Launch announcement for the Netherlands

[Nick McCloud]

Ichthus College, Veenendaal, intend to launch a micro balloon Wednesday, 21st January at 10:00 UTC

This launch is under the 2m limit so the payload & balloon are smaller. Predicted burst height is 7,800m with a total flight time of ~55 minutes.

The DIY tracker will be transmitting the basic data via:

• LoRa UKHAS text format, mode 2, on 432.662
  
• HorusBinary v2 on 434.713 and 437.600

as well as a Sensirion SEN66 air quality unit plus UV sensor writing data to a SD card.

The chase vehicle will be receiving on both modulations and should be running chase car mode as well.

This is a first time for their Launch Director, so please be kind if there are any timing or freq drifts.

This is a test launch as part of the development of a package for a school / college friendly Open Source package, parts, balloon & Helium sourced from mainstream & online retailers with the intention that students write sensor firmware and the launch is less complicated than a full height launch so more teacher capacity & school timetable friendly.

I will run a UK launch sometime in the next few weeks once I get a space in my diary.

[Steve]

Is the 2m size relevant in the Netherlands?

    Steve

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "UKHAS" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to ukhas+un...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ukhas/23f8f136-0010-4993-9ebb-2c24f56753e9n%40googlegroups.com.

Virus-free.www.avg.com

[Ben Z en de rest]

Only balloon diameter below 2 meter on sea level / when launching.

Op di 20 jan 2026 om 20:22 schreef Steve <st...@randomaerospace.com>:

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ukhas/2c851be7-17e1-4c34-b72d-d3d5d14c73a8%40randomaerospace.com.

[Mark Jessop]

Here in Australia we have a similar 'small' balloon category (payload < 50g), which for launch sites >6 nm from aerodromes doesn't require any launch approval according to our regulations.  I think the small category might be from the ICAO rules?

For years the interpretation of the regulations by CASA (our FAA/CAA) was that yes, no approval was required, go for it.... but about 5 years ago CASA's risk tolerance shifted, and now even these small balloon launches require approval (with a cost of ~$400). So technically anyone releasing a party balloon is in breach.

73

Mark

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ukhas/CACbGgOv4zYrAUp1c7dmq9uNOeftrtb67niTjQM2VYLQuOXnshw%40mail.gmail.com.

[Steve]

The ICAO Annex2 Appendix 5, SERA (Standard European Rules of the Air) and US FAR101 balloon classifications are:

    Light, Medium & Heavy 

Having more or less the same definition - except in the US weights and forces are in pounds, dimensions in inches

In the UK we also have a designation of Small Balloon (less than 2m in any linear dimension including attached payload).

    Steve

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ukhas/CABD2Lt0CddNKsN8ikNGJj1BwHQ7KLUmVXXwkBg7_5L4ACzinTQ%40mail.gmail.com.

[Nick McCloud]

On Tuesday, 20 January 2026 at 19:22:37 UTC Steve wrote:

Is the 2m size relevant in the Netherlands?

Yes, but not like you think. Over there, it's 2m of the balloon if fully inflated on the ground with no mention of the payload train.

https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0007094/2014-12-12

However I'm not inclined nor resourced to start creating designs & instructions for the UK and each EU member state, so at present I'm going with our more restrictive requirement.

Also, a 50g balloon (did you ever find out the pricing) can lift 100g with a party canister of helium which makes for an easy combo to organise.

More will become apparent over time.

 

[Nick McCloud]

On Tuesday, 20 January 2026 at 21:56:52 UTC Mark Jessop wrote:

 now even these small balloon launches require approval (with a cost of ~$400). 

All and any release of any kind? That's harsh. 

But I suspect I pay ~$400 in phone charges, lost time and sweat getting permission for a launch from the UK CAA, so probably equal. 

[Mark Jessop]

That $400 can cover multiple releases. Our current light balloon release approval (covers 2 launch sites) cost about $400 (AUD) and lasts 3 years. 

I haven't actually gone through the full motion of getting a small balloon release approval - its something I should try and do so I can more easily launch lightweight test flights closer to home (current launch sites are ~1 hr drive away).

73

Mark

--

You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "UKHAS" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to ukhas+un...@googlegroups.com.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ukhas/f5faf956-7e00-40ef-b76e-e1e77f0c8e13n%40googlegroups.com.

[Mika Köching]

I'd happily pay $400AUD/230€ for three years. But instead I pay 200€ for a year so I can launch when it's sunny at daytime at home and have a max payload weight of 500g. The weird part is that it's way easier and cheaper to get such a permit in other parts of Germany.

Oh, and there isn't any exception for small payloads. The only balloon that can be launched without a permit is a balloon without a "hard payload".

73 de Mika