Ballooning in EurocontrolBallooning in Eurocontrol member statesmember states

HansHans Å Åkerstedtkerstedt EAS Ballooning Working PartyEAS Ballooning Working Party

Ballooning in Eurocontrol member statesBallooning in Eurocontrol member states

• Numbers of aerostats are similar

• 95% are Hot Air Balloons

• 300 pilots fly ~100 Gas Balloons

• ~50 Airships

• Germany 1400• UK 900• France 600• Netherlands 450• Austria 400• Switzerland 450• Belgium 300• Rest 800• Total 5300

In addition ~20 000 non pilots are engaged, mainly in private flying

Pilots Aerostats

AEROSTAT TYPESAEROSTAT TYPES

• BALLOONS

• Hot Air• Gas (Hydrogen or

Helium)• Rozière (Helium with

airborne heater)• Other types exist

• AIRSHIPS

• Hot Air• Gas (small non-rigid)• Gas with a rigid

framework

Hot air balloonsHot air balloons

Small one-man balloonSmall one-man balloon No basket, 400 mNo basket, 400 m33

Diameter 9 metersDiameter 9 meters Just for fun and recordsJust for fun and records Lift: ~130 kgLift: ~130 kg

Big passenger balloonBig passenger balloon Up to 17 000 m3, 32 Up to 17 000 m3, 32 metersmeters Up to 30 passengersUp to 30 passengers Passenger rides and Passenger rides and recordsrecords Lift: ~6000 kgLift: ~6000 kg

Hot Air Balloon Hot Air Balloon performanceperformance

PRIVATE and SPORT BALLOONSPRIVATE and SPORT BALLOONS Normally flown at low altitude, <2000 ft GNDNormally flown at low altitude, <2000 ft GND Flight duration 1-2 hours, endurance 3-4 Flight duration 1-2 hours, endurance 3-4

hourshours Normally below/outside controlled airspaceNormally below/outside controlled airspace Good altitude controlGood altitude control May want to fly low for good steerageMay want to fly low for good steerage Good precision in competition. <1m from goalGood precision in competition. <1m from goal World records: 15 000m World records: 15 000m (49 000ft)(49 000ft) – 21 000m – 21 000m (69 (69

000ft)000ft), 1700km – 7700km, 24h – 50h, 1700km – 7700km, 24h – 50h

Private ballooning Private ballooning activitiesactivities

35% of ballooning is private flying 35% of ballooning is private flying for pleasure and funfor pleasure and fun

15% is competition and meetings15% is competition and meetings

Commercial flyingCommercial flying

About 50% of all ballooning activity About 50% of all ballooning activity in Europe is commercial activityin Europe is commercial activity

Most is done with large hot air Most is done with large hot air balloonsballoons

Pilots are usually very experiencedPilots are usually very experienced Peak season is May to SeptemberPeak season is May to September Near large citiesNear large cities

Gas balloonsGas balloons

Winners of the 2006 Gordon Bennett race. 1000 mWinners of the 2006 Gordon Bennett race. 1000 m33. 2450km, 67h. 2450km, 67h

Gas balloon Gas balloon characteristicscharacteristics

Typical private balloon volume: 1000mTypical private balloon volume: 1000m33

3-5 passengers Normally flown below 3000ft GND Typical duration 4-8 hours, endurance 24-

48h Flying for fun and a few competition Common in Germany, Austria, Switzerland A few in France, UK, Belgium, Netherlands Performance: 6000m – 3400km – 92h

Rozière balloonsRozière balloons

Helium & hot airHelium & hot air ExpensiveExpensive Not for Not for

private/sportprivate/sport Superior enduranceSuperior endurance Used for recordsUsed for records Atlantic race 1992Atlantic race 1992 Around-the-WorldAround-the-World 45 000km – 477h45 000km – 477h

AirshipsAirships

Hot Air airshipFor fun and sport

Gas airshipCommercial operation

Competitions and Competitions and meetingsmeetings

Meetings and ralliesMeetings and rallies

Annually about 400 events in EuropeAnnually about 400 events in Europe Usually weekend eventsUsually weekend events Generally at low altitude (>2000ft GND)Generally at low altitude (>2000ft GND) Alpine meetings - up to FL 150Alpine meetings - up to FL 150 Normally in uncontrolled airspaceNormally in uncontrolled airspace Typically 15-25 balloonsTypically 15-25 balloons Some events with several hundred Some events with several hundred

balloonsballoons

Official FAI Official FAI ChampionshipsChampionships

National and National and International eventsInternational events

Annual National championships in most Annual National championships in most nationsnations

Bi-annual European ChampionshipsBi-annual European Championships Normally within a 50x50km areaNormally within a 50x50km area Up to 6000 ft GND desiredUp to 6000 ft GND desired Planned 1-3 years in advance in Planned 1-3 years in advance in

consultation with local ATCconsultation with local ATC Event officials include a Safety OfficerEvent officials include a Safety Officer Airspace violations controlled and penalizedAirspace violations controlled and penalized 4-8 day events. 15-100 balloons4-8 day events. 15-100 balloons

InstrumentsInstruments Altimeter, Variometer, MapAltimeter, Variometer, Map

AllAll GPSGPS 90%90% VHFVHF 90%90% VHF 8.33 kHzVHF 8.33 kHz Germany 3-5 %, Germany 3-5 %,

other 1%other 1% Transponder CTransponder C less than less than

50%50% Transponder Mode STransponder Mode S less than 5%less than 5%

ThreatsThreats

Overregulation – cost increasesOverregulation – cost increases New requirementsNew requirements Insurance, 8.33 kHz, Mode SInsurance, 8.33 kHz, Mode S Reduced uncontrolled airspaceReduced uncontrolled airspace In many countries activities have decreased In many countries activities have decreased

to 50% the last five yearsto 50% the last five years Most balloons are flown only 20-50 hours Most balloons are flown only 20-50 hours

annuallyannually Therefore increases of fixed costs Therefore increases of fixed costs

(insurance, new equipment, fees) have a (insurance, new equipment, fees) have a very serious effect on cost per flightvery serious effect on cost per flight

RequirementsRequirements

Simple regulationsSimple regulations No requirements for new equipment No requirements for new equipment

for normal flying. No transponder in for normal flying. No transponder in uncontrolled airspaceuncontrolled airspace

Access to controlled airspace with Access to controlled airspace with appropriate equipmentappropriate equipment

Coming large events in Coming large events in EuropeEurope

European Hot Air Balloon Championships.European Hot Air Balloon Championships. August 2007. Magdeburg, Germany. August 2007. Magdeburg, Germany. (80 (80 balloons)balloons)

World Gas Balloon Championships.World Gas Balloon Championships. July 2007, Dimitrov, (Moscow), Russia July 2007, Dimitrov, (Moscow), Russia

World Hot Air Balloon Championships.World Hot Air Balloon Championships. September 2008, Hofkirchen, Austria. September 2008, Hofkirchen, Austria. (100 balloons)(100 balloons)

Coupe Gordon Bennett 2007. BelgiumCoupe Gordon Bennett 2007. BelgiumLong distance race, gas balloons. Long distance race, gas balloons. (20 balloons)(20 balloons)

Gordon Bennett 2006Gordon Bennett 2006