Dutch balloonists are hoping the government will support them in their battle against European plans to ban them from taking people up in the air commercially once they reach the age of 65.

European rules for commercial airline personnel are being applied to ballon flights as well. ‘This means we are being compared to Airbus pilots,’ balloonist Hans van Hoesel told Nos television.

‘But flying them involves much more complicated systems. A balloon is not like that,’ he said.

Hobby

The Netherlands has some 300 balloonists, of whom around 25% are over the age of 65. A ban on commercial flights would make it impossible for many of them to support their hobby, Van Hoesel said.

Not only is the equipment expensive, but it also takes years to build up the necessary expertise, he said.

Britain has already made an exception to the rules for balloonists and the Dutch infrastructure ministry is considering taking a similar step, Nos television says.