Frequently asked questions

In compliance with the conditions of the exemption, referred to paragraph (e) (1) in the EASA Resolution dated 18 March 2020: 

class, type and instrument ratings included in the FCL licence, valid on 14 March 2020, and whose ordinary period of validity expires before 31 July 2020, the validity of those ratings is extended for 4 months from the expiry date. 
Certificates of instructors and examiners, in force on 14 March and valid until 31/07/2020, including, will be extended until 14 November 2020.  
Language proficiency entries valid on 14 March 2020 and whose ordinary period of validity expires before 31 July 2020 until 14 November 2020

Regulation (EU) 2018/395 defined the activity of commercial passenger balloon flights (CPB) as 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.

Once the declaration required in BOP.ADD.100 has been submitted, the operator is authorised to conduct commercial operations with balloons in all the States of the European Union.

The Spanish Aviation Safety Agency shall publish and keep up-to-date the list of balloon operators who conduct commercial operations and who have submitted a declaration in Spain.

In duly justified cases and at the request of the operator, a certificate attesting that a declaration for commercial operations with balloons has been submitted to the State Aviation Safety Agency may be issued.

Oh, yeah, yeah. The requirement BOP.ADD.410 states that if more than 19 passengers are transported on the balloon, an additional crew member must be part of the crew.

The acceptable means of compliance AMC1 BOP.ADD.410 sets the initial and recurrent training requirements, as well as recent experience, to be met by the additional crew member.

Both requirements concern the conduct of specialised operations.

The requirement BOP.BAS.190 contains the general information applicable to specialised non-commercial operations and the BOP.ADD.510 contains the general information applicable to specialised commercial operations.

The validity of the proficiency check is 24 months and should be carried out by a pilot holding an in-flight examiner certificate (FE) issued in accordance with Regulation (EU) 1178/2011.

Oh, yeah, yeah. In this case the person responsible for conducting the training and verification must be in possession of the in-flight instructor (FI) and flight examiner (FE) certificate.

The experience indicated in the GM1 BOP.ADD.040 is not required by performing the functions of one of the posts defined in BOP.ADD.040, in this case, experience refers to experience in balloon operations.

Paragraph (c) of the GM1 BOP.ADD.040(c) guide material states that the Operations Officer should have or have had the balloon pilot licence, so it is not strictly necessary for the person performing the duties of Flight Operations Officer to have a valid license.

According to BOP.ADD.510(b) SOPs may be part of the operations manual or may be listed as a separate document.