BFCL.015 Application for and issue, revalidation and renewal of a BPL as well as associated privileges, ratings and certificates

Regulation (EU) 2020/357

1. An application for the following shall be submitted to the competent authority in a form and manner established by that competent authority:
   
   
   1. the issue of a BPL and associated ratings;
   2. the extension of the privileges of a BPL;
   3. the issue of a flight instructor (for balloons) (“FI(B)”) certificate;
   4. the issue, revalidation and renewal of a flight examiner (for balloons) (“FE(B)”) certificate;and
   5. any amendments to the BPL and associated privileges, ratings certificates.
      
      
2. An application specified in paragraph (a) shall be accompanied by evidence that the applicant complies with the relevant requirements established in this Annex and in Annex IV (Part-MED) to Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011.
   
   
3. Any limitation or extension of the privileges granted by a licence, rating or certificate shall be endorsed on the licence or certificate by the competent authority.
   
   
4. A person shall not hold at any time more than one BPL issued in accordance with this Annex.
   
   
5. A licence holder shall submit applications as specified in paragraph (a) to the competent authority designated by the Member State in which any of his or her licences was issued in accordance with this Annex (Part-BFCL), or Annex I (Part-FCL) to Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 or Annex III (Part-SFCL) to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1976, as applicable.
   
   
6. A BPL holder may apply for a change of competent authority to the competent authority designated by another Member State but in such case the new competent authority shall be the same for all the licences held.
   
   
7. Applicants shall apply for the issue of a BPL and associated ratings, privileges or certificates not later than 6 months after having successfully completed the skill test or assessment of competence.

ED Decision 2020/003/R

Application and report forms can be found as follows:

1. for skill tests and proficiency checks for the balloon pilot licence (BPL) as well as for the commercial operation rating, in AMC1 BFCL.410(b)(3); and
   
   
2. for the assessment of competence for the flight instructor (balloon) FI(B), in AMC3 BFCL.345.

ED Decision 2020/003/R

Hot-Air Balloon Group Endorsements and recency*

When complying with recency requirements for the hot-air balloon class in a smaller balloon group, a licence endorsement related to privileges for a bigger balloon group does not need to be removed from the licence. Those privileges for the bigger group remain ‘inactive’ and can be exercised once the recency requirements are complied with in that bigger group.

For example, if a BPL holder holds privileges for hot-air balloon groups A, B and C and completes the proficiency check in accordance with point BFCL.160 in a hot-air balloon that represents group B, it is not necessary for the BPL holder to have the licence reissued without an endorsement for group C. The privileges for group C can be exercised after complying with recency requirements in group C balloons.

→ BFCL.030