How to register and insure your weather balloon in the Czech Republic!

To register your weather balloon mission in the Czech Republic, two things are important: you need a launch permit and weather balloon insurance. We explain here how to obtain the launch permit for your weather balloon in the Czech Republic and where to apply for insurance for your weather balloon in the Czech Republic:

How to register your weather balloon in the Czech Republic!

The authority responsible for the launch permit is the Czech Civil Aviation Authority ÚCL (Úřad pro civilní letectví) in Prague. A stratospheric balloon carrying a payload (e.g. camera, GPS tracker, radiosonde) is considered an unmanned free balloon with a payload in the Czech Republic and therefore always requires a permit from the ÚCL. The relevant regulation here is the Czech regulation L 2, Appendix 5 (“Unmanned Free Balloons Carrying a Payload”), which contains the classification, the general operating rules, the operational limitations and equipment requirements, as well as the requirements for notification of the flight. Read this regulation carefully before the launch.

Allow plenty of lead time: the application must be received by the authority at least 30 days before the launch date. You can find the application form on the ÚCL website in the section Formuláře sekce letové.

In addition, you must announce the launch as a navigation warning at least 24 hours in advance. Important: you do not issue the NOTAM yourself. Instead, you submit the required information or material for the publication of a navigation warning – the NOTAM is then published via the Czech aeronautical information service (Letecká informační služba) / the International NOTAM Office. The currently preferred method for submitting the material is the AisView system, operated by ŘLP ČR (the Czech air navigation services). Note that this procedure is separate from the ÚCL permit application.

Submitting a navigation warning (NOTAM) – step by step

You do not issue the NOTAM yourself. You only submit the material for the navigation warning; the NOTAM is then published by the International NOTAM Office (NOF), which is part of the Czech aeronautical information service. The preferred route is through the AisView system. Here is how to proceed:

– Create an account: Register once in the AisView system at aisview.rlp.cz. Registration is mandatory for submitting NOTAM material.
– Wait for approval: Your registration will be processed by the staff of the aeronautical information service (LIS) within two working days. Allow for this time in addition to your other deadlines.
– Log in and complete the application: Once approved, log in and open the form for the NOTAM draft (navigation warning). Enter the flight details there: launch location with coordinates, date and time, altitude range, type of operation (unmanned free balloon with a payload), as well as your contact and operator details.
– Meet the deadline: Submit the material so that the navigation warning can be published at least 24 hours before the launch. Take the processing time into account.

Note that this procedure is separate from the ÚCL permit application. For questions about the system, the address view.ais@ans.cz can help.

Further practical notes

Beyond the formal procedures, the following points have proven useful in practice:
– Inform airports in the vicinity: Inform airports near your launch site about the planned balloon launch. This is an important practical safety measure, even though it is separate from the formal ÚCL and NOTAM procedures.
– Landowner’s consent: Before the launch, obtain the landowner’s consent to use the site as a launch location, and make sure you have the necessary permission for the launch site.
– Cross-border airspace: With a stratospheric balloon, the flight path can extend beyond national borders. Therefore, before the launch, also check the applicable requirements of the countries whose airspace the balloon may enter.

Note on classification

The B3 classification is based on the characteristics or size of the free balloon. However, the Czech regulations additionally distinguish balloons according to the type and mass of their payload. For a typical stratospheric balloon carrying a camera, GPS tracker, radiosonde or other equipment, the relevant requirements therefore depend not only on the balloon itself but also on the payload and the planned operation.

For further questions, please contact the authority directly; for detailed questions about the equipment, we are also happy to help:

Úřad pro civilní letectví (ÚCL)
K letišti 1149/23
161 00 Praha 6
Czech Republic

E-mail: podatelna@caa.gov.cz
Website: caa.gov.cz
Tel.: (+420) 225 421 111
Tel. (Unmanned Systems Department): (+420) 225 421 232

How to insure your weather balloon in the Czech Republic!

To apply for the launch permit for your weather balloon in the Czech Republic, you need an aviation third-party liability insurance so that personal injury and property damage are covered. You can obtain weather balloon insurance for the Czech Republic through the following tool: AXA weather balloon insurance.

Note/Caution: Stratoflights expressly points out that no guarantee or liability is assumed for the accuracy, timeliness, or completeness of any of the data and information available on our websites, and that information about the legal situation must in every case be obtained independently from the relevant authorities.