For paragraph 131.565 (2) (b), this Division prescribes the training and checking requirements for the pilot in command of a Part 131 aircraft in flight.
27.02 Commercial pilot (balloon) licence or CAR certificate of validation
(1) This section applies to a person (the holder) who holds a commercial pilot (balloon) licence (a licence) or a CAR certificate of validation, to pilot a Part 131 aircraft, issued by CASA.
(2) Before commencing a flight that is to be conducted for hire or reward, the holder must meet the requirements of regulation 5.143 of CAR.
(3) Before commencing a flight that is a Part 131 recreational activity, the holder must meet any training and checking requirements of the Part 131 ASAO that are necessary to enable the holder to conduct the activity.
27.03 Recreational pilot authorisation
(1) This section applies to a person (the holder) who holds a Part 131 pilot authorisation (an authorisation) to undertake a Part 131 recreational activity.
(2) Before commencing a flight, the holder must meet any training and checking requirements prescribed by the Part 131 ASAO to enable the holder to continue to exercise the privileges of the authorisation.
Division 27.2 Other qualifications or experience — general
27.04 Purpose
For paragraph 131.565 (2) (c), this Division prescribes the other qualification and experience requirements for the pilot in command of any Part 131 aircraft in flight.
27.05 Balloon class endorsement
(1) This section applies to a person (the holder) who holds a commercial pilot (balloon) licence (a licence), or a CAR certificate of validation, issued by CASA for the holder to pilot a Part 131 aircraft.
(2) Before commencing a flight as pilot in command of a Part 131 aircraft that is a manned free balloon, the pilot must hold the balloon class endorsement for the class of balloon in accordance with Table 5.01 in regulation 5.01 of CAR and CAO 40.7.
27.06 Night VFR flight
(1) Before commencing a flight of a Part 131 aircraft under the VFR by night, the pilot in command must:
(a) for a flight that is a Part 131 recreational activity:
(i) successfully complete a ground-based check and a proficiency check flight, that demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the equipment, systems and operational requirements for safe night VFR flight; and
(ii) meet the day VFR recency requirements of the Part 131 ASAO; and
(b) for a flight that is not a Part 131 recreational activity — meet the recent experience requirements of regulation 5.144 of CAR as if they applied to the pilot in command.
Note To conduct a balloon transport flight at night, the pilot in command must also hold a balloon grade of night VFR rating: see CAO 40.2.2.
(2) For subparagraph (1) (a) (i), the ground-based check and the proficiency check flight must be conducted by an instructor who holds:
(a) a balloon grade of night VFR rating; or
(b) a night rating or endorsement issued by a Part 131 ASAO.
Division 27.3 Other qualifications or experience — balloon transport operations
27.07 Purpose
(1) This Division only applies to a balloon transport operation.
(2) For paragraph 131.565 (2) (c), this Division prescribes the other qualification and experience requirements for the pilot in command of a Part 131 aircraft involved in a balloon transport operation.
Note Paragraph 131.195 (h) requires balloon transport AOC holders to include in their operations manuals the details of each plan, process, procedure, program and system implemented by the holder to safely conduct and manage operations in compliance with the civil aviation legislation.
27.08 Balloon transport operations — induction training and area familiarisation
(1) Before commencing a flight as pilot in command of a balloon transport operation, the pilot must satisfactorily complete the induction training and area familiarisation required by the balloon transport operator’s exposition.
(2) In addition to the training and familiarisation mentioned in subsection (1), before commencing a flight as pilot in command of a balloon transport operation that is to be conducted in an area with which the pilot is not familiar, the pilot’s experience and competence must be:
(a) assessed in accordance with the procedures detailed in the operator’s exposition; and
(b) further developed through any additional induction training and area familiarisation as required by the operator’s exposition.
27.09 Balloon transport operations — general emergency training and competency
(1) The requirements of this section must be met before a person first acts as a pilot for a balloon transport operation.
