EBF had a successful visit in Cologne, maintaining contacts with key senior EASA people and making progress on important topics. EBF working alongside the European Gliding Union and EASA on a solution for recency of balloon and sailplane (Part 66L) engineers, most of which only work on a very part time basis. We joined discussions in support of lower medical requirements for non-commercial ballooning, potentially a pilot medical declaration rather than a medical certificate from an aviation doctor. We had first meetings on the review of the pilot licensing (BFCL) and balloon operations (BOP) regulations. Clearly, EBF will be doing a lot of work in the coming years to support the ballooning community in Europe.
Paul Spellward, General Secretary