A private small aircraft pilot found that a new observation aerostat was not yet on the charts and f...

Attributes
ACN	242093
Time
Date	199305
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : cty airport : x31
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 0 msl bound upper : 15000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx artcc : zdc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 450 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	242093
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Chart Or Publication
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

A WX balloon has been installed near crystal river, fl, and is not yet on current sectional maps. Regardless of NOTAM, I suggest flight following try to warn pilots approaching the area (at least until the restr area is on the map). I was handed off from jacksonville to tampa as I followed the west coast of fl 'sight-seeing' on my way from tlh to fxe. In the interim, I called WX and then waited for a 'gap' in communication traffic to report to tampa. During the 5-10 min interval, I passed through the restr area. An accident waiting to happen! Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: a call to the jacksonville FSS showed that there is a new restr area at horseshoe beach, fl, R-2938. Inside this area is an observation aerostat operated by the united states customs service. The restr area is not yet on the sectional charts or the low altitude instrument charts. The FSS briefer reiterated that it is the responsibility of the pilot to check the NOTAMS, but that flight following should have made him aware of the restr area.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PVT SMA PLT FOUND THAT A NEW OBSERVATION AEROSTAT WAS NOT YET ON THE CHARTS AND FLT FOLLOWING DID NOT MENTION THE AEROSTAT TO HIM.

Narrative: A WX BALLOON HAS BEEN INSTALLED NEAR CRYSTAL RIVER, FL, AND IS NOT YET ON CURRENT SECTIONAL MAPS. REGARDLESS OF NOTAM, I SUGGEST FLT FOLLOWING TRY TO WARN PLTS APCHING THE AREA (AT LEAST UNTIL THE RESTR AREA IS ON THE MAP). I WAS HANDED OFF FROM JACKSONVILLE TO TAMPA AS I FOLLOWED THE W COAST OF FL 'SIGHT-SEEING' ON MY WAY FROM TLH TO FXE. IN THE INTERIM, I CALLED WX AND THEN WAITED FOR A 'GAP' IN COM TFC TO RPT TO TAMPA. DURING THE 5-10 MIN INTERVAL, I PASSED THROUGH THE RESTR AREA. AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN! CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH REPORTER REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: A CALL TO THE JACKSONVILLE FSS SHOWED THAT THERE IS A NEW RESTR AREA AT HORSESHOE BEACH, FL, R-2938. INSIDE THIS AREA IS AN OBSERVATION AEROSTAT OPERATED BY THE UNITED STATES CUSTOMS SVC. THE RESTR AREA IS NOT YET ON THE SECTIONAL CHARTS OR THE LOW ALT INST CHARTS. THE FSS BRIEFER REITERATED THAT IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PLT TO CHK THE NOTAMS, BUT THAT FLT FOLLOWING SHOULD HAVE MADE HIM AWARE OF THE RESTR AREA.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

A private small aircraft pilot found that a new observation aerostat was not yet on the charts and flight following did not mention the aerostat to him.