[Lf] LF: Balloon flying

[Andre' Kesteloot]

Howard Aspinall wrote:

> Greeting
>
> I have used balloon borne aerials on 160m in the past, and anyone
> contemplating doing so is advised to consult with the Civil Aviation
> Authority first. There were, and probably still are rules regarding the use
> of tethered balloons over a specific height. I can't remember what that
> height was, but if it is exceeded the rules have to be observed, and
> include things like providing lights and notifying the CAA.
>
> No doubt also it goes without saying that one can easily get a very high
> static build up on large verticals which are not electrically connected to
> a good earth, so steps are needed to protect the equipment, and operators
> from these.
>
> On a more light hearted note, on one instance in the past when a group of
> us was out portable with a 160m half wave vertical supported by a met
> balloon filled with helium, we observed a number of local officers of the
> law converging on our site very warily. It transpired a local farmer had
> reported seeing a UFO (the balloon), and the officers concerned were
> worried about walking into a strange encounter and being "beamed up". All
> ended well, but there could be some merit in keeping the local constabulary
> informed of such experiments.
>
> 73..Howard/G3RXH