Division BFCL.220 – Commercial passenger operation ratingF1

A BPL holder may exercise the privileges of the holder’s licence on commercial passenger operations only if the pilot holds a commercial passenger operation rating in accordance with this point.

An applicant for a commercial passenger operation rating must have:

1. (1)

   attained the age of 18 years;

2. (2)

   completed 100 hours of flight time and 100 take-offs and landings as PIC on balloons;

3. (3)

   the privileges for the class of balloon in which the privileges of the commercial passenger operation rating will be exercised;

4. (4)

   on or after 1 October 2027, completed a commercial passenger operation rating training course at an ATO or DTO, which must include at least two flights with an FI(B) who holds a commercial passenger operation rating, and a ground course which must include at least six hours of theoretical knowledge instruction; and

5. (5)

   passed a skill test on the relevant class of balloon during which the holder must demonstrate, to an FE(B), the competence required for commercial passenger balloon operations.

The privileges of the commercial passenger operation rating will be limited to the class of balloon in which the skill test has been completed. The privileges will be extended upon application to another class of balloon if, in respect of that other class, the applicant complies with points (b)(3) and (b)(5).

A pilot who holds a commercial passenger operation rating may only exercise the privileges of that rating after completing:

1. (1)

   prior to the planned flight:

   1. (i)

      for commercial passenger ballooning in hot-air balloon group A, or gas balloon, or mixed balloon, or hot-air airship: 100 hours as PIC in balloons;

   2. (ii)

      for commercial passenger ballooning in hot-air balloon group B: 110 hours as PIC in balloons, of which at least 10 hours must be commercial passenger ballooning flights in hot-air balloons in group A;

   3. (iii)

      for commercial passenger ballooning in hot-air balloon group C: 200 hours as PIC in balloons, of which at least 20 hours must be commercial passenger ballooning flights in hot-air balloons in groups A and B combined. At least 10 of those 20 hours must be in group B;

   4. (iv)

      for commercial passenger ballooning in hot-air balloon group D: 300 hours as PIC in balloons, of which at least 30 hours must be commercial passenger ballooning flights in hot-air balloons in groups A, B and C combined. At least 10 of those 30 hours must be in group C;

2. (2)

   within 180 days preceding the planned flight:

   1. (i)

      at least three flights as PIC in balloons, of which at least one must be in a balloon of the relevant class; or

   2. (ii)

      one flight as PIC in a balloon of the relevant class under the supervision of an FI(B) who is qualified in accordance with this point;

3. (3)

   prior to the planned flight:

   1. (i)

      on or after 1 October 2026, for pilots who have passed the skill test within 24 months before the planned flight: within 13 months preceding the planned flight, a proficiency check, in a balloon of the relevant class, during which the pilot must demonstrate to an FE(B) the competence required for commercial passenger ballooning;

   1. (ii)

      for pilots who have passed the skill test more than 24 months before the planned flight: within the 24 months preceding the planned flight, a proficiency check, in a balloon of the relevant class, during which the pilot must demonstrate to an FE(B) the competence required for commercial passenger ballooning; and

4. (4)

   on or after 1 October 2030, within 60 months preceding the planned flight: a training course at an ATO or a DTO, tailored to the competence required for commercial passenger ballooning operations, including at least six hours of theoretical knowledge instruction.

   1. (e)

      To maintain the privileges of the commercial passenger operation rating for all balloon classes, a pilot who holds a commercial passenger operation rating with privileges extended to more than one class of balloons must have completed a proficiency check in any balloon class within the relevant period specified in point (d)(3).

   2. (f)

      A pilot who complies with point (d) and holds a commercial passenger operation rating for the hot-air balloon class may exercise those privileges in the hot-air balloon class only on balloons that represent:

      1. (i)

         the same group of hot-air balloon in which the proficiency check was passed as specified in point (d)(3); or

      1. (ii)

         a hot-air balloon group with a smaller envelope size.

   3. (g)

      The completion of the flight under supervision as specified in point (d)(2)(ii), the proficiency check as specified in point (d)(3) and the training course as specified in point (d)(4) must be entered in the logbook of the pilot and signed by:

      1. (1)

         for the flight under supervision, the relevant FI(B);

      1. (2)

         for the proficiency check, the relevant FE(B);

      1. (3)

         for the training course, the head of training at the relevant ATO or DTO.

   4. (h)

      A pilot who has completed an operator proficiency check in accordance with point BOP.ADD.315 of Annex II (Part-BOP) will be deemed to comply with point (d)(3).