This aeronautical information circular presents flight rules for light unmanned balloons, used for meteorological purposes approved by of the Director of the Transport Competence Agency Order No. 2-183 of 7 July 2020.
FLIGHT RULES FOR LIGHT UNMANNED BALLOONS, USED FOR METEOROLOGICAL PURPOSES
CHAPTER I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
1. The flight rules for light unmanned balloons, used for meteorological purposes (hereinafter referred to as the Rules) establish the requirements applicable to flights of light unmanned balloons, used for meteorological purposes (hereinafter referred to as unmanned balloons), requirements pertaining to the notification of air traffic service provider about the flight of unmanned balloon within the airspace of the Republic of Lithuania, issuance of permit for the flight of unmanned balloon by the air traffic service provider.
The purpose of these Rules is to ensure the safety of the flights and the operator of unmanned balloon is responsible for following other requirements applicable to such flights or the equipment used as well as acquisition of the permits, which have been deemed necessary by other institutions or states, including the requirements pertaining to the protection of personal data and ensuring the safety of the state
2. The flights of unmanned balloons within the territory of the Republic of Lithuania are executed following the requirements established under these Rules as well as the conditions established under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No. 923/2012 of 26 September 2012, laying down the common rules of the air and operational provisions regarding services and procedures in air navigation including the last amendments to it made on 12 May 2017 by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No. 2017/835.
3. The requirements of these Rules shall be applicable to operators, launching unmanned balloons within the airspace of the Republic of Lithuania, also to the operators, the unmanned balloon of which shall enter the airspace of the Republic of Lithuania from that of another state, as well as to the air traffic service provider.
4. The concepts used under these Rules:
4.1. Extreme situation – a condition which is caused by natural, technical, ecological, social reasons or war actions and evokes sudden as well as immense danger to the lives of human beings or their health, property, environment or causes death, injury or material losses.
4.2. Other concepts used in the Rules shall be perceived as defined under Regulation (EU) No. 923/2012 and the Law on Aviation of the Republic of Lithuania.
CHAPTER II
REQUIREMENTS FOR UNMANNED BALLOON FLIGHTS
5. The operator intending to launch an unmanned balloon shall be liable to notify the air traffic service provider about it following the procedure established under Chapter III of these Rules and to acquire a permit from the air traffic service provider.
6. A permit from the air traffic service provider shall be necessary in the following cases of launching an unmanned balloon:
6.1. Single launch, when the launch is planned in advance.
6.2. Multiple launch, when the launches are planned to be executed following schedule known in advance and the exact days and hours are known.
6.3. Multiple launch, when the exact days and hours are not known.
6.4. Launches unplanned in advance, under extreme circumstances, when the meteorological data must be obtained as soon as possible.
7. Unmanned balloon flights shall be forbidden:
7.1. in forbidden, restricted, danger areas, without having obtained a permit from authorised institutions;
7.2. without notification of air traffic service provider and acquisition of a permit, as it is established under Chapter III of these Rules.
CHAPTER III
NOTIFICATION OF AIR TRAFFIC SERVICE PROVIDER AND ACQUISITION OF A PERMIT FOR LAUNCHING UNMANNED BALLOON
8. An operator intending to launch an unmanned balloon shall be liable to provide the air traffic service provider with a notification completed in accordance with the form, established under Annex to these Rules (hereinafter referred to as the application), in accordance with the information provided under Item 16 of these Rules, within 7 working days before the day of the planned flight, in the following cases
8.1. when unmanned balloon is launched within the territory of the Republic of Lithuania and the flight shall be executed within the airspace of the Republic of Lithuania exclusively;
8.2. when unmanned balloon is launched within the territory of the Republic of Lithuania and shall leave the airspace of the Republic of Lithuania for the airspace of another state;
8.3. when the unmanned balloon is launched within the territory of another state, but shall enter the airspace of the Republic of Lithuania.
9. The air traffic service provider shall evaluate the received information about the planned launch of the unmanned balloon as well as possible influence of the flight of the respectful unmanned balloon upon the flight safety of other aircraft.
10. Within 5 working days after the reception of the application the air traffic service provider shall notify the operator using the provided contact data about the decision made, by completing Chapter 3 of the application. The following shall be stated under the application
10.1. that the advance unmanned balloon launch conditions are acceptable and the telephone number of authorised representative of the air traffic provider shall be indicated, which must be used for contacting and obtaining a permit to launch unmanned balloon, as it is established under Item 12 of these Rules; or
10.2. that the advance unmanned balloon launch conditions are unacceptable, the unmanned balloon launch is not possible, the reasonable grounds for such decision shall also be provided.
11. An advance coordination of unmanned balloon launch conditions with air traffic service provider does not guarantee that in the course of the launch, taking into consideration the air traffic situation and meteorological conditions, the air traffic service provider shall grant a permit to launch the unmanned balloon.
12. Before launching the unmanned balloon the operator shall contact the air traffic service provider within 30 minutes before the launch in order to obtain a permit to launch the unmanned balloon.
13. In case of extreme situation, when the unmanned balloon must be launched immediately, the operator of the unmanned balloon shall contact Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre. The representative of Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre shall provide the operator of unmanned balloon with a telephone number that should be used for contacting in order to receive a permit for launching unmanned balloon indicated under Item 12 of these Rules.
14. After obtaining the permission to launch unmanned balloon from the air traffic service provider, the operator shall be liable to notify the authorised representative of the air traffic service provider additionally by telephone:
14.1. about unmanned balloon launch;
14.2. about cancellation of the flight;
14.3. about the place of location of the unmanned balloon at the request of authorised representative of air traffic service provider;
14.4. about losing contact with unmanned balloon, about not knowing its place of location;
14.5. about the end of flight (to notify about the last coordinates before the start of impact).
15. The air traffic service provider may refrain from permitting the launch of unmanned balloon:
15.1. in case the flight of unmanned balloon poses a threat to the flight safety of other aircraft;
15.2. the operator submits inaccurate and (or) false data;
15.3. reasonable requests of other authorised institutions to refrain from permitting the execution of unmanned balloon flight are received.
CHAPTER IV
FINAL PROVISIONS
16. The information, necessary for unmanned balloon operators for the launch of unmanned balloons, shall be announced by the air traffic service provider on its internet website and the aeronautical information circular of Oro Navigacija.
Annex. Flight Notification for Light Unmanned Meteorological Free Balloon Operations In the Airspace of Republic of Lithuania
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Annex. Flight Notification for Light Unmanned Meteorological Free Balloon Operations In the Airspace of Republic of Lithuania 
