Plain English Meaning

Balloons that are tied to the ground by a cable. The balloon and its cable are both hazards to aircraft, so pilots need to know where they are and stay clear.

Full Definition

Unmanned balloons anchored to the ground by a cable or line, often used for advertising, research, or surveillance. Because they extend into the air on a long, often hard-to-see cable, the FAA designates the airspace around larger or higher tethered balloon operations as a hazard to flight, and pilots are expected to avoid them. Operations involving balloons over 150 feet above the surface generally require notification and may be charted or published in a NOTAM.

Context Anchor

Seen in discussions of , temporary flight hazards, outdoor events, and - operations near parks, stadiums, festivals, or .