Fyi some insight from an active balloon op. .. hdx currently in idaho.. ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Steve Potter <spotter@superfreshgrowers.com> Date: Sun, Feb 19, 2023, 10:33 AM Subject: Re: Comment from Amateur Radio Community To: Mark J Tharp <kb7hdx@gmail.com>, Simpson, Monte, W7FF (SM, WWA) < w7ff@arrl.org> Cc: Ritz, Mike, W7VO, (Dir, NW) <w7vo@comcast.net>, Tharp, Mark KB7HDX (VD, NW) <mtharp@arrl.org> All of the launches that I have done that were high altitude ones that went 115k ft or so I filed a NOTAM with the FAA and called YKM tower if the flight path went over any normal flight paths. Legally I wasn't required to do anything since the payloads met the part 101 requirements set by the FAA but I felt it was still the responsible thing to do. The balloon that was shot down in the jet stream was most likely a pico balloon which ive flown before as well and those come in around 12-16 grams so way under what the FAA is concerned about and those I normally don't notify anyone about since it's the equivalent of a kid letting go of his birthday balloon. What I don't understand is there are 2 websites that are publicly available, one that is amateur balloons only and then another that is radiosondes and amateur balloons that everyone uses including the national weather service to monitor jet stream directions, speed at altitude, pressure, temp ect and NOAA uses that data (including amateur) for their high split modeling. It's something in my mind they should of been able to use to tell if this was a benign scientific balloon or if it was a threat. We operate 110% within the legal parameters and I fear without some media correction the administration is going to have some knee jerk reaction and kill the STEAM education and interest into this hobby and ham radio in general. High altitude balloon is what pushed me to get my license and I've gone on to be what I think is an asset to the community because of it. Let me know if you wanna go over any of it I'm more than willing to help in anyway I can. K7HAK Get Outlook for Android <https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg> ------------------------------ *From:* Mark J Tharp <kb7hdx@gmail.com> *Sent:* Sunday, February 19, 2023, 6:42 AM *To:* Simpson, Monte, W7FF (SM, WWA) <w7ff@arrl.org> *Cc:* Ritz, Mike, W7VO, (Dir, NW) <w7vo@comcast.net>; Tharp, Mark KB7HDX (VD, NW) <mtharp@arrl.org>; Steve Potter <spotter@superfreshgrowers.com> *Subject:* Re: Comment from Amateur Radio Community [External Sender] Steve, what if anything did you have to do with those you all flew? Any notifications to anyone? On Sat, Feb 18, 2023, 9:02 PM Simpson, Monte, W7FF (SM, WWA) <w7ff@arrl.org> wrote:
Mike, Mark,
The following comments are from Ray Orien, N7KPT, regarding a Popular Mechanics article in social media:
“*The Air Force May Have Actually Shot Down a Wholesome Ham Radio Balloon* ”
https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/a42952566/air-force-shoots-down-ho...
RAYMOND C ORIEN, N7KPT
16410 84th Street NE
Lake Stevens, WA 98258
ray.orien@gmail.com
“I wonder if the ARRL might want to chime in on the present situation? Perhaps they could reach out to work with the
F.A.A., FCC, ITU, and IARU to establish interim Ham Balloon “Flight plan/launch reporting requirements, maybe with
transponder / GPS “squak” requirements to lower ADIZ panic, save $ from unnecessary shoot downs.”
Balloon, tethered/untethered and rockets operations are regulated by FAA regulations 14 CFR Part 101:
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-F/part-101
I don’t see a nexus between the ARRL and balloons even if they are owned by amateur radio operators or contain amateur
radio equipment. What is your opinion on the subject?
Regards,
Monte