(a) Each operating certificate holder shall prepare and keep current manuals setting forth the operating certificate holder's procedures and policies acceptable to the ECAA ( Company Operations Manual, General Maintenance Manual, Training Manual, Balloon Flight Manual, Balloon Maintenance Manual,..........…etc.).

(b) The operating certificate holder’s flight, ground, and maintenance personnel in conducting its operations must use these manuals.

(c) Each operating certificate holder required to have a manual shall maintain at least one copy of the manuals at its principal base of operations and at other operations stations.

(d) The manuals must not be contrary to any applicable ECAA regulations, or the operating certificate holder's operating certificate.

(e) A copy of the manuals, or appropriate portions of the manual (and changes and additions) shall be made available to maintenance and ground operations personnel by the operating certificate holder and furnished to:

(1) Its pilots

(2) ECAA.

(f) Each employee of the operating certificate holder to whom a manual or appropriate portions of it are furnished shall keep it up to date with the changes and additions furnished to them.

101.13 Company Operations Manual

(a) The manual shall have the date of the last revision on each revised page.

(b) The manual must include the name and title of each person authorized to exercise operational control.

(1) Procedures as acceptable to the ECAA, to ensure that the operational and emergency equipment necessary for an intended flight is serviceable; and that the Certificate of Airworthiness of each balloon they operate remain valid.

(2) The procedures for monitoring, accessing and reporting operational experience;

(3) Balloons types and models to which the manual applies;

(4) The procedures for advising the ECAA of significant in-service occurrences.

(5) procedures for ensuring that the balloon is operated within approved limits of mass and center of gravity;

(6) Balloon handling procedures;

(7) Procedures for complying with accident notification requirements;

(8) Procedures for ensuring that the pilot knows that the required airworthiness inspections have been made and that the balloon has been approved for return to service in compliance with applicable maintenance requirements;

(9) Procedures for reporting and recording mechanical irregularities that come to the attention of the pilot in before, during, and after completion of a flight;

(10) Procedures to be followed by the pilot for determining that mechanical irregularities or defects reported for previous flights have been corrected or that correction has been deferred;

(11) Procedure for pre-flight briefing of ground crew;

(12) Procedure for briefing of passengers on emergency procedures and equipment, including (where appropriate) suitable clothing, lifejackets, protective head gear and passenger landing position blocks;

(13) The responsibility for supervising refueling and for ensuring that tanks and hoses are secured and free of leaks;

(14) The responsibility for checking the condition and security of fire, safety, and medical equipment;

(15) The responsibility for ensuring the correct completion of the Technical Log, both before and after flight;

(16) The responsibility for supervising the loading and unloading of the balloon;

(17) Company policy on the carriage of children and aged or infirm or Handicapped passengers should be stated

(18) Provisions and use of oxygen and associated equipment

(19) Instructions on restricting operating altitudes must be included if oxygen is not carried, or if a balloon is not correctly equipped either temporarily or permanently.

(20) Procedures for normal, abnormal or emergency conditions must be listed in the Manual.

(21) Procedures on altimeter setting, particularly the use of QFE and QNH. This policy must be clearly described in Operations Manuals to cover all phases of flight.

(22) Procedures for the evacuation of a balloon and for the care of passengers following a hard landing, ditching, power line contact or other emergency are to be specified.

(23) Other procedures and policy instructions regarding the operating certificate holder's operations, which are issued by the operating certificate holder, and

(24) Any other information and instructions related to the certificate holder's safety program.

101.15 General Maintenance Manual:

(a) The operator shall provide the ECAA with a copy of its general maintenance manual, together with all amendments and / or revisions to it and shall incorporate in such mandatory material the ECAA may require. The general maintenance manual shall contain :

(1) A description of the following procedures as acceptable to the ECAA, to ensure that:

(i) Each balloon operated is maintained in an airworthy condition.

(ii) The operational and emergency equipment necessary for intended flight are serviceable; and

(iii) The Certificate of Airworthiness of each balloon they operate remains valid.

