Balloon events and activities

Captive balloon flying in UK airspace is subject to the requirements of Article 92 of the Air Navigation Order (ANO) 2016 (as amended) and the CAA policy for operation of tethered balloons in UK airspace.

In accordance with ANO Article 92, CAA Airspace Regulation issues permissions for captive balloon flights where the top of the balloon will exceed 60 metres (above ground level). Within an Aerodrome Traffic Zone, CAA (or Air Traffic Control/Aerodrome operator) permission is required at any height. The ANO defines a captive balloon as "a balloon which when in flight is attached by a restraining device to the surface". All applications for permission should be submitted using the notification form.

If it is a recurring event/activity, please quote the previous CAA activity reference number (if known) when completing the notification form.

We request a minimum of 28 days' notice. During periods of high workload, we may be unable to process notifications made with less than the stated minimum notice.

After you submit the notification form, you will receive an automated email confirmation that the details have been received.

In addition to the ANO, the following legislation applies to captive/tethered balloons:

• Civil Aviation (Aerial Advertising) Regulations 1995
• Control of Advertisements Regulations.
  These apply to all captive/tethered balloons displaying advertising and flying at or below 60 metres (above ground level). Please refer to the relevant link for further details: The Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007, The Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (Scotland) Regulations 1984, Welsh Government planning policy and guidance: advertisements, The Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015
  These Regulations are totally separate from the ANO and it is Local Planning Authorities, not the CAA, that have responsibility for them. We do not have the legal power to issue permissions or exemptions from these Regulations.

For some events/activities of this type, we issue Notice to Aviation (NOTAM) to notify other airspace users. NOTAM are notices containing information concerning the establishment, condition or change in any aeronautical facility, service, procedure or hazard, the timely knowledge of which is essential to personnel concerned with flight operations. Further details of the NOTAM system are in the UK Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) section GEN 3.1 (available on the NATS Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) website) and in the UK NOTAM Guidance Material.

Hot air balloons are regulated by our General Aviation Unit. Please refer to their guidance for balloon operators.

CAA Airspace Regulation will usually only be involved in the co-ordination and notification of events that have mass "flyouts" of balloons. For those types of event, please complete and submit the notification form.

If it is a recurring event/activity, please quote the previous CAA activity reference number (if known) when completing the notification form.

We request a minimum of 28 days' notice. During periods of high workload, we may be unable to process notifications made with less than the stated minimum notice.

Event organisers should co-ordinate directly with ATC Units, aerodromes or other sites of aviation activity, as necessary. Details of any co-ordination that has taken place should be stated in the notification form.

After you submit the notification form, you will receive an automated email confirmation that the details have been received.

We will usually issue Notice to Aviation (NOTAM) for this type of event/activity.

High altitude unmanned balloon activities are defined as “unmanned free balloons”, the regulations for which are within the Standardised European Rules of the Air Regulation (EU) No. 923/2012 as retained (and amended in UK domestic law) under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. One of the requirements is that “the State from which the launch is made” must authorise all unmanned free balloons. Therefore, an organiser/operator needs to obtain CAA Airspace Regulation exemption/permission for any such launches in the UK, regardless of the balloon/payload size and weight. All applications should be submitted using the notification form.

If it is a recurring event/activity, please quote the previous CAA activity reference number (if known) when completing the notification form.

We request a minimum of 28 days' notice. During periods of high workload, we may be unable to process notifications made with less than the stated minimum notice.

As this type of activity is very weather-dependent, applicants are encouraged to specify a “window” of at least one week in their notification, to give them more flexibility in selecting a suitable launch day/time. In most cases, it is possible for an exemption/permission to be valid for the duration of the launch "window", with the organiser/operator then giving advance notice (usually a minimum of 72 hours) to the CAA of their proposed launch date/time, so that Notice to Aviation (NOTAM) action can be taken to forewarn other airspace users.

After you submit the notification form, you will receive an automated email confirmation that the details have been received.

Locations of known permanent high altitude unmanned balloon launch sites are detailed in the UK AIP section ENR 5.3 (available on the NATS AIS website). Proposed additions or changes to the UK AIP list of sites should follow the process detailed in CAP 1618: Airspace Design: Unusual aerial activities published in the UK AIP.

For proposed launches of “rockoons” (high altitude unmanned balloon and rocket combination), please initially contact Airspace Regulation for advice and guidance.

Guidance on releases of helium-filled small (toy) balloons can be found in CAP 736: Operation of Directed Light, Fireworks, Toy Balloons and Sky Lanterns within UK Airspace.

The release of small balloons in UK airspace is subject to the requirements of Article 93 of the ANO 2016 (as amended). Outwith the legal requirements, CAA Airspace Regulation may consider it necessary to impose restrictions in order to ensure flight safety, particularly for mass releases within 10 nautical miles of an active aerodrome. All applications should be submitted using the notification form.

If it is a recurring event/activity, please quote the previous CAA activity reference number (if known) when completing the notification form.

We request a minimum of 28 days' notice. During periods of high workload, we may be unable to process notifications made with less than the stated minimum notice.

After you submit the notification form, you will receive an automated email confirmation that the details have been received.

We may issue Notice to Aviation (NOTAM) for this type of event/activity.