Regulation 15 Amendment of Article 3b of Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/395

(1)

Article 3b (existing pilot licences and national medical certificates) is amended as follows.

(2)

For paragraph 2(b) substitute—

“(b)

convert the privileges for commercial operation associated with a Part-FCL licence into:

(i)

a commercial non-passenger operation rating where the licence holder complies with point BFCL.215 of Annex III; or

(ii)

a commercial operation rating where the licence holder complies with point BFCL.220 of Annex III;”.

(3)

In paragraph 3—

(a)

for “By that date” substitute “Except as provided for in paragraph 5”;

(b)

omit the words from “that complies” to “Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011”.

(4)

Omit paragraph 4.

(5)

After paragraph 4 insert—

“(5)

A Private Pilot’s Licence (Balloons and Airships) issued in accordance with Article 152 of the Air Navigation Order 2016 is not required to be converted as provided for by paragraph 3 where:

(a)

it remains valid in accordance with that Order;

(b)

it is used in accordance with Article 154 and section 3 of Chapter 2, Part 1 of Schedule 8 of that Order.

(6)

The CAA may convert a Commercial Pilot’s Licence (Balloons) (CPL(B)) issued in accordance with Article 152 of the Air Navigation Order 2016 to a Balloon Pilot Licence (BPL) endorsed with either a commercial non-passenger operation rating or a commercial passenger operation rating, depending on the experience and qualifications of the licence holder. Such a conversion will be based on a conversion report published by the CAA.

(7)

The holder of a BPL with a commercial operation rating issued on or before 30 September 2025 will be deemed to hold:

(a)

a commercial non-passenger operation rating where the pilot complies with point BFCL.215 of Annex III;

(b)

a commercial passenger operation rating where the pilot complies with point BFCL.220 of Annex III.

(8)

If, on 30 September 2025:

(a)

the holder of a commercial operation rating has the privilege to operate a particular group of hot-air balloons on commercial passenger operations, the holder is considered to meet the flight experience requirements of point BFCL.220(d)(1) of Annex III with respect to that group;

(b)

the holder of a Flight Examiner (Balloons) certificate has the privilege to examine applicants for a commercial operation rating in a particular class or group of balloon, the holder is considered to have complied with the flight experience requirements of BFCL.415 with respect to that class or group.”.