(2) The administrative arrangements between the operator and all approved maintenance organizations;

(3) Names and duties of the person required to ensure that all maintenance is carried out in accordance with the maintenance control manual;

(4) A reference to the maintenance program provided by the operator, for the use and guidance of maintenance and operational personnel concerned, approved by the ECAA, with human factors principles observed in its design,

(5) Instructions and procedures for maintenance, preventive maintenance and servicing;

(6) The procedures for accessing continuing airworthiness information and implementing any resulting actions;

(7) The procedures for implementing action resulting from mandatory continuing airworthiness information;

(8) Establishing and maintaining a system of analysis and continued monitoring of the performance and efficiency of the maintenance program, in order to correct any deficiency in that program;

(9) The methods used for the completion and retention of the operator's maintenance records;

(10) Maintenance training program, curriculums, instructors, procedures and description of training system and facilities;

(11) Procedures for charging Gas-Bottles;

(12) Fire precaution procedures during charging Gas-Bottles;

(13) Procedures for storage, labeling/tagging and release of balloon components and material to Balloon maintenance;

(14) Procedures for safe handling Gas-Bottles; (10)(1(((

(15) A description of the procedure for receiving, amending and distributing within the organization all necessary airworthiness data from the type certificate holder or type design organization; and

(16) A description of the maintenance procedures and the procedures for completing and signing a maintenance release when maintenance is based on a system other than that of an approved maintenance organization

(17) Quality control procedure.(17)(

101.17 Training Manual

(a) Training Manual is regarded by the ECAA as the primary indication of the standard of training and testing likely to be achieved by an applicant for, or holder of, an AOC. One copy must be submitted to ECAA, preferably with the initial application for an AOC.

For balloon operations the Training Manual may be a part of the Operations Manual.

(b) In addition to the more general matters of company training policy, the following in particular, must be included in the Manual:

(1) The name of the person responsible for the supervision of aircrew training and testing; and the name of the authorized company type rating examiner;

(2) Minimum standards of recent experience and of initial and periodic training to be met by pilots for each type of balloon used by the Operator;

(3) Specimen record forms in respect of all training and testing;

(1) As part of the Line check, company pilots have to practice the carrying out of the relevant drills and procedures required in the case of an emergency occurring to the balloon. The following equipment must be included in the training if carried on board:

(i) Sufficient, adequate and suitable first-aid kits and their contents;

(ii) Sufficient, adequate and suitable fire extinguishers;

(iii)Pyrotechnics; and

(2) Company personnel should be given every opportunity to familiarize themselves with all equipment on a regular basis.

(3) Minimum syllabus items for emergency and survival equipment training exist in ECATSH

(d) Company personnel shall have a adequate training on fire fighting .

101. 19 Balloon requirements

(a) No operating certificate or permit holder may operate a balloon under this Part unless that balloons:

(1) Is registered in the Egyptian lighter-than-air aircraft register and carries an appropriate and current airworthiness operating certificate; and

(2) Is in an airworthy condition and meets all applicable airworthiness requirements, including those relating to identification and equipment.

(3) Is type certificated according to ECAR Part 31.

(b) An operating certificate or permit holder may operate a balloon if it is registered in a country, which is a party to the Convention on International Civil Aviation if:

(1) The balloon carries an appropriate airworthiness certificate issued by the country of registration and meets the registration and identification requirements of that country;

(2) The balloon is operated by a properly certificated airman as determined by the ECAA; and

101. 21 Management personnel

(a) Each operating certificate holder must have enough qualified management personnel in the following or equivalent positions to ensure safety in its operations:

(1) Operations Manager;

(2) Chief Pilot (2)

(3)Maintenance Manager,

(4) Safety Manager, and

(5) Chief inspector (as appropriate)

(b) Upon application by the operating certificate holder, the ECAA may approve different positions or numbers of positions than those listed in paragraph (a) of this section for a particular operation if the operating certificate holder shows that it can perform its operations safely under the direction of fewer or different categories of management personnel.

(1) Set forth the duties, responsibilities, and authority of the personnel required by this section in the manual required by this Part;

(2) List in the manual required by this Part the name of the person or persons assigned to those positions; and

(3) Within 10 working days, notify the ECAA of any change made in the assignment of persons to the listed positions.

101.22  Management personnel: qualifications

(a) To serve as Director of Operations under this part a person must:

(1) Hold or has hold a commercial pilot license Balloon or Aero plane with Balloon Category rating.

(2) Have at least 1 years supervisory or managerial experience in a position to exercise operations of balloons or aero planes.

(b) To serve as Chief Pilot under this part a person must :

(1) Hold a valid commercial pilot license Balloon or Aero plane with Balloon Category rating.

(2) Hold a valid balloon instructor rating.

(c) To serve as Director of Safety and Quality Assurance under this Part a person must:

(1) Have an overall understanding of how to establish and manage a comprehensive safety, quality assurance and accident prevention program and have a complete knowledge of all AOC operational requirements, manuals and training programs;

(2) Hold or has hold a commercial pilot license Balloon or Aeroplane with Balloon Category rating.

(3) Have five years experience in a comparable position with a military branch of service; or

(4) Have five years experience in a supervisory position with an Egyptian Governmental department, board or agency that is directly responsible for aviation issues.

