Part 131 of CASR Balloons and hot air airships

Rule status

Current

Part 131 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (CASR) sets out specific requirements for operating balloons and hot air airships (Part 131 aircraft).

Part 131 of CASR and the Part 131 Manual of Standards (MOS) and some rules in Part 91 and its MOS apply to the 4 types of Part 131 aircraft operations:

  • balloon transport - commercial hot air balloon passenger carrying operations (previously known as charter operations)
  • specialised balloon operations (previously known as aerial work) but may now be a commercial or non-commercial operation
  • private activities for sport and recreation
  • balloon flying training for the commercial pilot (balloon) licence.

Some rules in Part 91 of CASR apply to crewed free balloons and hot air airships, while others do not. The appendices of the Guide for balloons and hot air airships details the rules that are not applicable.

On 2 December 2023 CASA assumed the administration of private recreational balloon activities from the Australian Ballooning Federation. We now issue all pilot authorisations for private pilots as permits and endorsements under Civil Aviation Order 95.54.

Part 131 Manual of Standards

The Part 131 MOS supports the regulations in Part 131 and provides detailed and technical operational rules specifically for balloons and hot air airships.

Balloon transport and commercial balloon flying training

Operators need an Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) to conduct balloon transport operations and commercial balloon flying training.

You can find common requirements related to all AOCs in sections 27 and 28 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988.

Part 131 contains the detailed requirements for the issue and management of AOCs for balloon transport operations.

Requirements for commercial balloon flying training remain in a combination of Civil Aviation Orders 82.0 and 82.7.

Who it affects

Part 131 applies to all Part 131 aircraft pilots and operators.

A Part 131 aircraft means:

  • a hot air balloon
  • a hot air airship
  • a gas balloon
  • a mixed gas and hot air balloon.

An operator of a Part 131 aircraft means either:

  • the holder of an AOC or other approval
  • a person, organisation or enterprise (not necessarily the owner) engaged in aircraft operations involving the aircraft.

We set rules for operating a permanently tethered gas balloon that can carry passengers but can't fly freely in Subpart 131.Z. We do not require operators of tethered gas balloons to hold an AOC, but they must hold an approval from us issued under CASR 131.035.

Legislation

Legislative instruments

Legislative instruments apply to a broad range of people. These instruments include Manuals of Standards and exemptions to regulatory requirements.

Instruments related to this part will display in this space or you can view our list of legislative instruments.

9 legislative instruments available

Part 131 Manual of Standards
Commences:
Air Operators’ Certificates authorising commercial balloon licence or rating training (as amended)
Commences:
CAO 82.7
Part 131 Recreational Activity and Specialised Balloon Operations
Commences:
CAO 95.54
Amendment order (No. R93) 2004 - Airworthiness certification requirements - Manned free balloons (12/12/2004)
Commences:
CAO 101.54
Administration and procedure - distribution and rejection of aircraft components and aircraft materials - Instrument 2015
Commences:
CAO 100.16
Air operators’ certificates authorising the flying or operation of an aircraft, balloon or glider - Instrument 2014
Commences:
CAO 82.0
Fatigue management
Commences:
CAO 48.1
CASR Part 131 – Exemptions and Directions
Commences:
CASA EX62/24
CAR Part 5 – Exemption
Commences:
CASA EX76/24
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Non-legislative instruments

Non-legislative instruments apply to a particular person. Some exemptions to regulatory requirements in aviation regulations or a Manual of Standards may be listed here.

Non-legislative instruments related to this part will display in this space or you can view our list of non-legislative instruments.

1 non-legislative instruments available

Determination for the Part 131 MOS amendment
CASA 62/24
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Guidance material

Advisory material provides advice and guidance to explain particular regulatory requirements of a CASR Part. Guidance material relating to this part will appear in this space or you can view all our guidance material.

7 guidance material available

Part 131 Balloons and hot air airships AMC-GM

Updated:

Acceptable means of compliance and guidance material (AMC-GMs) for Part 131 Balloons and hot air airships.

