Applying for a balloon pilot instructor certificate

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Requirements

You must meet the following requirements to obtain an instructor certificate (FI(B)):

• You are at least 18 years old.
• You have a Balloon Pilot Licence (BPL) with ratings for the type of balloon on which you want to teach.
• You have at least 75 hours of flight time as pilot in command (PIC).
• You have completed an FI(B) training course run by a declared training organisation, (DTO, in Dutch).
• You have passed an Assessment of Competence (AoC).
• You have a valid Class 2 medical certificate.
  Read more about medical certificates for pilots (in Dutch).

If you meet the requirements for a ballooning instructor certificate, you can apply for one through CAA NL. If you already have a ballooning instructor certificate and want to add instructor privileges, you can extend your ballooning instructor certificate.

Required attachments

You must upload several attachments with your online application. For the first issue of a balloon pilot instructor certificate, you will need:

• A copy of your Class 2 medical certificate. Read more about medical certificates for pilots (in Dutch).
• Proof of FI(B) training course completion.
• A copy of your Assessment of Competence (AoC).
• Signed copies from your logbook showing that you have completed at least 75 flying hours as a pilot in command (PIC) on hot air balloons.

How to apply

Please note: gather all attachments before completing the online form.

Apply for a balloon pilot instructor certificate using the online form Application for a flight instructor certificate. In the form, select: First issue of a flight instructor certificate.

Costs

The first issue of an instructor certificate costs €175. This amount is legally determined in the Regeling tarieven transportsectoren (Transportation Sectors Tariffs Scheme, in Dutch). You do not have to pay VAT on this amount.

Please note: If your employer is covering the costs you can indicate this during the application process. Please request authorisation from your employer for this and upload the completed and signed authorisation form as an attachment to your application.

After submitting your application

1. You will receive an automatic email confirming that CAA NL has received your application.
2. You will receive a payment request by email. Please pay within 4 weeks of the date on the payment request.
3. If any information is missing, CAA NL will ask you to provide additional details.
4. Once your application is complete and the fee has been paid, CAA NL will begin processing your application.
5. CAA NL will take approximately 30 working days to process your application.
6. You will receive the decision by email, along with an acknowledgement of payment for your records. If your application is approved, you will receive your instructor certificate by post.

Recency requirements

A balloon pilot instructor certificate is valid indefinitely. However, you must be able to demonstrate that you have sufficient experience and skills. These are the known as the recency requirements.

The recency requirements for balloon flight instructors are:

• You have a valid Balloon Pilot Licence (BPL).
• You have completed a refresher course for instructors at a DTO (in Dutch) in the past 3 years.
• You have taught at least 6 hours in a hot air balloon in the past 3 years.
• You have completed at least 1 instructional flight in the past 9 years under the supervision and to the satisfaction of an experienced FI(B). This person has been designated for this purpose by the Head of Training (HT) of the training organisation.

If you do not, or no longer meet all the requirements, you are not allowed to teach in a balloon. If you want to start teaching again, you must take a refresher course and pass an Assessment of Competence (AoC). This can be done at a at a DTO (in Dutch).

Laws and regulations

• EASA Balloon Rule Book – Easy Access Rules – September 2020
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/357
• Commission Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011