(e) To serve as Chief Inspector under this Part a person must:

(d) A certificate holder may request a deviation to employ a person who does not meet the appropriate airman, managerial, or supervisory experience requirements of this section if the ECAA</INS> finds that the person has comparable experience, and can effectively perform the functions associated with the position in accordance with the Egyptian Civil Aviation Regulations and the procedures outlined in the certificate holder's manual. Grants of deviation under this paragraph may be granted after consideration of the size and scope of the operation and the qualifications of the intended personnel. The ECAA</INS> may, at any time, terminate any grant of deviation authority issued under this paragraph

101.23. Adequacy and Supervision of Staff

(a) Pilots

(1) It will be necessary for Operators to satisfy the ECAA that they have a sufficient number of pilots for the operations to be undertaken.

(2) Pilots must be aware of their individual responsibilities in relation to the legality and currency of any Flight Crew Licenses and associated ratings and certificates held. Flying with an applicable element of a license out of date is illegal and may invalidate insurance cover.

(3) The employment of part-time or ‘freelance’ pilots is acceptable. Irrespective of other pilots are part-time or full-time employees, tests carried out to establish their competence for flight.

(4) Tests conducted on behalf of another Operator may be accepted under arrangements set out in the company’s Training Manual. These arrangements must ensure that the pilot is competent to perform all the duties and responsibilities laid upon him by the Operator.

(b) Chief Pilot

(1) Arrangements must be made for the supervision of pilots by a person having the experience and qualities necessary to ensure the maintenance professional standards. This will necessitate the appointment of a Chief Pilot.

(2) The duties and responsibilities of the Chief Pilot must be carefully defined. ECAA will require verification that arrangements for the professional supervision of balloon pilots are properly related to the size and nature of the Operator’s.

(c) Certifying Staff: Appropriately certificated maintenance personnel or other person approved by the ECAA according to ECAR Part 65.

(d)Ground Staff:

(1) The number of ground staff needed will depend primarily upon the nature and the scale of operations; the ECAA will take full account of an Operator’s particular circumstances.

(2) Operations staff must be suitably trained personnel who have a complete understanding of the nature of their duties and responsibilities.

(3) Retrieve crews must be trained for, and experienced in, all aspects of normal and emergency operations. Responsibility for the training and supervision of ground staff rests with the company Operations Manager.

(a) Pilots

(b) Chief Pilot

(d)Ground Staff:

101.24 Safety Management System:

Each certificate holder shall establish, implement, maintain and adhere to a safety and quality assurance management system that is appropriate to the size, nature and complexity of all activities authorized to be conducted under the certificate and in accordance with EAC 00-11.

101.25 Facilities

(a) The nature and scale of office services required - clerical staff and equipment - should be related to the number of other staff employed.

(b) It is particularly important that office services are sufficient to ensure that operational instructions and information of all kinds are produced and circulated to all concerned without delay. Telephones must be manned or recorded while operations are in progress.

(c) Office space at the operating base must be sufficient to provide a suitable working environment for the staff employed and for the use of crews between flights. Adequate provision must be made for operational planning, for the storage and display of essential records and for flight planning.

(d) Storage facilities must be provided for parts, equipment, tools and material. Storage conditions must be such as to provide security for serviceable parts, segregation of serviceable from unserviceable parts, and prevent deterioration of and damage to stored items. Fuel gas cylinders store should be separated from other stores.

101.27 Equipment, tools and material

101.29 Operation Library

(a) At the operating base, the Operator must maintain an adequate library of maps, charts, flight guides, Operations Manuals and other documents needed for reference and planning purposes and for use in flight.

(b) The library must be kept in an orderly fashion with responsibility for its maintenance clearly defined.

(c) Aeronautical charts and appropriate flight guides will normally be required for the area over which the Operator is certificated to fly.

(d) Arrangements must be made for the amendment of manuals, flight guides etc. and for bringing the amendments to the notice of pilots and other operating staff. A record should be kept of the distribution of manuals and amendments.

101.30 Occurrence Reports

(a) Responsibility for making occurrence reports, must be assigned to a suitably qualified safety officer appointed for the purpose.

(b) Reports should be made to the ECAA through this official Occurrence Report Form (Ref. ECAR 39).

(1) Where appropriate, the circumstance of an incident should be made generally known within the Operator’s company.

(2) Particular care is to be taken to ensure that originators of occurrence reports are informed of the outcome of any subsequent investigations. To this end, full use should be made of the facilities provided for the exchange of information on occurrences and accidents by the ECAA’s.

(3) Operators must report to the ECAA any occurrence interpreted as being

(4) within the guidance in The Mandatory Occurrence Reporting Form.