Acceptable Means of Compliance and Guidance Material, Flight ops - General resource Version: 2.1

AC 1-01 - Understanding the legislative framework

Updated:

Advisory Circular AC 1-01 discusses the relationship between Australia's aviation legislation and the rules of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and how our legislation is overseen by parliament.

DOWNLOAD AC 1-01 Understanding the legislative framework (PDF, 899.94 KB)
Advisory Circular Version: 3.1

AC 131-01 - Manned free balloons - Continuing airworthiness

Updated:

Advisory circular AC 131-01 provides guidance and acceptable means of compliance on continuing airworthiness and maintenance matters for operators of manned free balloons and hot air airships.

DOWNLOAD AC 131-01 Part 131 Manned free balloons - Continuing airworthiness (PDF, 395.67 KB)
Advisory Circular, Flight ops - General resource Version: 2.2

AC 131-02 - Manned free balloons - Operations

Updated:

Advisory circular AC 131-02 provides guidance and acceptable means of compliance on operational matters for operators of manned free balloons and hot air airships.

DOWNLOAD AC 131-02 Manned free balloons - Operations (PDF, 815.83 KB)
Advisory Circular Version: 3.0

CAAP 48-01 - Fatigue management for flight crew members​​​​​

Updated:

CAAP 48-01 provides guidance on meeting the AOC holder and flight crew member (FCM) obligations in relation to fatigue risk management, required under Civil Aviation Order (CAO) 48.1 Instrument 2019.

DOWNLOAD CAAP 48-01 fatigue management for flight crew members​​​​​ (PDF, 1.8 MB)
Civil Aviation Advisory Publication Version: 3.3

AC 131-03 - Transitioning to Part 131 of CASR and MOS - A guide for commercial balloon operators

Updated:

Advisory Circular AC 131-03 provides advice in the form of guidance material (GM) and, in limited circumstances, includes an acceptable means of compliance (AMC) with an outcome-based regulatory requirement of Part 131 of CASR.

DOWNLOAD Transitioning to Part 131 - A guide for commercial balloon operators (PDF, 725.98 KB)
Advisory Circular, Flight ops - General resource Version: 2.0

AC 131-04 - Management of change for balloon transport AOC holders

Updated:

Advisory Circular AC 131-04 provides guidance to balloon transport operators and balloon commercial flying training providers who are seeking an improved understanding of the process of management of change.

DOWNLOAD AC 131-04 Management of change for balloon transport AOC holders (PDF, 892.21 KB)
Advisory Circular, Flight ops - Management of change Version: 1.1
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Supporting resources

7 supporting resources available

Part 131 of CASR Balloon transport sample exposition

This sample exposition assists operators with creating a manual for their Part 131 balloon and hot air airship transport operations.

Mapping of Civil Aviation Regulations to CASR Parts 91 and 131 Balloon transport operations

This document provides a guide to where provisions of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 (CAR), as they would relate to Part 131 aircraft operations, have been incorporated into Parts 91 and 131 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR).

Mapping of Civil Aviation Orders to CASR Parts 91 and 131 Balloon transport operations

This document provides a guide to where provisions of the Civil Aviation Orders, as they would relate to Part 131 aircraft operations, have been incorporated into Parts 91 and 131 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR).

Part 131 Approvals - other than AOC holder

Use this form to apply for the initial issue of, renewal of, or to request changes to, general approvals issued under Part 131 of Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (Part 131). Form number 5644.

Air operator's certificate (balloon operations) / Associated approvals application

Use this form to apply for the initial issue of, renewal of, or to apply for approval of significant changes to an air operator’s certificate (AOC) for balloon transport and/or balloon flying training operations.

Non-significant changes

Use this non-significant changes form to notify CASA of non-significant changes under Parts 119, 131 and 138 of CASR.

Self-assessment worksheet - Transitional operator - Balloon transport operations

CASA recommends using this self-assessment worksheet to confirm your exposition complies with the regulations for balloon transport operations in accordance with Part 131 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR) and the Part 131 Manual of Standards.

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Related content

Last updated date
Updated:
Online version available at: https://www.casa.gov.au//rules/regulatory-framework/casr/part-131-casr-balloons-and-hot-air-airships
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