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AA5B pilot reported encountering a large number of balloons in flight that had been released in the vicinity of his destination; pym.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1285893 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201508 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601-1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | PYM.Airport |
| State Reference | MA |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Cheetah Tiger Traveler AA5 Series |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Initial Approach |
| Route In Use | Direct |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Single Pilot Pilot Flying |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Private Flight Crew Instrument |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20 Flight Crew Total 2300 Flight Crew Type 1800 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Inflight Event / Encounter Other / Unknown |
Narrative:
While approaching and preparing to enter the traffic pattern at pym and about four or five miles from the field; we encountered numerous (estimated about fifty) helium filled balloons launched from the ground. We were at about 1200 feet MSL; and had little or no time for evasive action. I believe that these balloons were launched from the ground to celebrate the beginning of the [a] bicycle race. Fortunately; no balloons struck the aircraft. We reported the incident on the unicom frequency to warn other aircraft. There was no NOTAM for the event that took place in the vicinity of the airport (lakeville; ma). Suggest these types of events deserve either a NOTAM or should be prohibited at distance close to an airport.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AA5B pilot reported encountering a large number of balloons in flight that had been released in the vicinity of his destination; PYM.
Narrative: While approaching and preparing to enter the traffic pattern at PYM and about four or five miles from the field; we encountered numerous (estimated about fifty) helium filled balloons launched from the ground. We were at about 1200 feet MSL; and had little or no time for evasive action. I believe that these balloons were launched from the ground to celebrate the beginning of the [a] bicycle race. Fortunately; no balloons struck the aircraft. We reported the incident on the UNICOM frequency to warn other aircraft. There was no NOTAM for the event that took place in the vicinity of the airport (Lakeville; MA). Suggest these types of events deserve either a NOTAM or should be prohibited at distance close to an airport.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.