The Arbonet group is focused on safety as number one. Flights will not take place on marginal days, and all efforts to assure flight safety must be met before a lauch takes place.
Criteria for launch:
Favorable surface winds:
Winds that are strong at the surface risk a fouled launch and recovery. The launch ground crew and recovery crew will assess the conditions for the ability to safely launch and recover the payload.
Favorable winds aloft:
Winds at altitude can reach over 100MPH, and on fair days often pass 60-70MPH. This can make a recovery trip excessively long, and not fun for the chase team. Arbonet preparation and launch crews will assess winds aloft and chase and tracking teams will determine to launch or not launch.
Wind Direction:
Winds that could carry the payload into high-traffic areas (Class B, C or D airspace) will automatically postpone the launch. Since an equipment failure such as the position reporting systems or an envelope burst could happen at any time, operation with a remote chance of placing the balloon and payload in these areas will postpone the flight until favorable conditions exist.
Visibility:
Present or forecast visibility of less than 10 miles will automtically postpone a launch. Arbonet operates only in pristine VFR (Visual Flight Rules) conditions. Unfavorable conditions will automatically postpone the flight until favorable conditions exist.
Tracking:
Arbonet flights will have at least two systems reporting position and altitude. These systems will be monitored and data communicated to Air Traffic Control. Many thanks to Ron Blair of Forth Worth Center (air traffic control for the Dallas / Ft Worth and surrounding areas) for helping us build a great relationship with Fort Worth Center. With his help, we will have established needed communcations to Air Traffic Control to safely use the airspace on Arbonet launch days!
Radar Reflectors:
All flights will have radar reflectors. Since both ATC and larger commercial and private aircraft have radar capabilities, these reflectors can greatly aid in both ground and air based tracking and collision avoidance. Radar reflectors are currently being designed for Arbonet II and we hope to verify the effectiveness with ATC on the next launch. Initial indications are that the use of digital radar - or transponder based position systems will not make the use of radar reflectors viable for ATC, but can still be a valuable aid for aircraft.
Use of Flameable Gasses:
Arbonet will only use Helium Gas at this time. Use of Hydrogen, with its' more bouyant lifting power is extremely dangerous unless handled by qualified personnel. We have no such personnel in Arbonet at this time.
Chase Team Safety:
The chase team will obey all traffic rules and drive in the best interest of the public at all times. Priority #1 is safe driving, with little or no priority on the chase or communications. Off-road, chase team members must stay in groups, at least a two-man buddy system.
Chase Plane Operations:
The chase plane, if used, will follow all safety rules for VFR operations and operations close to the ground. The pilots' only priority will be to fly the plane safely. Balloon spotting and equipment operations used for balloon communications and tracking will be attended by secondary personnel aboard the aircraft.
