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Does anyone know anything about hot air ballooning, and specifically whether or not there are any 'overflying' limits?
We have lots of hot air balloons that take off from a local park and then drift over our house. The park is at the bottom of the 'valley', and they then drift up. However, recently there have been a few which are *very* low - to the point that I am genuinely concerned they might hit our house or one of the other houses up the hill from us.
For example, I heard the sound of burners whilst having a slash first thing this morning, and the basket sailed about 20ft over our roof - I could see the weave, make out faces of the people and hear their voices as it went over. From their laughter, I'm fairly sure they could see me too.
I daresay it's a jolly wheeze to low fly over the houses but I'd have thought there should some sort of minimum height over a built up area for safety reasons as much as anything - I can't imagine it would do either a chimney or the occupants any good for the twain to meet!
I daresay it’s a jolly wheeze to low fly over the houses
Was the balloon named Ghostrider? Tell them the pattern is full...
Was the balloon named Ghostrider? Tell them the pattern is full…
🙂
For example, I heard the sound of burners whilst having a slash first thing this morning, and the basket sailed about 20ft over our roof – I could see the weave, make out faces of the people and hear their voices as it went over. From their laughter, I’m fairly sure they could see me too.
I should hope you could see their faces from 20ft away, otherwise I'd suggest a trip to the opticians!
Sorry. Forgive my naivety but euphemism? For what exactly?
I mean a nudge is as good as a wink and all that, but if I agree to go hot air ballooning what might I actually end up having to do?
Given their size I suspect, unlike objects in the rearview mirror, they are at a somewhat higher altitude than you think.
I fly RC planes and we often have actual aircraft come over the field and even at 400' they often seem more like they are only at 100'-200'.
Pfft try growing up on a hill at the end of an RAF runway where the pilots practice taking off and turning before the hill.
Phantoms were loud as they go past your windows admittedly slightly further away than 20feet.
And Chinooks shake every window as they buzzed you.
Yours sounds quite peaceful.
Mind you if they are at 20' you could rig some scaffold up and hammer some frozen sausages into their baskets as they sail by...
From CAA Balloon Airmanship leaflet:
Fly no lower than 1,000 ft above the highest fixed object within 600 metres of the balloon when over a congested area (unless in possession of an Exemption to Rules of the Air Regulations 2007 Rule 5(3)(c) for take-off and climb-out). Over open country, remain at least 500 feet clear of any persons, vessels, vehicles or structures (Rules of the Air Regulations 2007 Rule 5(3)(b)) unless taking off or landing in accordance with normal aviation practice (Rules of the Air Regulations 2007 Rule 6(a)(ii)).
Are they really combining metric and imperial.
A lot of balloons take off from near my house, it's quite rural and not very hilly but they still make sure they get high pretty quickly
Link to the leaflet:
Also:
4
a) Selection of Take-off Site
PRACTICE
Check that the selected site is sheltered, unobstructed by overhead lines or other hazards, and clear of built-up (congested) areas unless an Exemption to Rules of the Air Regulations 2007, Low Flying Rule 5(3)(c) is in force (see paragraph 4(g)), in which case carefully check the conditions under which it is issued.
(my bold)
The leaflet's got a few telephone numbers too, you could probably give them a call to check. But by the sounds of it they should be considerably higher when they go over your house.
I should hope you could see their faces from 20ft away, otherwise I’d suggest a trip to the opticians!
Yep, that was rather the point I was making in anticipation of this sort of suggestion:
Given their size I suspect, unlike objects in the rearview mirror, they are at a somewhat higher altitude than you think.
Fly no lower than 1,000 ft above the highest fixed object within 600 metres of the balloon when over a congested area (unless in possession of an Exemption to Rules of the Air Regulations 2007 Rule 5(3)(c) for take-off and climb-out
Thanks MrSparkle, that's what I was looking for! I suppose the operator would say it's part of the take off, but it does still seem rather low.
A lot of balloons take off from near my house, it’s quite rural and not very hilly but they still make sure they get high pretty quickly
Yep, that's what I would have thought - get height as quickly as possible and then float languidly over the landscape!
Sorry. Forgive my naivety but euphemism? For what exactly?
Ha, had wondered the same. Although to be fair almost anything can be made into a euphemism... "a bit of hot air ballooning is it sir, ooo, suits you sir".
but if I agree to go hot air ballooning what might I actually end up having to do?
Laugh at Jakester from 20ft away?
Sorry. Forgive my naivety but euphemism? For what exactly?
I mean a nudge is as good as a wink and all that, but if I agree to go hot air ballooning what might I actually end up having to do?
Ha, had wondered the same. Although to be fair almost anything can be made into a euphemism… “a bit of hot air ballooning is it sir, ooo, suits you sir”.
Sorry, that was exactly it - it sounded a touch dodge and like it should be a euphemism for some unspeakably sordid act.
Like that time I posted on our orchestra's Whatsapp that I'd found a corroded trombone...😳😬
I think it involves a raw chilli and a condom.
1,000 ft above the highest fixed object within 600 metres of the balloon when over a congested area </strong
This bit is key. A single house or a handful of houses may not constitute a congested area
@Jakester - where specifically are they taking off from on that map. Some of it is congested, some of it not so on the outskirts.
Like that time I posted on our orchestra’s Whatsapp that I’d found a corroded trombone…😳😬
Did anyone offer to polish it up for you?
Are they really combining metric and imperial.
Aviation is full of that: heights in feet, speeds in kts, distances in km unless it’s nautical miles, or statute miles, or hundreds of feet, or metres. And as above often using a mix during the same bit of the regulations.
Oh, and unless you’re in China or Russia where heights are metres and speeds in m/s.
They don’t want to crash into your house It would be very bad for business.
Have a chat with the operator (Bath Balloons?) they will likely be quite cool about it. They are usually on a charm offensive as they need to keep people on side. They keep bottles of scotch in the chase car to sweeten the deal with access to farm land. I’m fairly sure you could get a couple of flights if you play your cards right.
Looks like I am in your neighbourhood op *waves*
Same balloon that set my dogs going mental at 7:30 this morning
Some do come over pretty low, but not that often, and I would not say dangerously so. Doesn't bother me anyway.
Complain to the council, bet they will file it away in the appropriate place.
Are they really combining metric and imperial.
Says the bloke on a bike forum.
Rim widths/wheel sizes
Stem lengths/steerer diameter
Frame size/suspension travel
Etc,etc
They keep bottles of scotch in the chase car to sweeten the deal with access to farm land.
My model flying club has a field bordering farmland. Scotch is offered in return for us being able to trample across fields to find lost planes 🙂
Farmers are obviously a bit partial for a dram then!
“a bit of hot air ballooning is it sir, ooo, suits you sir
Going up in a hot air balloon is very much like making love to a beautiful woman... blow in hot air, get under the skirt, eject ballast before running out of fuel, sinking to the ground with inevitable deflation...