AMC2 BOP.ADD.510 Commercial balloon specialised operations — Standard operating procedures

ED Decision 2018/004/R

TEMPLATE

(a)     Nature and complexity of the activity

(1)     The nature of the activity and exposure. The nature of the flight and the risk exposure should be described.

(2)     The complexity of the activity. Details should be provided on how demanding the activity is with regard to the required piloting skills, the necessary level of experience, the ground support, safety and individual protective equipment that should be provided to persons involved.

(3)     The operational environment and geographical area. The operational environment and geographical area over which the operation takes place should be described:

(i)      congested hostile environment: balloon performance standard, compliance with rules of the air, mitigation of third-party risk;

(ii)     mountain areas: altitude, performance, the use or non-use of oxygen with mitigating procedures;

(iii)     water areas: water state and temperature, risk of ditching, availability of search and rescue, survivability, carriage of safety equipment;

(iv)     desert areas: carriage of safety equipment, reporting procedures, search and rescue information; and

(v)      other areas.

(b)     Equipment

All equipment required for the activity should be listed. This includes installed equipment certified in accordance with Annex I (Part-21) to Regulation (EU) No 748/2012 as well as equipment approved in accordance with other, officially recognised standards.

(c)      Crew members

(1)     The crew composition and their duties should be specified.

(2)     In addition, for flight crew members, the following should be specified:

(i)      selection criteria (initial qualification, flight experience, experience in the activity);

(ii)     initial training (volume and content of the training); and

(iii)     recent experience requirement and recurrent training (volume and content of the training).

(3)     The criteria listed in (2) should take into account the operational environment and the complexity of the activity, and should be detailed in the training programmes.

(d)     Performance

Details on applicable, specific performance requirements should be provided.

(e)     Normal, abnormal and emergency procedures

The normal, abnormal and emergency procedures to be applied in flight and on the ground should be described.

(f)      Ground equipment

Details on the nature, number and location of ground equipment required for the activity should be provided.

(g)     Records

It should be determined which records specific to the flight(s) are to be kept, such as task details, balloon registration, pilot-in-command, flight times, weather and any remarks, including a record of occurrences affecting flight safety or the safety of persons or property on the ground.