European Ballooning Federation

Licensed (Part 66) Engineers working on balloons and sailplanes are usually very part time workers and often volunteers, who do essential work to support the balloons (or sailplanes) in their area. Many such Engineers find it difficult to meet the official regulatory requirement for maintaining their certification privileges, which at 25-50 days per year may be far more work than they do or is available for them to do. EBF has been working alongside EGU (European Gliding Union) and EAS (Europe Air Sports) to find an alternative TASK-based rather than TIME-based route to support Engineers’ recency. At a recent meeting in Cologne, EASA has recognised the problem and accepted the new, additional, route to support recency.  EASA has publicly signalled its intention to update the regulations as soon as possible. Meanwhile, EASA published an updated FAQ document which gives support for Engineers who can justify their recency using the task-based approach. This success is an excellent example of the benefits of European level cooperation, brought by EBF along with EGU, EAS and EASA. For full details, see the information on EBF’s website.

The Executive Committee (EC) had a meeting on 10^th September 2024. This was a special additional meeting solely to discuss a proposal that EBF should affiliate to Europe Air Sports (EAS).

The President explained that EBF had been working since its formation outside the framework of EAS and had been successful in its direct work with EASA on the balloon specific regulations (Parts BFCL, BOP) and main other regulations (Part ML, Part DTO).

However, there are many challenges facing ballooning now which are also common with other types of general aviation, notably the increasing presence of drones, the need for electronic conspicuity and the constant need to monitor changes (especially expansion) in airspace.

By joining EAS, EBF will be able to benefit from the much greater resources of EAS and from its good connections with EASA. EBF will still be the main source of ballooning expertise and will continue to lead on key initiatives which are mainly for balloons. As part of EAS, EBF will also be granted access to certain EASA meetings and workgroups which cannot be accessed by EBF alone.

In 2024, unlike in 2014, EBF has sufficient financial resources for the EAS membership fee. It was explained that EAS funding is through two channels, both via national federations / aeroclubs and from the European organisations such as EBF. This should not be seen as paying twice, rather as paying in two parts.

After discussion by the EC, it was unanimously agreed that EBF should submit an affiliation request to EAS. 

Paul Spellward, President

Balloon can start their flight almost anywhere and land at any suitable piece of land. The limitations for balloons are quite diverse. As soon as a balloon is airborne it flies in airspace with known limitations and possibilities. The Aeronautical map helps to navigate through airspace. The limitations in airspace are clearly visible on the aeronautical map. If required/practical a pilot can contact Air Traffic Control (ATC) and ask permission to fly through specific airspace. This seems like a simple way to use airspace. In daily practise there are however some complications. In flight a pilot may come across other traffic consisting of other balloons or other airspace users such as drones, airplanes, paramotor, helicopters and the like. The balloon is big enough to, under VFR during the day, be seen by other airspace users. Balloon-pilots are used to looking around them and be aware of other traffic in the air. Nevertheless, it is in some areas necessary to be electronically visible by means of a transponder if and when needed with S mode.

Drones are the relatively new kid on the block. They are sold in the thousands to very professional drone-pilots who are trained and skilled and have taken exams and are knowledgeable on airspace and the dos and don’ts in the sky. The majority of the drone users however use off-the-shelf drones of 250 grams or less with no camera on board. Neither licence nor registration is needed for these drones. Their use is officially limited to 120 meters above the ground. All other drones need to register with the National authority and need a remote ID and must have (as of 01-01-2024) a CX label and should be traceable. In some areas such as CTRs numerous drones are detected. In the Amsterdam CTR in 2023 there were approx. 23,000 drone sightings/detections of which 20% flew higher than the max of  120 meters. This may also be the case near other major airports. For aircraft drones are hard to detect. This will in our view lead to accidents in the future.

In order to make flying safer a new Unmanned Traffic Management system for drones flying in airspace is suggested. This airspace is called U space. Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) is the system that must regulate and coordinate unmanned aerial vehicles/ drones flying in U space.

How do balloons fit into this system?

At EASA there is discussion about how air traffic can make its location known to other aircraft. SERA 6005 (c) is clear and says that all manned air traffic in U space must be conspicuous (detectable) for other aircraft when there is no ATC. Also balloon pilots must make themselves electronically conspicuous when flying in U space.

