If you look at our website on a regular basis you would have seen several additions on our ‘Stop Press’ section during February. One, a 90 envelope, had sold before we got it up on the site, whilst John Rose’s 160 moves to the main text in the printed List this issue, (it made the web version last time). Also moving into the correct sections this month are Mark Stevens’ 105 and a Business Opportunity in Germany.
A huge list of ride balloons and their equipment entered ‘Stop Press’ last month too, the result of a liquidation sale in Oldenburg, Germany. Several envelopes (at least) are retired examples with no ARC but we have heard of several people making the trip to Oldenburg to see what is available and make purchases. This list (now in its third iteration) remains in ‘Stop Press’ so that we can more easily update it as time goes by ….
Just when you thought EASA could throw no more “regulation” at us they have just published Part Balloon Ops (BOP) effective 8th April 2019. Everyone needs to study this as apart from general requirements for fire blankets, droplines etc there are mandates for a pilot restraint if you have a partitioned basket or turning vents and other bureaucracy for ‘Specialised Operations’.
There is one positive step, in that new rules are published on “cost sharing” on private flights which widens the scope of allowable expenses which can be shared.
Zebedee will be at the BBAC AGM – now branded as “Members Day” at Stoke Orchard Community Centre, Stoke Orchard, Cheltenham, GL52 7SB on Sunday 24th March and will have some of the “new essentials” above in addition to our usual range of spares. We can also deliver larger items if requested in advance. Doors open at 1030, with the AGM itself 1400 – 1530.
The UK also takes another step towards European Harmonisation on 28th March (funny, I thought we were meant to be leaving on 29th!) in that commercial trailers over 750kg and all trailers over 3500kg must be registered to drive in most mainland countries, bringing them in line with the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. No problem if you are staying within the UK. Registration is via the DVLA and means a new reg plate for your trailer (both at a cost!) instead of the age old UK practice of using the registration of the towing vehicle on the trailer. See www.gov.uk/guidance/trailer-registration