# Will I get in trouble for launching my own weather balloon?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-i-get-in-trouble-for-launching-my-own-weather-balloon/76083>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 13, 2001, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-i-get-in-trouble-for-launching-my-own-weather-balloon/76083 "2001-08-13T18:51:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-i-get-in-trouble-for-launching-my-own-weather-balloon/76083/1 "2001-08-13T18:51:48Z")

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I noticed big 12’ weather balloons for sale on e-bay for a rather cheap price. I have always wanted to buy one of these things and launch it with a little basket attached and some strange alien memorabalia included for the farmer that eventually finds it. Is it legal to send one of these babies up? I live in the Boston area.

Thank you for your support.

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**Author:** ![pluto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f08c70/32.png) [@pluto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pluto)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-i-get-in-trouble-for-launching-my-own-weather-balloon/76083/2 "2001-08-13T19:09:47Z")

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Not if you get approval from the FAA.

Their job is to keep the airspace clear, or at least to know where everything is. And it’s for safety, not government oppression, so we really should cooperate.

I think the regulations are for things above a certain height (a couple of thousand feet or so, less near airports, etc.) If your weather balloon is likely to go higher you should talk to them. They will be able to tell you what you should do to launch your balloon safely. There will undoubtedly be more red tape than you can imagine, they may tell you where and when you can, etc., but go along with them. Airlines everywhere will thank you.

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**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-i-get-in-trouble-for-launching-my-own-weather-balloon/76083/3 "2001-08-14T00:46:27Z")

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I need help. I plan to launch this thing and I need to know if I need to have a bail bondsman on standbye. I am a student pilot and I understand everthing there is to know about airspace around the Boston area. I can travel to New Hampshire, Vermont, or Maine t launch it if need be. My pilot’s manuals do not say anything about unmanned craft.

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**Author:** ![Perderabo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Perderabo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perderabo)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-i-get-in-trouble-for-launching-my-own-weather-balloon/76083/4 "2001-08-14T16:22:46Z")

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Hmmm…I this that [this](http://www.faa.gov/atpubs/FAC/Ch18/s1806.2.html) says that you will need [something like this](http://www.faa.gov/NTAP/NTAP10419/NE01002.htm), but you you may want to spend something at [http://www.faa.gov](http://www.faa.gov) yourself.

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**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-i-get-in-trouble-for-launching-my-own-weather-balloon/76083/5 "2001-08-14T17:10:31Z")

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Thanks Perderabo! That is the type of infomation that I was looking for.