From the 29th September 2007 all EASA Annex 1 balloons are being converted from non-expiring UK Certificates of Airworthiness to non-expiring EASA Certificates of Airworthiness. To achieve this, at the time of the annual inspection, a full survey of the balloon and its associated paperwork will be carried out and a Form AD202 completed. This will then be sent to the BBAC CTO along with the IR4 and it will be processed and a recommendation made to issue the EASA CofA.
As it was not possible to complete or submit the AD202 from the proposed start date some balloons have been inspected after 29th September 2007 without the full survey. If your balloon is one of these then it will need to be inspected and surveyed no later than 28th September 2008. It is the owner/operator’s responsibility to arrange this. If it is not carried out before 28th September 2008 then the transition process cannot be applied and a new EASA Certificate of Airworthiness will have to be applied for.
The CAA are charging for the issue of the EASA CofA and the BBAC are charged with collecting the fee. This fee is in addition to any fee(s) charged for the inspection and survey by the inspector, repair stations or manufacturers. A separate cheque payable to the BBAC should either be handed to the Inspector who will forward it with the AD202 to the BBAC Technical Office or it can be sent to the BBAC Technical Office at the address in Aerostat. The BBAC will issue a receipt if requested. Once processed the new EASA CofA certificate will be sent to the owner/operator. The current fee, per balloon, has been set at £25.00 for BBAC members and £50.00 for non-members. Inspection and survey charges are at the discretion of the inspector.
Inspectors and balloons being surveyed will be subject to random auditing to ensure the required standard is met. Where an AD202 is not completed or there are omissions and errors then the form will be returned to the inspector and the owner/operator informed. Incorrectly completed or incomplete forms will mean that the EASA CofA will not be issued.
There are a number of items that you can check, and information that you need to provide at the time of the inspection, which will make the process much easier and quicker for all.
The details must be correct and match the Certificate of Registration and the logbook.
The details must be correct and current including the registered owner’s details.
This must be the current logbook and entries upto date. Ensure your the correct name and address of the Owner/operator are entered into the logbook and that it corresponds to the details on the Certificate of Registration.
In the case of balloons operating under an AOC the current Techlog must be available. Ensure Techlog hours match the logbook entry.
Ensure that the balloon and all its equipment you are taking for inspection is listed in the logbook. This listing must contain the part or drawing number, the serial number and the weight of each component along with the manufacturer where the component manufacturer differs from the balloon manufacturer.
Details of components’ specifications can be found on the appropriate manufacturers’ website, in the appropriate Flight Manual or by contacting the manufacturer.
The appropriate Flight Manual must be present at the time of inspection with any amendments correctly entered into the back. Where the balloon and its components are from different manufacturers then Flight Manuals from the appropriate manufacturers must be used. In some cases with balloons built before September 2003 (Cameron) the Flight Manual issued at the time of manufacture may be used.
All the current Flight Manuals along with the Amendments can be downloaded from the appropriate Manufacturers’ Websites.
Sky Balloons use Sky Flight Manual Issue 1 Amendment 9. Copies are available from Cameron Balloons on request.
Any Maintenance and Repairs carried out, new parts fitted or parts that have been replaced since the last inspection must be entered into the logbook and have been signed off by a current BBAC inspector in the appropriate category or released to Service by the issue of an EASA Form1.
Any parts fitted or replaced must be accompanied by reference to a Job Number (in the case of Repair Stations and the manufacturers) or an EASA Form1 if the job has been carried out by an individual. In all cases any repairs or maintenance carried out must be signed off (released to service) by a suitably rated and current BBAC inspector
Airworthiness Directives and Service Bulletins must be upto date and any action entered in the logbook. ADs can be found on the appropriate State of Designs’ Website and Service Bulletins from the appropriate manufacturer.
The IR6 is not a mandatory requirement but a means for identifying and making the transfer of balloon equipment or the sale of balloon equipment easier. It is a Release to Service document in its own right. Despite this if work or repairs are carried out to equipment, even if it is supported by an IR6 the details of the Maintenance and a Release to Service must also be entered into the balloon logbook.
Conversely where an IR6 exists then it must be updated and any repairs or maintenance entered on it and signed off and be presented with the logbook.
Where more than one envelope shares a bottom end then all the repair and maintenance details relating to the bottom end must be recorded in each logbook.
Where the MTOM has been reduced either to reduce the insurance rating, as a result of a failed grab test or removal of artwork then the details must appear in the logbook and the appropriate amendment must appear in the front of the Flight Manual.
If you are in doubt about any of the details relating to your balloon or equipment then contact the BBAC CTO or contact the appropriate manufacturer. It may help you if you check the BBAC Website under Technical and read through the ‘Guide to filling in the AD202’ which is posted there. Updates will be posted on the website, in Pilots Circular and via the regions.