BFCL.001  Scope

Regulation (EU) 2020/357

This Annex establishes the requirements for the issue of a balloon pilot licence (“BPL”) and associated privileges, ratings and certificates, and the conditions for their validity and use.

BFCL.005  Competent authority

Regulation (EU) 2020/357

For the purpose of this Annex, the competent authority shall be an authority designated by the Member State to which a person applies for the issue of a BPL or associated privileges, ratings or certificates.

BFCL.010  Classes and groups of balloons

Regulation (EU) 2020/357

For the purpose of this Annex, balloons shall be categorised in the following classes and groups:

(a)  “hot-air balloon” class:

(1)  group A: envelope capacity up to 3 400 m3 (120 069 ft3);

(2)  group B: envelope capacity between 3 401 m3 (120 070 ft3) and 6 000 m3 (211 888 ft3);

(3)  group C: envelope capacity between 6 001 m3 (211 889 ft3) and 10 500 m3 (370 804 ft3);

(4)  group D: envelope capacity of more than 10 500 m3 (370 804 ft3);

(b)  “gas balloon” class;

(c)  “mixed balloon” class;

(d)  “hot-air airship” class.

BFCL.015  Application for and issue, revalidation and renewal of a BPL as well as associated privileges, ratings and certificates

Regulation (EU) 2020/357

(a) An application for the following shall be submitted to the competent authority in a form and manner established by that competent authority:

(1)  the issue of a BPL and associated ratings;

(2)  the extension of the privileges of a BPL;

(3)  the issue of a flight instructor (for balloons) (“FI(B)”) certificate;

(4)  the issue, revalidation and renewal of a flight examiner (for balloons) (“FE(B)”) certificate; and

(5)  any amendments to the BPL and associated privileges, ratings certificates.

(b) An application specified in paragraph (a) shall be accompanied by evidence that the applicant complies with the relevant requirements established in this Annex and in Annex IV (Part-MED) to Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011.

(c) Any limitation or extension of the privileges granted by a licence, rating or certificate shall be endorsed on the licence or certificate by the competent authority.

(d) A person shall not hold at any time more than one BPL issued in accordance with this Annex.

(e) A licence holder shall submit applications as specified in paragraph (a) to the competent authority designated by the Member State in which any of his or her licences was issued in accordance with this Annex (Part-BFCL), or Annex I (Part-FCL) to Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 or Annex III (Part-SFCL) to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1976, as applicable.

(f) A BPL holder may apply for a change of competent authority to the competent authority designated by another Member State but in such case the new competent authority shall be the same for all the licences held.

(g) Applicants shall apply for the issue of a BPL and associated ratings, privileges or certificates not later than 6 months after having successfully completed the skill test or assessment of competence.

APPLICATION AND REPORT FORMS

Application and report forms can be found as follows:

(a) for skill tests and proficiency checks for the balloon pilot licence (BPL) as well as for the commercial operation rating, in AMC1 BFCL.410(b)(3); and

(b) for the assessment of competence for the flight instructor (balloon) FI(B), in AMC3 BFCL.345.

HOT-AIR BALLOON GROUP ENDORSEMENTS AND RECENCY

When complying with recency requirements for the hot-air balloon class in a smaller balloon group, a licence endorsement related to privileges for a bigger balloon group does not need to be removed from the licence. Those privileges for the bigger group remain ‘inactive’ and can be exercised once the recency requirements are complied with in that bigger group.

For example, if a BPL holder holds privileges for hot-air balloon groups A, B and C and completes the proficiency check in accordance with point BFCL.160 in a hot-air balloon that represents group B, it is not necessary for the BPL holder to have the licence reissued without an endorsement for group C. The privileges for group C can be exercised after complying with recency requirements in group C balloons.

BFCL.030  Practical skill test

Regulation (EU) 2020/357

Except for the skill test for the commercial operation rating as specified in point BFCL.215, an applicant for a skill test shall be recommended for the test by the ATO or the DTO that is responsible for the training undertaken by the applicants, once the training is completed. The training records shall be made available to the examiner by the ATO or DTO.

