Opinion 01/2016

Revision of the European operational rules for balloons

This Opinion addresses a proportionality issue related to balloon operations. Its specific objective is to establish a simpler, ‘lighter’ and proportionate air operations regulatory framework for balloons.

For this purpose, this Opinion proposes the extraction of the operational rules for balloons from Regulation (EU) No 965/2012, except for the authority requirements specified in Annex II (Part-ARO), and the issue of a new regulation on operational rules for balloons. The scope of this new regulation may be extended at a later stage to include other areas related to balloons. The final goal would then be to develop — at least to a certain extent — a single ‘balloon book’.

With the new draft regulation, EASA proposes operational rules for balloons which should be accepted as being less complex (i.e. the rules are easier to understand and to apply), and which should avoid any overregulation (i.e. the rules are reduced to what is needed not to compromise safety).

In summary, the proposed changes are expected to maintain safety while reducing the regulatory burden especially to operators.

File for information purposes only:

AMC & GM to Draft Commission Regulation on balloons