695 

Federal Aviation Administration, DOT 

§ 31.61 

(f) Each element of the system must 

be serviceable at the end of the test. 

[Doc. No. 1437, 29 FR 8258, July 1, 1964, as 
amended by Amdt. 31–2, 30 FR 3377, Mar. 13, 
1965; Amdt. 31–7, 61 FR 18223, Apr. 24, 1996; 61 
FR 20877, May 8, 1996] 

§ 31.49

Control systems. 

(a) Each control must operate easily, 

smoothly, and positively enough to 
allow proper performance of its func-
tions. Controls must be arranged and 
identified to provide for convenience of 
operation and to prevent the possi-
bility of confusion and subsequent in-
advertent operation. 

(b) Each control system and oper-

ating device must be designed and in-
stalled in a manner that will prevent 
jamming, chafing, or interference from 
passengers, cargo, or loose objects. Pre-
caution must be taken to prevent for-
eign objects from jamming the con-
trols. The elements of the control sys-
tem must have design features or must 
be distinctly and permanently marked 
to minimize the possibility of incorrect 
assembly that could result in malfunc-
tioning of the control system. 

(c) Each balloon using a captive gas 

as the lifting means must have an 
automatic valve or appendix that is 
able to release gas automatically at 
the rate of at least three percent of the 
total volume per minute when the bal-
loon is at its maximum operating pres-
sure. 

(d) Each hot air balloon must have a 

means to allow the controlled release 
of hot air during flight. 

(e) Each hot air balloon must have a 

means to indicate the maximum enve-
lope skin temperatures occurring dur-
ing operation. The indicator must be 
readily visible to the pilot and marked 
to indicate the limiting safe tempera-
ture of the envelope material. If the 
markings are on the cover glass of the 
instrument, there must be provisions 
to maintain the correct alignment of 
the glass cover with the face of the 
dial. 

[Doc. No. 1437, 29 FR 8258, July 1, 1964, as 
amended by Amdt. 31–2, 30 FR 3377, Mar. 13, 
1965] 

§ 31.51

Ballast. 

Each captive gas balloon must have a 

means for the safe storage and con-

trolled release of ballast. The ballast 
must consist of material that, if re-
leased during flight, is not hazardous 
to persons on the ground. 

§ 31.53

Drag rope. 

If a drag rope is used, the end that is 

released overboard must be stiffened to 
preclude the probability of the rope be-
coming entangled with trees, wires, or 
other objects on the ground. 

§ 31.55

Deflation means. 

There must be a means to allow 

emergency deflation of the envelope so 
as to allow a safe emergency landing. If 
a system other than a manual system 
is used, the reliability of the system 
used must be substantiated. 

[Amdt. 31–2, 30 FR 3377, Mar. 13, 1965] 

§ 31.57

Rip cords. 

(a) If a rip cord is used for emergency 

deflation, it must be designed and in-
stalled to preclude entanglement. 

(b) The force required to operate the 

rip cord may not be less than 25, or 
more than 75, pounds. 

(c) The end of the rip cord to be oper-

ated by the pilot must be colored red. 

(d) The rip cord must be long enough 

to allow an increase of at least 10 per-
cent in the vertical dimension of the 
envelope. 

§ 31.59

Trapeze, basket, or other 

means provided for occupants. 

(a) The trapeze, basket, or other 

means provided for carrying occupants 
may not rotate independently of the 
envelope. 

(b) Each projecting object on the tra-

peze, basket, or other means provided 
for carrying occupants, that could 
cause injury to the occupants, must be 
padded. 

§ 31.61

Static discharge. 

Unless shown not to be necessary for 

safety, there must be appropriate bond-
ing means in the design of each balloon 
using flammable gas as a lifting means 
to ensure that the effects of static dis-
charges will not create a hazard. 

[Amdt. 31–2, 30 FR 3377, Mar. 13, 1965] 

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