The following article covers the legality of using APRS in a balloon over Europe. It is advisory only and should you wish to launch a balloon using APRS you should verify any information on this page.

The following KML file indicates countries that APRS is permitted to use under a meteorological balloon.

European APRS Map Google Earth KML

Key : Red = Not permitted Yellow = Unknown Green = Permitted

APRS operation in all countries is subject to local amateur radio licensing.

Possibly permitted. Apparently forbidden as per the Amateur radio legislation there appears to be an exemption for metrological balloons. F6AGV is investigating with the DGAC to get confirmation on this.

Airborne Operation NOT permitted. Confirmed by OZ1SKY & X-F in seperate mails to vases.lv. Latvian APRS infrastructure is limited anyway. Translated legislation dictates You cannot use amateur radio station on an “airship”. and goes on to define an “airship” as (“Procedures for carrying out unmanned airship and other aircraft flights, that don't qualify as airships”) defines, that an “unmanned free air balloon” is considered as an “airship”. Source (Latvian) http://www.likumi.lv/doc.php?id=141998

Airborne APRS operation is not permitted. As per OFCOM Amateur Terms Section 9 Limitations 9(3) :

“9(3) Without prejudice to Clause 1 of this Licence, the Licensee shall not establish or use the Radio Equipment in any Aircraft or other Airborne Vehicle”

Section 17 Interpretation goes on to define Airborne Vehicle as : © “Aircraft” and “Airborne Vehicles” includes full size and models and also includes balloons whether tethered or free;