(2) The pilot must complete training in the following:
(a) the operator’s general emergency procedures;
(b) the procedures for dealing with the specific emergency situations specified in subsection (3);
(c) locating, accessing, and using the emergency equipment and survival equipment on the aircraft;
Note For whether a life jacket, flotation device or emergency equipment must be carried — see section 18.03.
(d) the actions to be taken in the event of an emergency relating to the operation of an inflation fan.
(3) For paragraph (2) (b), the specific emergency situations are the following:
(a) fire in the air or on the ground, including how to use any fire extinguishers carried on the Part 131 aircraft and on any support vehicles;
(b) a flammable gas leak while the aircraft is in the air or on the ground;
(c) contact between the aircraft and a powerline;
(d) emergency evacuation from the launch field or the balloon basket;
(e) ditching in water if operations are planned or likely to traverse any body of water, such as a lake, a bay or an estuary, at a horizontal distance of more than 1 km from the shore for longer than 5 minutes before being again over land;
(f) the aircraft landing in trees;
(g) preparation for, and the handling of, a hard landing;
(h) emergency landing, whether with or without ground support personnel;
(i) SAR procedures.
(4) The pilot must successfully complete a general emergency competency check for the operator that covers at least all of the matters mentioned in subsection (2) (as applicable).
(5) For the recurrency provisions under subsection 27.11 (1), the successful completion of a general emergency competency check for the operator under this section is deemed to be the first previous general emergency competency check for a pilot.
27.10 Balloon transport operations — transition training to first act as pilot in command without supervision
(1) The requirements of this section must be met before a person first acts as a pilot for a balloon transport operation without the direct supervision of a person who meets the requirements of section 27.12.
(2) The pilot must complete transition training that includes training in the following:
(a) the duties and responsibilities of a pilot for the operator;
(b) the procedures relating to the operator’s operations;
(c) the normal and emergency procedures for the aircraft used for the flight, other than those already mentioned in subsections 27.09 (2) and (3);
(d) the conduct of a passenger briefing and safety demonstration for the aircraft being used for the flight.
(3) The pilot must successfully complete, for the operator, an operator proficiency check in relation to the matters mentioned in subsection (2).
27.11 Recurrent training and checking requirements
(1) For a balloon transport operation, the pilot must complete recurrent training and checking in accordance with this section.
(2) Training and checking for a pilot’s general emergency training matters mentioned in subsection 27.09 (2) must occur at intervals of not more than 24 months after the date of the first previous general emergency competency check (the due date) covering the matters mentioned in subsection 27.09 (2).
Note For the previous general emergency competency check, see subsection 27.09 (5).
(4) The training and checking mentioned in subsection (2) is deemed to have been completed on the due date if the check is successfully completed within the 90 days before the due date.
Note Thus, the due date does not alter.
27.12 Requirements for individuals conducting training and checking
(1) This section applies to the following training and checking events (the relevant training and checking):
(a) the general emergency training required by subsection 27.09 (2);
(b) the general emergency competency check required by subsection 27.09 (4) and section 27.11;
(c) the transition training required by subsection 27.10 (2);
(d) the operator proficiency check required by subsection 27.10 (3).
(2) The relevant training and checking must be conducted and assessed by 1 of the following:
(a) the operator’s head of flying operations — provided that person satisfies the requirements to perform a training or a competency assessment role, as set out in the operator’s exposition;
(b) an individual who is authorised by Part 5 of CAR to conduct a balloon flight review.
27.13 RESERVED
27.14 Exposition requirements
(a) procedures to be followed to ensure that the requirements of this Division are complied with; and
(b) details of the content and duration of the training provided by the balloon transport operator to ensure that each pilot is trained to be competent to discharge their duties and responsibilities under the civil aviation legislation.
Division Div 27 - Part 131 (Balloons and Hot Air Airships) Manual of Standards 2024 - 1 Training and checking | Zoe