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August 2, 2009 8:48 PM Subscribe
Is it illegal to release party (latex or mylar) balloons into the sky? Have planes or other craft been damaged by such balloons in-flight? Other than environmental and ecological damage, what are the hazards of releasing a balloon?
Best answer: I had a friend, awhile ago, who received a rather large bill from an electric utility when a Mylar balloon that flew into a substation and did a lot of shorting-out of equipment was traced to him.
posted by Danf at 9:03 PM on August 2, 2009
posted by Danf at 9:03 PM on August 2, 2009
Mass release of balloons is illegal in many states in the US, and for good reason. Releasing a single balloon - while I know of no laws against it - is just like throwing a plastic bag out of a window.
These pose a real hazard to animals. Strings, pieces, and whole balloons can be eaten by, entangle, or otherwise harm many animals, particularly sea life and birds. Balloon scraps are one of the most common causes of sea turtle deaths, as the turtles eat the balloons thinking they are jelly fish (same as with plastic bags). Sea turtles have even been shown to prefer the bright colors of balloons to their natural food, and will eat them first! Fish will also eat them, as will large sea mammals (seals, dolphins, toothed whales, etc), and can become very ill or even die from intestinal blockages. Birds become entangled in the strings, like fishing line, and cannot free themselves and will sometimes cut off wings, feet, or even strangle themselves.
I've personally seen sea birds, river birds, fish, and turtles dead from encounters with balloons or their strings. There have been many cases of toothed whales which have been stranded or found dead that had Mylar balloons in their intestines or stomachs. One of the most horrific deaths of a turtle I've ever seen was a sea turtle that ate balloons until its stomach was blocked entirely, and starved to death, unable to keep any food down.
posted by strixus at 9:04 PM on August 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
These pose a real hazard to animals. Strings, pieces, and whole balloons can be eaten by, entangle, or otherwise harm many animals, particularly sea life and birds. Balloon scraps are one of the most common causes of sea turtle deaths, as the turtles eat the balloons thinking they are jelly fish (same as with plastic bags). Sea turtles have even been shown to prefer the bright colors of balloons to their natural food, and will eat them first! Fish will also eat them, as will large sea mammals (seals, dolphins, toothed whales, etc), and can become very ill or even die from intestinal blockages. Birds become entangled in the strings, like fishing line, and cannot free themselves and will sometimes cut off wings, feet, or even strangle themselves.
I've personally seen sea birds, river birds, fish, and turtles dead from encounters with balloons or their strings. There have been many cases of toothed whales which have been stranded or found dead that had Mylar balloons in their intestines or stomachs. One of the most horrific deaths of a turtle I've ever seen was a sea turtle that ate balloons until its stomach was blocked entirely, and starved to death, unable to keep any food down.
posted by strixus at 9:04 PM on August 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
There's probably a business near you who organizes mass balloon releases who you could interview regarding the legalities in your area.
With regards to environmental issues (which may affect legality) latex is a natural biodegradable substance while mylar is a polymer that will stick around almost forever. I've heard (from someone whose business was mass balloon releases, so perhaps not a neutral source) that a latex balloon degrades at about the same rate as an oak leaf.
posted by winston at 9:08 PM on August 2, 2009
With regards to environmental issues (which may affect legality) latex is a natural biodegradable substance while mylar is a polymer that will stick around almost forever. I've heard (from someone whose business was mass balloon releases, so perhaps not a neutral source) that a latex balloon degrades at about the same rate as an oak leaf.
posted by winston at 9:08 PM on August 2, 2009
Is it illegal to release party (latex or mylar) balloons into the sky?
I'm sure there is some piddling subsection of some law somewhere that mentions this, but generally, no.
Have planes or other craft been damaged by such balloons in-flight?
No. They are just balloons. Would you expect otherwise?
Further, helium filled balloons rise in altitude until the low pressure causes them to burst. This is usually around 2,000 meters (about 6,500 feet) for your average party balloon, well below cruising altitude for most aircraft.
As for the environmental impact. At least a few sources fret over such impact (which really amounts to litter) but evidence of actual damage is scarce.
Latex does break down when exposed to UV. Mylar on the other hand is a much more hardy substance.
posted by wfrgms at 9:14 PM on August 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
I'm sure there is some piddling subsection of some law somewhere that mentions this, but generally, no.
Have planes or other craft been damaged by such balloons in-flight?
No. They are just balloons. Would you expect otherwise?
Further, helium filled balloons rise in altitude until the low pressure causes them to burst. This is usually around 2,000 meters (about 6,500 feet) for your average party balloon, well below cruising altitude for most aircraft.
