Evaluation of Obstruction Lights on a Balloon

Jim Patterson, Sean Van Dongen, Darian Byrd, and Garrison Canter of the FAA Airport Technology Research and Development Branch (ATR) evaluated the marking and lighting configurations on a Tethered Balloon System (TBS) in Chestertown, Maryland, on February 18-19, 2025. The TBS is operated by Sandia Laboratories, a government-owned laboratory, working with the Department of Energy (DOE). ATR was enlisted to ensure that the TBS was conspicuous enough that an aircraft in flight could detect the balloon and its tether if it were on a collision course with either. The TBS was raised three times with different marking and lighting configurations based on ATR recommendations. The team decided that the TBS was marked and lit sufficiently on the third iteration.

Jim Patterson | jim.patterson@faa.gov