Change of UK NOTAM Procedure?

[John Laidler]

I am planning to launch a pico balloon on Sunday 11 August. Last month I submitted an application to the CAA covering the period 9 to 26 August with the intention of requesting a NOTAM for a specific day when the weather forecast was suitable.  

As this Sunday looks suitable I sent in a request for NOTAM action on 7 Aug for a launch on 11 August.  As I had heard nothing from them by this afternoon I sent an email and after an exchange of several emails (they were very quick to respond) I discovered they had already issued the NOTAM and sent it to me.  They had indeed sent me something called a NOTAM Back Copy (enclosed) which covered the whole period. 

What they have confirmed today is this is sufficient and a separate NOTAM for the specific launch day is not required.  In other words I can wait until the actual launch day, look at the weather and if suitable launch.

I don't know if this only applies to pico ballons  (payload is just 7g which I had put on the application) but if it applies to all HABs it seems to reflect a change from when I last went through the permissions process and is a distinct improvement.

The balloon will be using 20m WSPR, callsign M0WIV.  If all goes to plan it should appear on WSPRnet.  I'll post links if the launch is successful.  Balloon is a clear 32" Yokohama with party gas helium.

John

M0WIV   

[Steve]

I'll be interested to hear if you have to ring Swanwick as part of the launch procedure?   if so if they then require you to ring them back once the balloon has landed.

    Steve G8KHW

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[David Akerman]

This seems to vary.  First time the guy wanted to be called back after launch and again after landing.  Last time I wasn't asked to call back at all.

Also, from my experience that first time, when they ask for the max altitude (even though the notam says "unlimited", don't say something like "eighty nine thousand feet" that could be misconstrued as "eight or nine thousand".  They're not used to HAB altitudes so say something really clear like "a hundred thousand feet".  And don't do metres they don't understand those.

Gave

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[John Laidler]

They've asked me to call the ATSUs at Plymouth and Swanwick at least 45 minutes before launch, no requirement for a call on landing.  The same document also says I have to give 72 hours notice of the launch to arops which is what today they said I didn't need to do.  

I think Dave is right, it does seem to vary!

John

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[Steve]

Let us know how the conversation with Swanwick goes - I'd be interested to know.

    Steve

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[John Laidler]

Got to find a number for them first...

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[David Akerman]

Swanwick numbers are:

01489 612411 - East of country
01489 612413 - West of country

Don't ask me where those meet or if there are more areas!

My permission has the first number on when it should be the second; I let Kevin@arops know about that when I found out!

Dave

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[John Laidler]

Dave,

That is very helpful, thank you. 

I think I'll give them a ring tomorrow just to sound them out as my launch might be at very early on Sunday when the wind is forecast to be lightest.

I can find anything for Plymouth... 

John

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[Kevin Walton]

Good luck with the wspr pico!  What tx are you using?

Mine recently died after 100 days and 4 times around ;)

P.s. I had no requirement given to ring anyone 4 months ago.

Cheers
Kev

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[John Laidler]

Kevin,

It's a U4B with 6 solar cells. Well done with your flight, my last one in 2022 barely got beyond Exeter!

John

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[Steve]

It should give you the procedure and phone numbers on the Permit.

    Steve G8KHW

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[John Laidler]

Many apologies to everyone but my usually chaotic filing system went even more haywire today. The permission granted is enclosed and it has no requirement to phone anyone before the launch. I have been looking at a permission granted last year in error, which did have this included. It has been dropped in this case as Kevin said with his launch 4 months ago.

There are of course still a few grey areas. The permission says only in UK airspace which I'm interpreting as that's all the CAA can grant. Then there is a requirement for the payload to descend by parachute.  I could glue a cocktail umbrella to the payload but I am going to claim the 47g balloon would act as a parachute for the 7g payload.

All down to the weather now - which is forecast to be misty on Sunday morning here but that may only extend a few hundred feet up.

John

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[John Laidler]

And the missing file is...

[John Laidler]

Flight probably postponed to Monday now as Sunday morning likely to be misty with 100% cloud according to Ventusky. Monday looks much better. 

John

[Steve]

Thanks John.  That's quite different - no need to call Swanwick and only 48 hours notice.   I note the "The payload weight must not exceed 1kg". - that would do me in most cases.

My current Elsworth permit allows me to have 4Kg payloads but has placed launch direction limitations, requires me to phone Swanwick and give 72 hours notice to arops.

In the covering email they say the permit is for " Medium balloon launches".  I didn't ask for this - the question says on the application says:

    Combined Weight of any Equipment and the Balloon

to which I answered:

    Up to 4Kg (2Kg of equipment + 2000g Balloon) - but generally payloads will be 500g

Which categorizes it as a Light balloon under SERA

I started to argue this point with the CAA duty - hoping that it if it was re categorized they might remove the launch direction restrictions.  But it was clear that it might take weeks to sort out and the result might be the same - so I lived with the restriction.

It seems to me that they take the answer to the " Combined Weight of any Equipment and the Balloon" question and put it in the "the payload weight must not exceed" section of the permit.

I have a pico to launch so I may apply for a permit locally and see what I get back.  It would be interesting to see your original application - they should have sent you an email Subject "BAL-XXXXX - Airspace Co-ordination and Obstacle Management" which contains your permit application data.

    Steve G8KHW

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[John Laidler]

Steve, 

A copy of my application is enclosed for info. 

John

M0WIV