CS 31GB.81 Operating instructions

ED Decision 2011/012/R

1. Operating instructions must be furnished in a Flight Manual with each balloon.
2. The Flight Manual must contain:
   1. a description of the balloon and its technical equipment with explanatory sketches;
   2. operating limitations, normal procedures (including rigging, inflation, deflation and tethered flight (if applicable)), emergency procedures, and other relevant information specific to the balloon’s operating characteristics and necessary for safe operation. This section of the manual requires approval;
   3. specification of the permissible lifting gas;
   4. information for ground handling, transport and storage.
3. The operating limitations, normal and emergency procedures, and other relevant information specific to the balloon’s operating characteristics and necessary for safe operation must be provided to the pilot.

ED Decision 2011/012/R

1. It is recommended that the Specimen Flight Manual of CS-22 (AMC 22.1581) be used as guidance in the creation of a Balloon Flight Manual.
2. Each part of the Flight Manual that is required to be approved needs to be segregated, identified and clearly distinguished from each unapproved part of that manual.
3. A comprehensive list of approved basket and envelope configurations needs to be provided for each balloon model to enable operators, inspectors, etc. to easily establish an item’s acceptability.
4. If applicable, the operating limitations, normal and emergency procedures need to include procedures and limitations for tethered flight. These procedures and limitations need to include:
   1. site selection, layout and assembly,
   2. the maximum wind speed and meteorological conditions for tethered operation,
   3. the MTOM (if different from free flight),
   4. the maximum height of the tether,
   5. the minimum strength of ropes, rigging, etc.,
   6. limitations on occupancy (if applicable).

ED Decision 2011/012/R

The operating procedures should contain instructions necessary for the safe operation of the balloon. In particular, mitigating measures for risks of that specific type of balloon should be included. Examples are safety instructions for flying, filling or deflating envelopes using a flammable or poisonous gas as lifting gas.

Operating procedures need to provide empty mass information required by CS 31GB.16 in an unambiguous manner that will allow the verification of the balloon’s mass limitations before flight.

ED Decision 2011/012/R

The operating limitations, normal and emergency procedures need to be available to the pilot during operation by providing the specific sections of the flight manual or by other means (e.g. placards, quick reference cards) that effectively accomplish the purpose.

→ CS 31GB.82