{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2018-395/annex-III/division-subpart+bpl/division-4",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2018-395/annex-III/division-subpart+bpl/division-4.json",
  "legislation": "eur/2018/395",
  "legislation_title": "Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/395 of 13 March 2018 laying down detailed rules for the operation of balloons as well as for the flight crew licensing for balloons pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2018-395",
  "path": "annex/III/division/subpart+bpl/division/4",
  "kind": "division",
  "number": null,
  "heading": "BFCL.130 BPL – Training course and experience requirements",
  "text": "Applicants for a BPL must complete a training course at an ATO or a DTO, or under the supervision of an FI(B). The course must be tailored to the privileges sought and must include:\n(a)theoretical knowledge as specified in point BFCL.135(a);\n(b)at least 16 hours of flight time in either a hot-air balloon within group A of that class, or a gas balloon, including at least:\n(1)4 hours of dual flight instruction completed over at least 4 flights;\n(2)10 inflations, 20 take-offs and 20 landings; and\n(3)one solo flight with a flight time of at least 30 minutes supervised by an FI(B).\n12 of the 16 hours of flight time required may consist of flights in which the applicant accompanies a BPL holder, who has a minimum of 50 hours flight time as PIC and who acts as PIC, for the purposes of practising appropriate balloon flying techniques;\n(c)in the case of qualifying to fly hot-air balloons, at least two tethered flights, with the final tethered flight supervised and signed off as satisfactory by the holder of an FI(B) certificate.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Inserted by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/357 of 4 March 2020 amending Regulation (EU) 2018/395 as regards balloon pilot licences (Text with EEA relevance)."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Annex 3 BFCL.130 substituted (1.10.2025) by The Aviation Safety (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/878), regs. 1(4), 16(3)(b)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2018/395/annex/III/division/subpart+bpl/division/4",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-01T14:44:13.809582+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}