Once Again..."STAY AWAY FROM THE AEROSTAT!"

[6 Gun]

You would think that a breakaway link could be installed to save lives at the least with all the traffic in the Keys .
Bob

[RonH]

Originally Posted by 6 Gun

You would think that a breakaway link could be installed to save lives at the least with all the traffic in the Keys .
Bob

That would be extremely difficult, if not possible, to implement. First of all, the tether is, at its core, a rope...a very strong rope, but a rope still. Second, where would you put the link? Sometimes we fly at 1K, sometimes at 10K. All the excess is rolled up on a drum. Third, normal tensions on the tether run from 3K up to over 7K, depending on altitude and winds. When the 182 was brought down, it didn't cause the tether to tension much above 4K. No, the best, and safest way is to simply remain outside of the restricted airspace. It's not like it's hidden, it is well marked on the sectional.

And, on further review, if there was a means to have a "breakaway link" what would be done with the aerostat as it's floating along, possibly coming down on someone's house (at a certain altitude, all valves will open and it WILL come down)? Having the aerostat break away would be a huge safety issue.

[Sig600]

Originally Posted by 6 Gun

You would think that a breakaway link could be installed to save lives at the least with all the traffic in the Keys .
Bob

Or maybe label the airspace restricted, and chart it., and put a big warning label that says "Unmarked balloon on cable to 14,000 feet." It's on the sectional and low enroute. There are warnings in the FBOs in the area and ATC will even do their best to keep you out of it.

Ultimately, PIC responsibilities prevail. Ron's frustration isn't unwarranted. I've done a lot of flying around there and it's amazing how many people drive right through there.

[celstar]

I was fishing in the flats back in Feb. and looking at the aerostat and thinking that it would be nice to have some L.E.D's on the rope.

[tjo]

Interesting that I checked the sectional on Skyvector and it said surface to 14'000. But, on WingX Pro it said it was 8500 to unlimited. Maybe there is some bad info out there somewhere?

Tim

[Doug]

Did your violation alert come from ATC or was that a visual from one of the range observers?

[RonH]

Originally Posted by Doug

Did your violation alert come from ATC or was that a visual from one of the range observers?

It was a visual from one of the crew members with me as we were launching. We don't normally interface with ATC. We go up and down as we need to...to whichever altitude we need...when we determine it necessary to do so. R-2916 is hot 24/7/365...you never know when we'll be up (as much as possible) or at what altitude...hence the reason for the restricted airspace.

And, the restriction is from the surface to 14,000, and is printed correctly on the sectional.

[Lockard]

Originally Posted by RonH

When the 182 was brought down, it didn't cause the tether to tension much above 4K.

That's not that surprising given the elasticity, mass and inertia of the tether. 120 knots is 200 feet/s. A four foot deep wing would contact the tether for a maximum of 1/50 of a second or 20 milliseconds. Whatever spike in tension that occurred at the point of impact would be buffered by the mass of the tether and spread out over a second or more at the ground.

Originally Posted by 6 Gun

You would think that a breakaway link could be installed to save lives at the least with all the traffic in the Keys .
Bob

With a 10K-12k pound breakaway, even right at the point of impact, that tether would still shear off any wing short of a 747.  And even then...  I'd hate to see what 550 paracord would do to an RV wing at speed.

Ron is right; the solution is simple.  View it from outside the restriction, land, take him up on his tour offer, live happily ever after.

[RonH]

Originally Posted by Lockard

With a 10K-12k pound breakaway, that tether would still shear off any wing short of a 747. And even then... I'd hate to see what 550 paracord would do to an RV wing at speed.

Ron is right; the solution is simple. View it from outside the restriction, land, take him up on his tour offer, live happily ever after.

Believe it or not, actual break strength on the tether is, as a minimum requirement, tested to 25,000 lbs...and normally passes with a higher number. But, you are most correct...it will, and has taken a wing off with very minimal damage. All I can hope for with this thread is to get this into folks minds, and maybe they'll pass it on to friends, neighbors, etc...so nobody else ever loses their life over something that is well charted and totally avoidable. The gentleman today came closer than anyone else and survived.

[mike newall]

Hey Ron,

I fly past loads of times and always look for the balloon.....

Sometimes easy, sometimes difficult as I'm usually above FL370 at the time in an A330

Best time is evening coming out of Cancun going back home, but I have seen it a few times outbound and always point it out to the passengers if it easily spottable.

There were plans for a few more down in the UAE, my Bro was starting to get involved but it came to nought.

I will get in touch if heading down that way - would love to visit.

Jumped from a balloon and airship in the past.....