EUROPEAN BALLOONING FEDERATION: WORKING HARD FOR BALLOONISTS AND GETTING RESULTS -JOIN IN, WORK WITH US, WE ARE WORKING FOR YOU!
The only recognised body representing balloonists throughout EASA countries has, for 18 months, presented the regulatory needs of all balloonists in Europe, be they private, commercial, sporting or record-breaking. EBF’s team have been part of many meetings with EASA in Cologne, on your behalf. EBF’s primary target was to simplify the rules and have less of them. After producing last spring a first “manifesto”, EBF have worked out wat would be acceptable and manageable regarding rules and regulations. Too many limitations of our activity would carry the danger of suffocating it. The main targets of our very limited group were:
- Part FCL
- Part OPS
- The ATO
FCL: we have had one meeting only. Because of the departure of Matthias Borgmeijer the process around changing FCL was delayed. A new chairman will bring the group together and we will have the opportunity to further discuss our concerns. If you have any issues that you would like to be brought to the table please forward them to one of us.
OPS: We were able to make considerable changes to the proposals, especially the exclusion of ballooning from CAT. But there are still important questions pending, and especially: do we want an AOC for all commercial flights, or no AOC at all (and a declaration from the operator instead), or, as some countries propose, different levels (AOC for biggest operators, declaration for smaller ones). EBF is strongly fighting for one rule for all commercial operators, without AOC. But to achieve this, we need to show that we are united and that you, members, support us. On October 15a, there will be a decisive one day workshop on Part Ops in Cologne, we will of course be there.
ATO: After long discussions there is a draft paper replacing the ATO for ballooning (and LAPL A-H-G- and BPL and GPL) by an RTO a Registered Training Organisation. The rules are lighter and the organisation is lighter, the costs involved should be lower. The last discussion will be early October of this year after which the document will be open for comments via the NPA.
Only by creating a united front can we ensure the continuation and growth of the activity we all love and on which many livelihoods depend. EBF is not an ‘interest group’ supporting a single element of our discipline, but a body to balance the needs of all participants by drawing on the skill and knowledge of some of Europe‘s most experienced balloonists.
We are now also working on our General meeting, which should take place on January 12th in Paris.
To reach EBF’s Executive Committee, ask for more detail, sign in, please contact one of us:
Patricia Lamy (FR) : pla@ballooning-federation.org
Karel Abbenes: (NL) kaa@ballooning-federation.org
Phil Dunnington: (UK) phil@gonewiththewind.uk.com
Thomas Herndl (AU) thh@ballooning-federation.org