wild west. They can pretty much take-off anywhere as long as the land owner is ok with it. Same goes for landing. When I went on a hot air balloon ride, the pilot just yelled down at the homeowners that came out to take pictures of the balloon if he could put it down in their yard and drag it to the driveway to pack it up. They said yes and the pilot was nice to let their kids sit in it before he deflated it.
 
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Stingray Don said:
The balloon was being launched from the airport and was about as close to the runway as he could safely get. This is a non-towered airport and he did make a radio call as he launched. I'm not saying he did anything wrong. I'm just curious about the protocol. I know nothing about balloons other than they are full of hot air just like our politicians.
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Thanks for the info.......

I know a person who would have made a missed approach /LOW PASS and re-entered the pattern.....;);););):redface:
 
It wouldn't matter if you were on final or not for so called "landing priority", he has the least amount of control over his flight path, that gives him right of way over you.
 
Stingray Don said:
Yes, but I am talking about prior to launch.
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Stingray is making a good point... If still on the ground, the balloon has to give way to landing aircraft....

With that said.. If he had the burners going, there is NO way he could hear any plane on the downwind /base or final leg..... Those burners are NOISY....
 
Stingray Don said:
Yes, but I am talking about prior to launch.
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An inflated balloon might as well be flying. When I was flying blimps, people didn't realize that the minute we came off the mooring mast, we were basically flying. If the wind shifted quickly or a thermal hit, the quickest and safest course of action was an immediate takeoff. I did that once at a Class C field and they weren't happy, but it had to happen.

At the end of the day, who cares what happened here, you were around, no one was ever in danger.
 
N801BH said:
Stingray is making a good point... If still on the ground, the balloon has to give way to landing aircraft....

With that said.. If he had the burners going, there is NO way he could hear any plane on the downwind /base or final leg..... Those burners are NOISY....
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That is a great point. I hadn't even thought about that. He may not have seen me or heard my radio calls. It was no big deal to go around and it was cool seeing the balloon launch from the air. It was just an unusual circumstance and I was curious about balloon launch protocol.
 
In my ballooning days we usually launched from parks and fields a long way from any airports.
 
Stingray Don said:
Even if an aircraft is on base it is still a landing aircraft, so shouldn't a balloon pilot hold on the ground until the landing aircraft is clear? :dunno:
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I don't think an aircraft on base is a landing aircraft in the meaning of the right-of-way rules.
 
As far as actual "launch procedures": unless there is something in the FAR or AIM, or maybe a Balloon Flying Handbook, I'm going to figure they are not much different from any other aircraft with the exception of being able to fly a pattern.
 
Should he hold? No. Courtesy would state that he should try not to interfere, but it's not required.

I helped cluster balloonist Jonathan Trappe launch one day at KTTA, N878UP. His launch point took him basically straight up into the downwind, but that's just where he went. Didn't stay there long and he was on the radio. The same trip, he hung out in KRDU's airspace for a few hours. I have to believe its a little scary hanging out like that with no maneuverability.
 
champ driver said:
It wouldn't matter if you were on final or not for so called "landing priority", he has the least amount of control over his flight path, that gives him right of way over you.
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No such priority exists in the regulations. The only class preference is for aircraft converging (other than head-on or nearly so). The right of way rules for aircraft are significantly different from the nautical ones.
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by champ driver
It wouldn't matter if you were on final or not for so called "landing priority", he has the least amount of control over his flight path, that gives him right of way over you.

No such priority exists in the regulations. The only class preference is for aircraft converging (other than head-on or nearly so). The right of way rules for aircraft are significantly different from the nautical ones.


91.113

(g)​
​
​
​
Landing. Aircraft, while on final​

approach to land or while landing, have​
the right-of-way over other aircraft in​
flight or operating on the surface, except​
that they shall not take advantage​
of this rule to force an aircraft off​

the runway surface which has already​
landed and is attempting to make way​
for an aircraft on final approach. When​
two or more aircraft are approaching​
an airport for the purpose of landing,​
the aircraft at the lower altitude has​
the right-of-way, but it shall not take​
advantage of this rule to cut in front of​
another which is on final approach to​
land or to overtake that aircraft
 VerDate Ma
kkkk

This is what the OP was using for his precevr<
 
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