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L. c. Elliott
AIR COORDINATING COMMITTEE
FORT WOR'IH REGIONAL AIRSPACE SUBCOMMITTEE
P. 0. BOX 1689
FORT WORm 1_ mxAS
September 2, 1947
C1-tairman, Ft. Worth Regional Airspace Subcommittee
Lt. Col. Hall F. Smith, War Dept. Member, Ft. Worth
Regional Airspace Subcommittee
Secretary, Ft. Worth Regional Airspace Subcommittee
Procedure for Release of Free Balloons in the White Sands Danger
Area
'!he writer mt with Mr. James R. Smith of New York University and Lt. V. D.
Thompson of Alamogordo A.AF, at El Paso, Texa~ on .August 27 to discuss procedures
to be followed during the descent of free balloons released within the White Sands
Danger Area.
Mr. Smith advised that he had met with the Comma~~ing Officer at Biggs Field who
had stated he desired no further coordination other than what the Civil Aeronautics
Administration might require and that he would write a letter to Mr. Smith to this
effect. Mr. Smith will forward this to the Chairman o£ the Subcommittee for the
record.
Mr. Smith outlined their progr~, which consists for the most part of testing
various types of balloons. Their program ~~ll probably be of 5 flights per month
for the next 6 months, the first flight to be released on Sept. 6• weather per-
mitting. Weather minimums were agreed on as not more than 4llo of the sky covered
or forecasted to be covered within the expected descent area (60 mile radius).
Balloons are tracked by VHF DF stations at Alamogordo and Roswell for the present
plus an aircraft. When the balloon descends to 20-000 feet, it not in the clear,
positions will be given every hour or so and will be put out as notams on Schedule
"A" from the Roswell AAF. '!his will serve to advise the Army Fields, the airlines,
and some itinerant traffic. In any case if the balloon is outside the assigned
danger area, notams will be issued when the balloons descend below 15,000 feet.
The balloons are for the most part 15 feet in diamet~r and plastic. Suspended
from the balloon is a 100 foot one thousand pound test nylon line which carries
the airborne equipment. Releases are usually made at dawn and· the flight terminates
in an average o£ 8 hours time; it may be fran 6 to 12 hours duration.
It is believed the notam procedure will serve to advise pilots o£ this. activity
effectively enough to provide the desired amount of caution. It is understood
(45)