Wind turbines, solar panels making hot air balloon flights complicated
The growing presence of windmills, solar panel fields, drone training zones, and Natura 2000 protected areas is making hot air ballooning increasingly difficult in the Netherlands, NOS reports.
“We think that is a shame, of course, but it is simply the changes in the landscape,” Frank de Goede, director of GreetZZ Balloon Flights, told NOS. “We hardly had to deal with that ten years ago.”
No official data exists on the number of obstacles, De Goede said. “It is what we observe in practice.” Solar parks are not included on aviation maps, though windmills and drone training areas are. “So, of course, we include that information in the flight planning.” As a result, large parts of North Holland and the Flevopolder have become unsuitable for ballooning.
Climate change is also complicating ballooning. According to the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI), higher temperatures, more erratic wind patterns, and heavy showers increase risks and cause more frequent flight cancellations. The KNMI shared these concerns last week in a message to the ballooning sector, as cited by NOS.
Despite these challenges, hot air ballooning has rebounded strongly since COVID-19 restrictions ended. In 2015, there were about 4,500 balloon flights per year. During the pandemic, flights dropped to zero, but last year, the number rose to 8,000. Additionally, the average number of passengers per flight has doubled, from four to eight over the past decade.
“We now estimate the number of passengers annually at over 60,000,” Monique Hoogeslag told NOS on behalf of the Royal Dutch Aviation Association’s ballooning department. The sector includes about 100 balloon companies, with 10 large operators and 90 smaller ones mostly active regionally.
“People used to take balloon rides for milestone occasions like turning 50 or 25 years at a company. Now, younger adults increasingly see it as a must-do experience. The impact of COVID-19 on people’s outlook has made them more eager to seize such opportunities,” Hoogeslag said.
Weather in April and May plays a big role in ballooning success, said Hoogeslag, who has been a pilot for 35 years and owns Wilco Air. “Good spring weather usually means a good summer. When we see balloons in the sky, our phones light up,” he told NOS.
However, farmers and gardeners do not always welcome the growing popularity of ballooning. Some become angry when balloons fly over their land uninvited. The noise from gas burners can scare livestock like cows, sheep, or ponies, causing them to panic and scatter. Balloon landings can also damage crops.
Agricultural group LTO Nederland has tried to reach agreements with commercial balloon operators. According to a 2012 report in trade journal Nieuwe Oogst, LTO has held several talks with balloonists but has never agreed on what constitutes fair compensation for damage or trespassing on farmers’ or gardeners’ land.
