Personnel flight licenses
Balloon Pilot Licenses (BPL)
What is a balloon?
- Hot air balloons:
- Group A: Sail capacity up to 3 400 m3.
- Group B: Sail capacity between 3 401 m3 and 6 000 m3.
- Group C: Sail capacity between 6 001 m3 and 10 500 m3.
- Group D: candle capacity exceeding 10 500 m3.
- Gas balloons.
- Mixed balloons.
- Hot air airships (motorized).
t is a lighter-than-air aircraft, manned, generally non-motorised and supported in flight by the use of either a lighter-than-air gas or an on-board heater. According to the above there are the following kinds of balloon:
How can I be a balloon pilot?
- Commercial balloon flights for passengers.
- A commercial operation other than the commercial carriage of passengers by balloon, with more than four persons on board the aircraft.
In order to act as a balloon pilot it is necessary to obtain the balloon pilot licence (BPL) regulated in Annex III (Part-BFCL) to Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/395 of 13 March.
To obtain the balloon pilot licence, the applicant must be at least 16 years of age and take a theoretical-practical course at an approved training organisation (ATO) or a declared training organisation (DTO).
Likewise, certain psychophysical conditions must be met that are accredited by obtaining an aeronautical medical certificate class LAPL or a medical certificate class 2 when performing any of the following activities:
After completing the course in an ATO or DTO, the applicant must pass a theoretical type test exam carried out by AESA as well as a practical exam that will consist of a flight test with a flight examiner.
What are the privileges of a balloon pilot license (BPL) holder?
- without remuneration in non-commercial transactions;
- in commercial transactions if you are at least 18 years old and hold a rating for commercial transactions in accordance with point BFCL.215.
- the provision of flight instruction for obtaining a BPL;
- proficiency testing and proficiency verification for GLP;
- training, testing and verification of the privileges, ratings or certificates associated with a GLP.
In accordance with requirement BFCL.115, the holder of a BPL has the privileges to act as PIC on balloons:
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the holder of a BPL may receive remuneration, without having the qualification indicated above, if he has powers as an instructor or examiner and performs any of the following activities:
Request to issue or modify the balloon pilot license.
Both to apply for your license, after passing the theoretical and practical exams, and to update the content of the same, you must fill in and submit the application format and the documentation indicated:
Application for General Aviation Licensing and Qualifications
The documentation will be sent through some of the options contemplated for this purpose in article 16 of Law 39/2015, of October 1, on the Common Administrative Procedure of Public Administrations and never via email.
You can check the options for submitting the documentation here.
Instructor (FI(B)) and flight examiner (FE(B)) balloon certificates
Annex III (Part-BFCL) to Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/395 of 13 March 2018 lays down the requirements for the issue of licences to balloon flight crew and sets out the requirements for obtaining flight instructor certificates (BFCL.300) enabling the provision of balloon flight training and balloon flight examiner enabling skill tests, proficiency checks and proficiency assessments (BFCL.400).
You can consult the information regarding obtaining the balloon flight instructor certificate by clicking here.
For information on obtaining a balloon flight examiner certificate, please click here.
How to submit documentation
- Through our AESA Electronic Office General Application | AESA Headquarters (seguridadaerea.gob.es)
- An electronic register of the General State Administration, the Administrations of Autonomous Communities or the entities that make up the Local Administration.
- At Post Offices
- In the diplomatic representations or consular offices of Spain abroad.
- In the registry assistance offices.
- Through postal service, or in person at AESA offices in Madrid
In this case and for the purposes of submitting your application and in accordance with the provisions of Article 16 of Law 39/2015, of 1 October, on the Common Administrative Procedure of Public Administrations, you have the following options:
Spanish Aviation Safety Agency - AESA
Aeronautical Personnel Licensing Division
Paseo de la Castellana 112
28046.Madrid. Spain
Remember: the documentation sent by e-mail is not processed.
Fees
To carry out the procedure for the settlement of fees consult the procedure published on our website Fees | AESA
Information of interest
- Information note on the amendments to the restrictions on Russian citizens with regard to obtaining pilot licences and aero-medical certificates, based on the judgment of the CJEU T-233/22 New!
- Declaration of compliance format New!
- Representation in the field of eGovernment.
- Resolution of 19 June 2020 of the Directorate of the State Aviation Safety Agency on electronic licences for aircrew.
- Information note on plans to convert national balloon and sailplane licences.
Contact
If you have doubts about the procedures indicated in this section you can contact us through licpiloto.aesa@seguridadaerea.es
Check our telephone service hours here
