UK Balloon jump rules etc..

[shropshire 0]

Hi Peeps,

Just a quick question about the rules and regs for setting up a Balloon jump in the U.K.

Someone is arranging a FreeFlight festival (in Shropshire
Thanks a lot in advance

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[DoubleH 0]

This is from another board.....

All the ops manual has is that jumpers must have a B licence, balloon pilots need 60 hrs PIC of a balloon and a brief from a CSI who has at least 1 balloon jump or a balloon pilot who has dropped people before.

And thats it.


Hope it helps.

[shropshire 0]

Thanks, that's a great start

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[iamsam 0]

Not much help but isn't it air traffic control that's always a problem in the UK?

but what do I know

[shropshire 0]

Not sure... but I'll keep it in mind - Thanks.

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[Peterkn 17]

The BPA Ops manual says :


1.2. Balloon Pilots.
A balloon pilot shall not act as PIC of a Balloon for a flight during which parachutists are to be dropped unless he/she meets the following minimum requirements:

1.2.1. Licence.
He/she holds a valid Pilot’s Licence for the balloon to be flown on the intended flight.

1.2.2. Experience.
He/she has at least 60 hours PIC of Balloons.

1.2.3. Training.
He/she has received ground instruction on parachute dropping techniques and procedures given by at least a Category System Instructor or Team Leader who has made a minimum of one parachute jump from a balloon or by a Balloon Pilot who has already dropped two or more parachutists. This must include the procedures to be followed in the event of emergencies. He/she must also have read the BPA guidelines for Skydiving from Hot Air Balloons (BPA Form 109B).

1.2.4. Recency.
For any parachute dropping flight, logbook evidence is required of flight within the 90 days preceding the date of the intended flight, as PIC of the Class of balloon to be used. For the privileges of a professional licence to be exercised on a parachute dropping flight, a Certificate of Test is also required – valid for 13 months.

1.2.5. Documentation.
Having satisfied 1.2.1 - 1.2.4 above, BPA Form 109A is to be completed and sent to the BPA office who will then issue an Authorisation to Drop Parachutists Certificate. This certificate will be valid for a maximum of two years and will be renewable on the 31st March each second year (BPA Form 108A).

1.2.6. Renewal.
The renewal procedure is the same as the initial application and is made on the same form. (Also on BPA Form 109A).

N.B. The minimum qualification for a parachutist to jump from a balloon is FAI ‘B’ Certificate (Red).



Here's a link to form 109b that's referred to above.
http://bpa.org.uk/forms/docs/Form%20109B%20-%20Guideline%20for%20Balloon%20Pilots.doc

This makes the important point that the parachutists must be dropped so that they land on a DZ that's recognised by the BPA and is being run by a CCI in accordance with normal rules.
If the plan is for the jumpers to land anywhere else then this becomes a display jump, and normal display jump rules apply.
See section 13 of the ops manual for details : http://bpa.org.uk/safetydocs/Operations%20Manual/sec%2013.doc

Hope this helps.

Pete.

[pjc 0]

ATC isn't a problem as such if you are not dropping from or through controlled airspace - Plenty of open FIR in Shropshire)

[shropshire 0]

Many thanks Pete.

I'll pass along to the organiser and the pilots.

Cheers mate

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[yoink 321]

*Cough*

Bandit Jumps


*Cough*

[Dazzle 0]

Just a thought but I think that Demos were recently excluded from the BPA insurance so you may need to take out separate insurance if you are not going to land on a normal dz

[shropshire 0]

Thanks Darren

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[LivingLegend 0]

Does the BPA have any authority at all over something like this other than in an advisory capacity ?

I thought the only governing body would be the CAA.

Anyone know ?

________________________________________

1.618 !

[jakee 1,255]

Quote

Does the BPA have any authority at all over something like this other than in an advisory capacity ?

I thought the only governing body would be the CAA.

Anyone know ?

It's parachuting out of an aircraft. Unless you set up your own regulatory body and have it recognised by the CAA then for the jump to be legal it has to be by BPA rules.

(AFAIK)

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[cpoxon 0]

Quote

Just a thought but I think that Demos were recently excluded from the BPA insurance so you may need to take out separate insurance if you are not going to land on a normal dz

I do not believe that to be true. From http://www.bpa.org.uk/Insurance%20-%20the%20facts.htm

Quote

Were premiums to be differentiated between groups of Members such as instructors, experienced parachutists, less experienced parachutists, Display Teams, Drop Zone Operators, etc, there would be likely to be a sharp rise in the costs of administering the policy. The simplicity of the present arrangements keeps administration costs to a minimum.

The policy, over the years, has always been to spread the load as fairly and equitably as possible, which the BPA believes has always been in the best interests of all its Members, including DZ Operators.

Skydiving Fatalities - Cease not to learn 'til thou cease to live