As a direct result of pressure from AOPA, the FAA has lowered the altitude of a moored balloon experiment and raised the safety level for pilots operating in the Lancaster, Pa., area.

AOPA sent a scathing letter to the FAA just before New Years over a Millersville University experiment that involved a moored balloon at 3,600' MSL, above the minimum obstacle clearance altitude (MOCA) for several Victor airways in that area. Notice of the experiment was published only 10 days before the experiment was set to begin, and the public comment period didn't end until after the experiment was scheduled to be complete.

A new NOTAM issued Thursday lowers the balloon's permitted altitude to 2,600' MSL, and raises the MOCA and minimum en route altitudes (MEAs) for those airways to 3,700' MSL.

"Even though we asked that this study be halted immediately, we believe the safety issues have been adequately addressed," said Heidi Williams, AOPA manager of air traffic. "But we hope that in the future, the FAA will pay closer attention to these kinds of safety details, and will do a better job of notifying pilots and allowing for public comment."

Text Of AOPA Letter To FAA

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), representing over 400,000 general aviation pilots, is opposed to the proposal by Millersville University, Department of Earth Science plan for a January 2, 2004 launch of a moored balloon to an altitude of 3,600 msl for atmospheric studies. AOPA bases this opposition on potential safety impacts and a lack of advanced notice to pilots.

The altitudes of the lit moored balloon as proposed in the study conflict with the 2,600ft MSL Minimum Obstruction Clearance Altitude (MOCA) for V93 and V457. In an emergency descent from the 4,500ft MSL Minimum En-Route Instrument Altitude (MEA) to the MOCA altitude, the moored balloon creates a serious collision hazard. In addition, the moored balloon would conflict with the MEA for V469 currently at 3,000ft MSL. Clearly, there are safety issues that must be addressed before the moored balloon study commences.

AOPA is also very concerned with the lack of advanced notification of the atmospheric studies. Additional time is necessary for users to adequately comment on the associated impacts created by the moored balloon before a study can commence. Receiving comments after-the-fact does not solve safety issues created by the moored balloon and will result in compromising the safety of many pilots transiting the airspace.

We request that the FAA take immediate action to prohibit the use of the National Airspace for the upcoming atmospheric studies until the safety issues can be resolved.

Sincerely,

Brent Hart, Government Analyst

FMI: www.aopa.org