Balloon / Your Way to the BPL

Requirements

Age, Medical and Personal Requirements for Entry into BPL Education.

Age and entry into the EASA Regulatory Area

For a BPL, you must at least 16 years be old. Supervised solo journeys are from 14 years Possible if your flight instructor releases them. The start of the supervised education and the consent of the guardians you clarify with the school.

Medically clarify early

For the usual non-commercial BPL rights, at least one valid LAPL Medical required. Commercial passenger journeys require at least class 2. For other commercial operations, Class 2 is required if there are more than four persons on board.

A medical is required at the latest before the first solo trip. Discuss health issues with a licensed medical professional and clarify fitness before major expenses.

What you should personally bring

  • Team spirit: Arming, securing and retrieving are joint work.
  • Flexibility: The training is based on suitable weather and available teachers.
  • Readiness to learn: Weather, navigation and air law are just as much a part of this as the practical journey.
  • Decision strength: A cancelled trip may be the right decision.
  • Suitable for everyday use: Discuss corpus and exit, prolonged standing and floor work with the school.

Documents and radio

The specific list of documents depends on the training organisation and the competent authority. In Germany, among other things, proof of identity, medical, official documents and a declaration of consent for minors may be necessary. Radio communications procedures and an aeronautical radio certificate, if any, shall be included in the initial call.

Use the school as a point of contact for your personal checklist, especially with a residence or medical from another state.

Before the first contract

  1. Help with a crew and get to know the course of a trip.
  2. Clarify medical and educational objectives.
  3. Examine the ATO or DTO and the specific training offer.
  4. Compare written offer and weather/cancellation rules.
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Sources and additional information

Editorial reviewed in October 2026. For your education, the current requirements of the competent authority and the agreement with the school apply.

YOUR NEXT STEP

Find your place in the basket.

Talk to a training organization about your entry.

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