The Air Navigation Order 2009

Flight crew licence requirement – Exception for balloons

55.—(1) A person may act as pilot in command of a balloon within the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, without being the holder of an appropriate licence granted or rendered valid under this Order if the conditions in paragraph (2) are satisfied.

(2) The conditions referred to in paragraph (1) are that—

(a) the person is the holder of an appropriate licence granted or rendered valid under this Order in all respects save that the person has not within the immediately preceding 13 months carried out as pilot in command at least five flights each of not less than five minutes duration;

(b) the person acts in accordance with instructions given by a person authorised by the CAA to supervise flying in the type of balloon being flown;

(c) no person other than one specified in sub-paragraph (b) is carried; and

(d) the balloon is not flying for the purpose of commercial air transport, public transport or aerial work other than aerial work which consists of the giving of instruction in flying or the conducting of flying tests.