Ballooning in Eurocontrol member states Hans Å kerstedt EAS Ballooning Working Party

Ballooning in Eurocontrol member states Numbers of aerostats are similar 95% are Hot Air Balloons 300 pilots fly ~100 Gas Balloons ~50 Airships Germany1400 UK 900 France 600 Netherlands 450 Austria 400 Switzerland 450 Belgium 300 Rest 800 Total5300 In addition ~ non pilots are engaged, mainly in private flying Pilots Aerostats

AEROSTAT 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 balloons Small one-man balloon Small one-man balloon No basket, 400 m 3 No basket, 400 m 3 Diameter 9 meters Diameter 9 meters Just for fun and records Just for fun and records Lift: ~130 kg Lift: ~130 kg Big passenger balloon  Big passenger balloon  Up to m3, 32 meters  Up to 30 passengers  Passenger rides and records  Lift: ~6000 kg

Hot Air Balloon performance PRIVATE and SPORT BALLOONS Normally flown at low altitude, <2000 ft GND Normally flown at low altitude, <2000 ft GND Flight duration 1-2 hours, endurance 3-4 hours Flight duration 1-2 hours, endurance 3-4 hours Normally below/outside controlled airspace Normally below/outside controlled airspace Good altitude control Good altitude control May want to fly low for good steerage May want to fly low for good steerage Good precision in competition. <1m from goal Good precision in competition. <1m from goal World records: m (49 000ft) – m (69 000ft), 1700km – 7700km, 24h – 50h World records: m (49 000ft) – m (69 000ft), 1700km – 7700km, 24h – 50h

Private ballooning activities 35% of ballooning is private flying for pleasure and fun 35% of ballooning is private flying for pleasure and fun 15% is competition and meetings 15% is competition and meetings

Commercial flying About 50% of all ballooning activity in Europe is commercial activity About 50% of all ballooning activity in Europe is commercial activity Most is done with large hot air balloons Most is done with large hot air balloons Pilots are usually very experienced Pilots are usually very experienced Peak season is May to September Peak season is May to September Near large cities Near large cities

Gas balloons Winners of the 2006 Gordon Bennett race m km, 67h

Gas balloon characteristics Typical private balloon volume: 1000m 3 Typical private balloon volume: 1000m 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 balloons Helium & hot air Helium & hot air Expensive Expensive Not for private/sport Not for private/sport Superior endurance Superior endurance Used for records Used for records Atlantic race 1992 Atlantic race 1992 Around-the-World Around-the-World km – 477h km – 477h

Airships Hot Air airship For fun and sport Gas airship Commercial operation

Competitions and meetings

Meetings and rallies Annually about 400 events in Europe Annually about 400 events in Europe Usually weekend events Usually weekend events Generally at low altitude (>2000ft GND) Generally at low altitude (>2000ft GND) Alpine meetings - up to FL 150 Alpine meetings - up to FL 150 Normally in uncontrolled airspace Normally in uncontrolled airspace Typically balloons Typically balloons Some events with several hundred balloons Some events with several hundred balloons

Official FAI Championships

National and International events Annual National championships in most nations Annual National championships in most nations Bi-annual European Championships Bi-annual European Championships Normally within a 50x50km area Normally within a 50x50km area Up to 6000 ft GND desired Up to 6000 ft GND desired Planned 1-3 years in advance in consultation with local ATC Planned 1-3 years in advance in consultation with local ATC Event officials include a Safety Officer Event officials include a Safety Officer Airspace violations controlled and penalized Airspace violations controlled and penalized 4-8 day events balloons 4-8 day events balloons

Instruments Altimeter, Variometer, MapAll Altimeter, Variometer, MapAll GPS90% GPS90% VHF90% VHF90% VHF 8.33 kHzGermany 3-5 %, other 1% VHF 8.33 kHzGermany 3-5 %, other 1% Transponder Cless than 50% Transponder Cless than 50% Transponder Mode Sless than 5% Transponder Mode Sless than 5%

Threats Overregulation – cost increases Overregulation – cost increases New requirements New requirements Insurance, 8.33 kHz, Mode S Insurance, 8.33 kHz, Mode S Reduced uncontrolled airspace Reduced uncontrolled airspace In many countries activities have decreased to 50% the last five years In many countries activities have decreased to 50% the last five years Most balloons are flown only hours annually Most balloons are flown only hours annually Therefore increases of fixed costs (insurance, new equipment, fees) have a very serious effect on cost per flight Therefore increases of fixed costs (insurance, new equipment, fees) have a very serious effect on cost per flight

Requirements Simple regulations Simple regulations No requirements for new equipment for normal flying. No transponder in uncontrolled airspace No requirements for new equipment for normal flying. No transponder in uncontrolled airspace Access to controlled airspace with appropriate equipment Access to controlled airspace with appropriate equipment

Coming large events in Europe European Hot Air Balloon Championships. August Magdeburg, Germany. (80 balloons) European Hot Air Balloon Championships. August Magdeburg, Germany. (80 balloons) World Gas Balloon Championships. July 2007, Dimitrov, (Moscow), Russia World Gas Balloon Championships. July 2007, Dimitrov, (Moscow), Russia World Hot Air Balloon Championships. September 2008, Hofkirchen, Austria. (100 balloons) World Hot Air Balloon Championships. September 2008, Hofkirchen, Austria. (100 balloons) Coupe Gordon Bennett Belgium Long distance race, gas balloons. (20 balloons) Coupe Gordon Bennett Belgium Long distance race, gas balloons. (20 balloons)

Gordon Bennett 2006