As for the environmental impact. At least a few sources fret over such impact (which really amounts to litter) but evidence of actual damage is scarce.
Latex does break down when exposed to UV. Mylar on the other hand is a much more hardy substance.
posted by wfrgms at 9:14 PM on August 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I'd like to step in and say that I'm not asking for IMOs, but fact. Also, to be absolutely clear, I'm already aware of and do not need lectures about the environmental and ecological issues but that I am curious about other hazards I'm not aware about. Thanks!
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 9:21 PM on August 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 9:21 PM on August 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
Best answer: In Australia, the release of Balloons is regulated by CAR101. Normally CARs line up with American FARs, but you can check that out.
Regulations are always confusing to read, but in my opinion, in accordance with CAR101.155 you don't need to obtain permission or notify anyone if you a releasing less than 100 small (i.e. standard party size) balloons at one time.
The environmental issues are obviously separate.
posted by trialex at 9:32 PM on August 2, 2009
Regulations are always confusing to read, but in my opinion, in accordance with CAR101.155 you don't need to obtain permission or notify anyone if you a releasing less than 100 small (i.e. standard party size) balloons at one time.
The environmental issues are obviously separate.
posted by trialex at 9:32 PM on August 2, 2009
And re: planes, there's a few tidbits on this page specifically:
posted by Rhomboid at 10:01 PM on August 2, 2009
Research shows that after latex balloons are launched, they often rise to an altitude of about 5 miles, where they freeze, breaking into tiny pieces that scatter as they return to earth. While we do know that animals occasionally eat these soft slivers of rubber, the evidence indicates the pieces ultimately will pass though the animals digestive system without harming the animal.5 miles is 26,400 feet which is significantly lower than a typical airline cruise altitude, so I find it hard to believe that they could do any damage there, especially since jets must be equipped to deal with much worse from the bird strike department.
posted by Rhomboid at 10:01 PM on August 2, 2009
Way back when I was a boy, our scout group used to construct hot air balloons out of lightweight plastic bags which were initially filled with hot air from a hair dryer and released with a small burner suspended underneath to give a longer flight time.
This stopped after someone mistook a descending balloon for a crashing light aircraft and called the emergancy services, who turned out a full incident response team.
posted by pharm at 1:35 AM on August 3, 2009
This stopped after someone mistook a descending balloon for a crashing light aircraft and called the emergancy services, who turned out a full incident response team.
posted by pharm at 1:35 AM on August 3, 2009
In this CNN article it says that "The kids were given balloons and told by writing messages on them, they would be able to talk to their parents since "they were angels."" It doesn't say if the balloons were released into the sky but I'm presuming so. It would be a fitting and very visible way for children to send messages to their dead parents. I am sure that no cop is going to write them a ticket for this.
posted by Sully at 3:08 AM on August 3, 2009
posted by Sully at 3:08 AM on August 3, 2009
When I was in grade school (in the early 80s) the school would give us cards, on which we would write our names and had printed the school's address and a note asking whoever finds the note to contact the school. These notes were all tied to balloons.
The balloons were released en masse by the entire school, so perhaps 400 or 500, maybe more, all at once (it was a fairly good sized school grades 1 through 4). Then there would be a large map posted on the wall and pins added for the location of every balloon found. The person who's balloon made it farthest from the school won a prize.
This WAS over 20 years ago so perhaps laws have changed, but I'm pretty sure the school wouldn't break a law regarding this.
posted by arniec at 6:37 AM on August 3, 2009
The balloons were released en masse by the entire school, so perhaps 400 or 500, maybe more, all at once (it was a fairly good sized school grades 1 through 4). Then there would be a large map posted on the wall and pins added for the location of every balloon found. The person who's balloon made it farthest from the school won a prize.
This WAS over 20 years ago so perhaps laws have changed, but I'm pretty sure the school wouldn't break a law regarding this.
posted by arniec at 6:37 AM on August 3, 2009
Personal anecdote: For my son's birthday a few months ago I had some big mylar balloons shipped to me. They're fairly rare here so all the kids were impressed. At the end of the party, I let some of them take balloons home with them to their favela-y neighborhood. I found out two days later that one of them (a cow) had escaped on the way home. It hit the power lines and exploded, creating a power outage to the whole neighborhood for two hours. Some appliances were fried and, according to one friend (who has a tendency to exaggerate), everyone was cursing "the Americans" and their balloons. Thankfully the power company was responsible for the damages.
posted by wallaby at 9:38 AM on August 3, 2009
posted by wallaby at 9:38 AM on August 3, 2009
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posted by lottie at 8:57 PM on August 2, 2009