FÉDÉRATION AÉRONAUTIQUE INTERNATIONALE
FAI BALLOONING COMMISSION (CIA)

ANNUAL CONFERENCE - Thessaloniki, Greece, March 2000

Appendix 13

CIA REPRESENTATIVE

Serious personal problems reduced at 10 months significantly my ballooning workload possibilities.

This led me to be unable to participate at the last Europe Airsports general meeting held in Paris.

Never the less, thanks to the balloon co-ordinator a report is available for the delegates. I am now back in our community for further work. For coming year, if approved by the plenary, I propose to contact all CIA delegates whose NAC also are Europe Airsports members. This will help the liaison person to obtain a contact person name.

This person should be familiar with the subjects handled by Europe Airsports working groups as licensing rules, local airworthiness law, ATC, radio communications, safety, etc...

This person will receive all pertinent ballooning information from Europe Airsport and inform the liaison person about specific subjects their balloon federation wishes to see handled by Europe Airsports.

BALLOONS & AIRSHIPS WORKING GROUP (BAWG)

Paper for tabling at the Technical Conference, December 1999. Illness and accident reduced progressive work somewhat since April 1999, however a report can be written:

Relations with FAI/CIA

BAWG established contact with CIA by virtue of an invitation in March 1999 to present a paper describing EA and it's association with FAI. Since then there appears to have been no positive result. A tenuous contact is possible by virtue of the fact that BAWG's Belgium member is also a CIA Delegate. CIA does not appear to be strong on regulation matters (witness, over the years only one Technical Conference is recorded); nevertheless they are an official organ and might be incorporated in BAWG work

Medical

A BAWG paper written in March 1999 discussed medical certification as thought pertinent for balloonists. In the case of PPLs it had two recommendations, 1) a carefully regulated Self-Declaration countersigned by one's General Practitioner, 2) failing that then JAA Class 3 'vas suggested. Commercial medical certification also was covered.

The proposal (CAA 10) to be tabled by Dr Peter Saundby at the BA Conference of December 1999, covers PPLs and does conclude with the principle of Self-Declaration and lays down the governing regulations.

The importance of paper CAA 10 is seen in the facts that... medical certification is required to validate a PPL licence and Ballooning and Gliding FCL are due for JAA discussion.

Definitions

Following several years work and now thought to be important with forthcoming JAA deliberations in mind, permission was given in April for a study. One argument was that some definitions of possible importance were not included in JAA/ICAO lists. Others may or may not be conducive to sporting aviation requirements. Research has progressed and covers a series of seven out some twelve possible papers on various aviation topics. This work was circulated to a Working Group. A shorter version covering ballooning aspects only had wider circulation to BAWG and to CIA.

The study is not discussed in this BAWG report, but will have separate discussion at the BA Conference of December 1999.

AWGAS

I have noted the AWGAS report from Rudi Schuegraf, which is to be tabled at the EA Conference of December 1999. It seems as preoccupied with 'Definitions' as I am! For example the comments covering Aerial Work/Direct Costs are similar to those quoted by myself several years ago. The seven definitions covering Aerial Work have also been reported by myself! All these and more are referred to in the Study to be presented at the BA Conference of December 1999.

I note the forthcoming AWGAS meetings with great interest and would mention that several of the committee are people I have known and whom I have worked with in committee.

JAR - M

A draft copy of JAR-M (Issue 4) is to hand. This JAR proposes the maintenance requirements applicable to the operators of all aircraft and component specified in JAR-M-15, effective 1^st April 2001(?) It is proposed via JAR-M-15 (Applicability) and Subpart C (Private Aviation Maintenance) that general aviation balloons and gliders be maintained by persons acceptable to the NAA etc. as per the proposed private aviation requirements.

It is noted that Jar-M- 10 contains definitions: such as: general aviation, private aviation, aircraft component, standard part,

Lightweight Transponder

The development of international standards for a lightweight transponder is progressing with the submission of an operational requirement to AUROCAE. In addition activity is being initiated within ICAO to progress global issues. In respect of the CAA development of a specification, ground testing of the transponder developed by RACAL has been completed in respect of the receiver functionality. The transmitter aspects are programmed for completion and flight trials will commence on receipt of a Temporary Airworthiness Approval to be obtained from CAA.

Pressure Relief Valves (PRV)

This is a safety device fitted to all propane flight cylinders. As regards PRVs fitted to Worthington cylinders only, a new regulation required it to be changed after 10 years of operation. The Worthington cylinder is a type widely used across Europe. Procurement gave rise to problems (no unapproved parts may be fitted to aircraft). This meant that this particular PRV could only be purchased from Cameron Balloons. A meeting of the BBAC Technical Committee was called with CAA in attendance; this committee includes members from UK Manufacturers. Action was sought to make this PRV a Standard Part and therefore more widely procurable. Please note these comments apply only to this one version of PRV fitment.

Inspectors Handbook & Guide

Work on this handbook began several years ago and is now being reviewed and updated by a BBAC/Technical Committee Working Group. Intended as a general guide with cross-reference to the Manufacturers Flight and Maintenance Manuals. European coverage is intended by inclusion of Non-UK Manufacturers.

JAA Contact

With JAA/FCL discussions on the horizon, eye-to-eye contact has been much in mind! A RAeC route is under investigation. A CAA route has possibility Other European Authority co-operation is an unknown at present. CIA route needs developing. EA route is most promising, but at present would rely on Technical Officer/BAWG liaison, rather than eye-to-eye discussion.

Around the World Balloon Flight

After several attempts sponsored by different organisations, the Breitling Team successfully completed the project in March 1999. This was the Breiting Sponsor's third attempt and their effort has been recognised. The two pilots Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones, have received many awards. Don Cameron, who instigated this particular design of Rozier balloon, received a RAeC award (Salemon Trophy).

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