World record hot air balloon attempt reaches New Zealand
15 Jul 2016
Airways New Zealand confirms the hot air balloon carrying Russian adventurer Fedor Konyukhov on his world record attempt to circumnavigate the globe has entered New Zealand airspace.
The balloon was picked up by air traffic control shortly after 12pm, Airways Chief Operating Officer Pauline Lamb says. It is expected to travel around the tip of the North Island and out into the southern Pacific Ocean at altitudes of up to 26,000 feet.
“We’ve created a two-hour virtual bubble or ‘reservation area’ around the balloon. We will protect this with our normal airspace separation procedures which means all other aircraft will be directed to fly around the reservation area,” Ms Lamb says.
The balloon has the same surveillance and communications equipment on board that a normal aircraft would, including a transponder and satellite phone. Airways’ Oceanic Control Centre in Auckland is receiving updates on the balloon’s location every 10 minutes.
It is exciting for New Zealand to be part of this world record opportunity, Ms Lamb says.
“Since we learned the balloon was on its way, we’ve been working with our customers and the regulator to adjust our operations to facilitate this journey safely and minimise any potential disruption.”
Ms Lamb says high altitude ballooning is an emerging technology and Airways is working to support its development.
“Airways has facilitated a number of balloon launches, including the launch of Nasa's super-pressure scientific balloon in Wanaka in May, which we have gained a great deal of knowledge from.”
Ends
For further information please contact:
Emily Davies
Head of Public Affairs
Airways New Zealand
Email : communications@airways.co.nz
Mobile : +64 21 815 149
About the world record attempt
Fedor Konyukhov is attempting a solo flight around the world in a "Morton" Roziere balloon.
The mission took off from Northam in Western Australia on July 12.
The public can view the progress of the mission online at http://konyukhov.ru/en/index.html
About Airways New Zealand
Airways is a world-leading commercial Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP), and operates in New Zealand as a State-Owned Enterprise (SOE).
We look after key aviation infrastructure around New Zealand and manage the more than 1 million traffic movements per year into and around New Zealand’s 30 million sq km of airspace.
Airways provides air traffic control and engineering training, and has delivered air traffic management, Flightyield revenue management solutions, navigation services and consultancy in more than 65 countries.
For more information about Airways please visit www.airways.co.nz