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Russian balloonist enters New Zealand air space on world record bid

Xinhua, July 15, 2016 Adjust font size:

Russian adventurer Fedor Konyukhov has entered New Zealand air space on his world record attempt to circumnavigate the globe in a hot air balloon, New Zealand's air traffic control agency said Friday.

The balloon was picked up by air traffic control shortly after midday Friday New Zealand time, Airways New Zealand chief operating officer Pauline Lamb said in a statement.

The balloon was expected to travel around the tip of the North Island and out into the southern Pacific Ocean at altitudes of almost 8,000 meters.

"We've created a two-hour virtual bubble or 'reservation area' around the balloon. We will protect this with our normal airspace separation procedures which means all other aircraft will be directed to fly around the reservation area," Lamb said.

The balloon had the same surveillance and communications equipment as a normal aircraft, including a transponder and satellite phone.

Konyukhov, who is attempting a solo flight around the world in a "Morton" Roziere balloon, took off from Northam in Western Australia on July 12.

He must complete the 33,000-km circumnavigation in 13 days or less if he is to break the record set by the late U.S. aviator Steve Fossett in 2002. Endit