Emergency Operations and Safety Procedures
Emergencies a balloon actually has
Balloon emergencies are few but time-critical: fire, fuel leaks, a burner that will not light, a valve stuck open, a torn envelope, a high-wind landing and power lines. The exam rewards a sequence: identify the problem, control the fuel, land as soon as practicable, brief the passengers.
Procedures
- Burner fire: shut off fuel at the tank valve, use the fire extinguisher, land immediately. A fire in the air has no other acceptable outcome.
- Fuel leak: close the tank valve, remove ignition sources, land.
- Burner or pilot light failure: attempt a relight with the igniter; if it will not light, select a landing area and land.
- Parachute valve stuck open: the balloon descends continuously; burn to slow the descent, choose the largest open field and prepare for a hard landing.
- Envelope tear or rip panel pulled: descent is immediate; get passengers into the landing position and land.
- High-wind landing: at touchdown pull the parachute valve line to collapse the envelope and stop the drag; keep the basket away from fences and wires.
- Power lines: fly over them and land beyond, never between. If contact occurs, stay in the basket, touch nothing metal, and wait for the utility to confirm the line is de-energized unless fire forces evacuation.
Passenger briefing
Before launch: no smoking, stay in the basket, hold the handles, face the direction of travel, bend knees on impact, and do not exit until told.
Worked example
At 500 ft AGL the burner flame goes out and will not relight, and you smell propane. Close the tank valve, confirm the pilot light is out, brief the passengers, select a field clear of wires and livestock, and land; investigate on the ground. Attempting a repair at low altitude is the wrong answer.
Traps
Jumping from the basket at the first wire contact; trying to out-climb a balloon with a stuck valve instead of landing; and forgetting that balloons are not required to carry an ELT, so your emergency plan cannot depend on one.