Air Safety Incident Report: VTI-66/319

This document file contains correspondence and reports regarding an Air Safety Incident (VTI-66/319) involving an unidentified object detected by radar. On April 3, 1966, at approximately 2015 hours E.S.T., a CSF radar operator at Tullamarine observed an unidentified echo bearing 055 degrees at a distance of 54.5 nautical miles. The object was reported to be moving in a north-easterly direction at a speed of approximately 60 knots. The Department of Civil Aviation initiated an investigation, requesting the Bureau of Meteorology to determine if a meteorological balloon release could account for the radar sighting. The Bureau of Meteorology subsequently confirmed that the object's position and movement were consistent with a meteorological balloon, equipped with a radar reflector, released from the R.A.A.F. Base at Laverton, taking into account the prevailing wind conditions at the time. Following this assessment, the Department of Civil Aviation concluded that the incident was explained by the balloon release. The incident was formally closed, and radar controllers in the region were advised of the findings.