Fireworks

[sqwkvfr]

Last night (July 3rd) I went up with a pal in a 172 for a local night flight around PHX. There were three fireworks displays planned for that night and we hoped to see some (or all) of them from the air.

When I called for a NOTAM check, I learned that fireworks displays do not meet NOTAM critera. This struck me as a little odd since I've seen NOTAMs for laser-light shows.

Can someone tell me why they don't meet NOTAM criteria? How high do fireworks displays go?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Lrjtcaptain]

more then likely, the reason being, that they were outside or under PHX class bravo and if they dont explode in the Class E airspace then they dont get a notam. More then likely that is the case, No controlled airspace, no notam.

 

[CatYaaak]

Last night (July 3rd) I went up with a pal in a 172 for a local night flight around PHX. There were three fireworks displays planned for that night and we hoped to see some (or all) of them from the air.

When I called for a NOTAM check, I learned that fireworks displays do not meet NOTAM critera. This struck me as a little odd since I've seen NOTAMs for laser-light shows.

Can someone tell me why they don't meet NOTAM criteria? How high do fireworks displays go?
QUOTE]

I don't think fireworks go high enough, given our rules for how low we can fly over congested areas ( a firework-watching crowd would be ruled as such, I think).

Laser shows are NOTAMed due to the danger of a pilot being temporarily blinded (or have their eyes damaged) even at higher altitudes if zapped by one.

 

[canadflyau]

Fireworks.. 800feet and below

 

[atrdriver]

I think most fireworks explode at 500 feet or below. In addition, even looking right at a fireworks burst won't even cause momentary flash blindness. A laser show, by contrast, can cause serious harm if you make the mistake of looking directly into one of the lasers, and the beams continue at full intensity to higher than you can climb...

I have seen many fireworks shows from the air, and when you first see catch sight of it it takes you a minute or two to figure out what it is. Unless you are VERY close to it, they just look like colored flashes for teh most part.

atrdriver

 

[canadflyau]

I got 800 feet from watching a show about the fireworks in DC yesterday... they claimed the highest of the fireworks at best would get to 800 feet, and you are right the rest are lower.

 

[Jedi_Cheese]

Really? I was up flying on the 2nd and could have sworn there were some fireworks at my level (1000-1500 AGL) about 5 miles away.

The private shows were harder to spot b/c they go off alot lower and you get a flash and then nothing. Plus if they don't continue to explode right away like the commercial shows.