Airwork operations
Business operations with Balloons (Reg 2018/395)
- skydiving,
- paragliding jumps,
- exhibition flights,
- competition flights, or
- similar specialised activities.
- Nature and complexity of the activity
- Necessary equipment
- Requirements of crew members
- Performance requirements
- Normal, abnormal and emergency procedures
- Ground equipment
- Registers
The conduct of commercial operations with manned balloons from 8 April 2019 requires Regulation (EU) 2018/395 of 13 March.
From 8 April 2019 the commercial operation of manned hot, gas or mixed air balloons shall be carried out in accordance with the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2018/395 of 13 March, excluding from its scope:
Balloons designed or modified for research/experimentation/scientists
Balloons and airships for 1 or 2 occupants and maximum volume:
Hot air, not exceeding 1.200 m³; and
Other lifting gases not exceeding 400 m³
Airships other than hot air
To this end, the operator, once it complies with the applicable requirements, should submit a declaration of compliance in accordance with Article 3 of Regulation (EU) 2018/395 of 13 March, which shall include the general information of the operator, the aircraft it will use and the type of operations to be performed.
This declaration will allow for commercial operations with manned balloons in the other Member States without the need for additional authorisations.
Within the commercial operations in the regulation has come to distinguish three types:
Commercial balloon flights for passengers: a form of commercial air balloon transport operation in which passengers are transported for the purpose of tourism or flight experience for remuneration or other financial consideration.
Specialised operation with balloon: a balloon operation whose main objective is not the transport of passengers for tourist or flight experience purposes, but skydiving operations, paragliding jumps, exhibition flights, competition flights, or similar specialised activities.
Normal operations (see GM1 BOP.BAS.190): Operations other than the previous ones such as advertising flights.
Operators who have an authorisation in force on 08/04/2019 may continue to carry out commercial operations based on their authorisation until 08/10/2018, from which date it will be necessary to submit the declaration of compliance for commercial operations with manned balloons.
Specialised commercial operations
As part of commercial operations, the regulation lays down specific requirements for the conduct of specialised commercial operations. Specialised commercial operations are those in which a balloon is commercially operated without the main objective being the transport of passengers for tourist or flight experience purposes, but operations of:
Carrying out such operations on a commercial basis requires compliance with the requirement BOP.ADD.510 which requires the development of a standard operating procedure (SOP) based on risk assessment prior to the start of operations.
The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) may be part of the operations manual or be a separate document and its content and structure must comply with the acceptable means of compliance AMC2 BOP.ADD.510. The OPS shall develop the specific procedures and requirements applicable to the specialised commercial operation concerned, such as specific pilot experience and training requirements or equipment necessary to carry out the operation, and should contain the following information:
Operations Manual
Any operator engaged in specialised commercial operations must develop an operations manual containing its procedures, as required by requirement BOP.ADD.200. The structure and content of the operations manual is specified in the acceptable means of compliance AMC2 BOP.ADD.200. It may use information obtained from other sources or include references to other documents such as the aircraft flight manual.
This operations manual will not be approved or accepted by the State Aviation Safety Agency.
Management System
One of the main developments introduced by Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/395 of 13 March is the need to implement a Management System. This management system includes two main functions:
Operational Safety Management, in compliance with Annex 19 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation.
Compliance control, which must ensure that the operator complies with the applicable regulation, as well as with its internal procedures.
The requirement for the obligation to implement a management system is the BOP.ADD.030, which is complemented by different acceptable means of compliance (AMC) and guidance material (GM).
Within the operations manual, the description of the management system must be given in section (d) as indicated in AMC2 BOP.ADD.200. It is also possible to draw up a management system manual as a separate document from the operations manual, duly referred to in paragraph (d), if the operator considers it appropriate.
In relation to Operational Safety Management, there is a great deal of documentation and material developed for its implementation, the main reference being ICAO Doc. 9859.
Additional information can be found in the Safety Risk Management section
List of Operators with Responsible Statement
Presentation Statement: (option with Digital Certificate and No Certificate)
Presentation of the declaration of compliance for commercial operations with balloons.
Material Guide
User Guide Balloon Operations Statement (New)
Globe Operators Management System Guide (New)
Regulations
Acceptable means of compliance (AMC) and guidance material (GM)
Acceptable means of compliance (AMC) and guidance material (GM) (courtesy translation with no legal value)
Balloon Rule Book — Easy Access Rules
Information triptych on the regulation applicable to commercial transactions with balloons
In 2018, on the occasion of the entry into force of Regulation (EU) 2018/395 applicable to balloons, information days were organised with balloon operators engaged in specialised commercial operations.
Presentations made during the day held at the facilities of the State Aviation Safety Agency.
If you have any questions or questions, please contact the mailbox globos.aesa@seguridadaerea.es
