General Aviation

Today marks the publication of an EASA decision that is aiming to affect positively GA design and production organisations. See the news item on the EASA website: "Is life getting easier for GA manufacturers? New AMC&GM for production and design as a first step!"

Thank you for accepting me

Transponder and balloons/sailplanes

Due to the ongoing discussion about the need to carry and operate a transponder on board of a balloon or sailplane, please note the following clarification:

As regards transponders, the Implementing Rules (BOP.BAS.360 for balloons and SAO.IDE.135 for sailplanes) do not prescribe that all balloons and sailplanes need to be equipped with a transponder. Under BOP.BAS.360 and SAO.IDE.135, the carriage and operation of a secondary surveillance radar (SSR) transponder is only required, when operating in a portion of airspace designated by the competent authority as a transponder mandatory zone in accordance with point (b) of point SERA.6005 of the Annex to Regulation (EU) No 923/2012.

One question I have is how to get approved for maintenance and inspections on hot air balloons - holding maintenance certificates from two balloon manufacturers and a Part 66 theoretical exemption for Cat A, B1, B2 and B3, only have to build practice hours within a Part M organisation to receive my licence.
The answer from the NAA is that under current regulations there are no requirements to meet, that I should follow a training program within a current maintenance facility ... although there are in my country no facilities offering a training program because all staff got certified through grandfather rights. Is there another solution than starting a Part M myself?

Hello everyone!

What is the way to get involved in and to contribute to the EASA GA community?

As a young graduate in aeronautical engineering and holding a commercial balloon pilot license with interests in Air Operations, Human Factors and Meteorology, etc I would like to contribute to aviation, put my expertise at the service of the community, share experiences and learn from others to improve the future of GA.