All countries in EU and the UK are at this moment developing U Space airspace for UAVs (drones). For balloons this could be a major issue. Working together with the National Competent Authorities is therefore essential. The ballooning community must be involved in order to prevent that severe limitations are put on balloon flying. International cooperation and exchange of information is also essential. EBF can and will play a major role in exchanging information and help to find suitable solutions.

EASA is developing ADS-L

ADS-L Automatic Dependant Surveillance Light is the route of EASA´s choice. This consist of several approved technical solutions be it certified or not. It is intended to be simple and inexpensive, but all solutions must be GNSS based. Every aircraft in U space must make itself electronically visible and therefore a GNSS system is needed to make this happen. Transponders not connected to a GPS or other GNSS system is therefore not sufficient for U space detecting solutions.

In balloons it is hardly possible to use equipment that needs significant. Radio and transponders are close to the limit of what is practical. The information needed is altitude, position, direction: information that a mobile phone with GPS could provide. 

This is also the route in which EASA is thinking. There are however some issues that need additional thought. The mobile network was never designed for use in the air. All pilots have experience with reception on the mobile telephone while in the air. Some locations and altitudes have a good reception and others do not have mobile phone reception that could be useful for E conspicuity at altitudes above 1500 ft. The antennae for the mobile network are also designed for ground use. Reception of mobile phones is up to 1500 ft almost everywhere of acceptable quality. We take the view that a mobile phone solution could be workable for the ballooning community. This is much more acceptable than buying new ADS-B (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_Dependent_Surveillance–Broadcast)  or Flarm ( https://www.flarm.com/en/) or other expensive equipment. Some pilots are using an App (like https://www.safesky.app ) and feel this could work if this is the chosen route by EASA. Work needs to be done on the mobile telephone network. In EBF’s view locations/airspace that do not have acceptable reception for mobile telephone use should not be used for U space. 

The `right of way` discussion has been clear: manned aviation has priority over unmanned aircraft.

If EASA follow the route of choice and introduce for electronic detectability (Electronic Conspicuity) of aircraft in U space the route of mobile phone solutions ballooning community will cooperate in any way we can.

European Ballooning Federation

More information can be found:

https://www.easa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/dfu/4._iconspicuity_ads-l.pdf

https://www.easa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/dfu/ads-l_4_srd860_issue_1.pdf

Questions and more information? : kaa@ballooning-federation.eu

The Executive Committee (EC) had a routine meeting at the end of July. The arrangements for the bank account under the control of the new EC have been completed. There are changes in organisation of representation of General Aviation sector at EASA; EBF is reapplying for membership of the key bodies. It’s critical that ballooning remains directly represented, rather than under a more general organisation such as Europe Air Sports. EBF will participate at the next large sector meeting at EASA in November. 

EBF’s work on regulation development and improvement continues. After a year of consultation with EBF members, a list of proposed changes to Part BFCL has been submitted to EASA. The EC is working in parallel on Part BOP and will submit proposals in the coming few months. Important changes for Part 66 engineers are going too slowly at EASA and EBF is pushing for progress. There are varying interpretations in different countries on how training organisations (DTOs) should operate and EBF will start a project to provide guidance on best practice. EBF has opened discussions with the department in EASA which deals with technical (airworthiness) issues, so that the voice of users (balloon pilots and operators) can be better heard. EBF is supporting an initiative which could bring pilot medical declarations (instead of medical certification) for pilots who do not fly commercially. 

EBF is contributing on Electronic Conspicuity, to ensure that a solution for balloons which involves a simple App on a mobile phone is adopted. This work is very important to defend our access to low level airspace which might be allocated to drones in the future. 

EBF will improve liaison with the member federations. There might be an EBF “conference” in the future. An initiative has been agreed to invite a specific federation to join each Executive Committee meeting, starting with the October meeting.

Paul Spellward, President

Read the Minutes from Annual General Meeting on April 25 – held electronically with ZOOM – click here.

EBF Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held 25^th April 2024. This meeting of the national representatives of EBF member states will deal with the finance report, discuss proposed changes to the Statutes of EBF and will elect the new Executive Committee. The meeting will receive reports on EBF’s activities in 2023 and plans for 2024-25. The national representatives can bring suggestions and proposals to the EBF AGM, so balloonists in Europe are urged to liaise with them to send contributions for consideration at the EBF AGM.