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ballooning
3 – aer i al sport i ng and recreat i onal act i v i t i es
METEOROLOGICALCONDITIONS FORBALLOONS.
ENR 1.2prescribes VMC for balloons. Operations inother thanprescribed
VMC are not permitted.
NIGHTBALLOONOPERATIONS
Aerial work and charter operations by pilotswhohold aNVFR (balloon)
rating, and private operationswith specific permission fromCASA,may be
conducted at night. In the caseof aerial work and charter operations, these
are restricted to the period of 1 hour prior to first light.
OPERATIONS INCONTROLLEDAIRSPACE
Prior to a proposed flight in controlled airspace, a balloonoperator or pilot-in-
commandmust liaisewithATS as follows:
• contact ATC by telephoneor radio prior to inflating the balloon to advise
the planned launch site and likely directionor area of flight, and ascertain
the availability of anATC clearance; and
• call to obtain a clearance before becoming airborne.
Thepilotmustmaintain a continuous listeningwatchon the appropriate
frequency during flightwithin controlled airspace, and report flight progress
as required byATC. The pilotmust report changes in thedirectionof drift,
whichwill cause the balloon to diverge from its nominated track or area
of operations, as soon as possible, and, in any case, before the track error
exceeds one (1) nautical mile.
For operations in an area controlled airspacewithin radar coverage, a
serviceableSSR transpondermust be carried unlessATC has advised
otherwise.
In theevent of a radio failureor other emergency, the relevant proceduresas
listed inAIPmust be followed. Particular attentionshouldbegiven tonotifying
the terminationof aflightwhere radiocontact isnot able toconfirm this.