BFCL.035  Crediting of flight time

Regulation (EU) 2020/357

Applicants for a BPL or an associated privilege, rating or certificate shall be fully credited with all solo, dual instruction or PIC flight time on balloons towards the requirement of a total flight time for the licence, privilege, rating or certificate.

BFCL.045  Obligation to carry and present documents

Regulation (EU) 2020/357

(a) When exercising the privileges of BPL licence, BPL holders shall carry all of the following:

(1) a valid BPL;

(2) a valid medical certificate;

(3) a personal identification document containing his or her photo;

(4) sufficient logbook data to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of this Annex.

(b) Student pilots shall carry on all solo flights:

(1) the documents as specified in paragraphs (a)(2) and (a)(3); and

(2) evidence of the authorisation required by point BFCL.125(a).

(c) BPL holders or student pilots shall without undue delay present the documents as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) for inspection upon request by an authorised representative of the competent authority.

SUFFICIENT LOGBOOK DATA

In order to be able to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of Part-BFCL, a BPL holder should carry either the full logbook or at least excerpts or copies of those parts of the logbook (in paper or electronic format) in which compliance with the requirements that are related to the exercised privileges is documented.

BFCL.050  Recording of flight time

Regulation (EU) 2020/357

BPL holders and student pilots shall keep a reliable record of the details of all flights flown in a form and manner established by the competent authority.

GENERAL

(a) The record of the flights flown should contain at least the following information:

(1) personal details: name(s) and address of the pilot; and

(2) for each flight:

(i) name(s) of pilot-in-command (PIC);

(ii) date of flight;

(iii) place and time of departure and arrival;

(iv) type, including make, model, and registration of the balloon;

(v) total time of flight;

(vi) accumulated total time of flight;

(v) details on pilot function, namely PIC, including solo, dual, FI(B) or flight examiner (balloon) FE(B); and

(vi) operational conditions, namely if the operation takes place at day or night and whether it is a free flight or tethered flight.

(b) Logging of time

(1) PIC flight time

(i) Holders of a licence may log as PIC time all of the flight time during which they are the PIC.

(ii) Applicants for or holders of a BPL may log as PIC time all supervised solo flight time as well as flight time of successfully completed skill tests and proficiency checks, provided that, in the case of supervised solo flight time, the logbook entry is signed by the supervising instructor.

(iii) Holders of an FI(B) certificate may log as PIC all flight time during which they act as an instructor in a balloon.

(iv) Holders of an FE(B) certificate may log as PIC all flight time during which they acts as an examiner in a balloon.

(2) Instruction time

A summary of all time logged by an applicant for a licence or rating as flight instruction may be logged if certified by the appropriately rated or authorised instructor from whom it was received.

(c) Format of the record

A suitable format should be used that contains the relevant items mentioned in (a) and additional information specific to the type of operation.

BFCL.065  Curtailment of privileges of BPL holders aged 70 years or older in commercial passenger ballooning

Regulation (EU) 2020/357

BPL holders who have attained the age of 70 years shall not act as pilots of a balloon engaged in commercial passenger balloon operations.

APPLICABILITY OF AGE LIMITATION

‘Commercial passenger ballooning’ as per point BFCL.065 includes any flight during which fare-paying passengers are carried. This means that, for example, if during a competition or a promotion flight fare-paying passengers are carried, the age limitation of point BFCL.065 for the BPL holder applies.

BFCL.070  Limitation, suspension or revocation of licences, privileges, ratings and certificates

Regulation (EU) 2020/357

(a) A BPL as well as associated privileges, ratings and certificates issued in accordance with this Annex may be limited, suspended or revoked by the competent authority in accordance with the conditions and procedures laid down in Annex VI (Part-ARA) to Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 if a BPL holder does not comply with the essential requirements set out in Annex IV to Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 or with the requirements of this Annex as well as of Annex II (Part-BOP) to this Regulation or of Annex IV (Part-MED) to Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011.

(b) BPL holders shall immediately return the licence or certificate to the competent authority if their licence, privilege, rating or certificate has been limited, suspended or revoked.