Since August 2022, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has engaged in a strategic collaboration with the EU-South East Asia Aviation Partnership under the EASA Arise Plus initiative to enhance Thailand’s regulatory framework for hot air balloon operations. A core aspect of this collaboration has been the development of the Thailand Civil Aviation Authority Part Balloon Air Operations (TCAR Part BOP), facilitated by Mr. Matthias Borgemeier, an expert in hot air balloon operational standards. Mr. Borgemeier’s guidance has been instrumental in aligning TCAR Part BOP with the provisions of Thailand’s Air Navigation Act, thereby elevating the safety standards governing hot air balloon activities throughout the country.
Building on the achievements of 2022, CAAT expanded the project in 2023 to include public consultations on TCAR Part BOP and arranged a study visit to Spain, offering CAAT personnel direct exposure to international practices and standards in hot air balloon operations. In 2024, the EU-South East Asia Aviation Partnership further supported CAAT by facilitating advanced training for hot air balloon inspectors (General Aviation Inspector – Hot Air Balloon), under the direction of Mr. Mortera Romeral Faustino, a prominent hot air balloon operations specialist from AESA (Agencia Estatal de Seguridad Aérea) in Spain. This specialized training has substantially reinforced CAAT’s capacity to effectively oversee and enforce safety regulations within Thailand’s hot air balloon sector.
In addition, the EU-South East Asia Aviation Partnership supported CAAT in convening the “Workshop on the Certification and Oversight of Hot Air Balloons,” held from October 30 to November 1, 2024, at the Centara Grand at Central Plaza Ladprao Bangkok. This workshop, which included participants from ASEAN member states such as The Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), Cambodia, Indonesia, and Malaysia, served as an essential forum for the exchange of regulatory insights and best practices pertaining to hot air balloon.The event represents a significant advance in regional cooperation, fostering alignment of hot air balloon safety standards with internationally recognized benchmarks.
Through this workshop and its associated initiatives, CAAT and its partners emphasize their continued commitment to advancing aviation safety and sustainability within Thailand. This collaboration not only addresses immediate safety objectives but also positions Thailand to progressively align with global standards in aviation regulation, contributing to a more robust and harmonized regulatory environment across the region.
