DGCA Guidelines For Keeping Hot Air Balloons Airworthy

Hot air ballooning is one of the favorite adventure sports in India. Director General of Civil
Aviation (DGCA) in India, the primary government body responsible for regulating the civil
aviation in India, also frames the rules for this sport. These are mentioned in CAR Section 2Air Worthiness, Series 'F' Part Xv, Issue Ii. Since balloon is, for practical purposes, an aircraft,
there are regulations relating to its manufacturing, equipment registration, pilot qualification
and for other things such as for Flight Manual.
These guidelines pertain to manufacturing, registration and markings, security, flight
conditions, certification, maintenance of flight manuals, service documents, log books and
documents, instruments and equipments to be carried in flight.
Manufacturing

Registration and
Markings

Security

Flight Conditions

Design and manufacturing of hot air balloons to be

undertaken only on approval from DGCA.
Prior clearance from local police before approval is needed
before approval is provided.
Type Certificate also needed if balloon is not to be used for
personal flight of pilot.
Manufacturer shall develop suitable maintenance program
for balloons.
Overhaul life of gas pipelines, burners and instruments
shall be mentioned.
Registration of free manned flights have is mandatory.
Markings shall be present on the balloon.
Certificate of Registration to have type of balloon, serial no
of maker, nationality, registration number, date o
registration and assigned markings.
Each balloon to have identification plate showing
registration marks, name of maker, name and address of
owner and serial no of balloon.
Unless DGCA certifies, hot air balloon cannot be sold to any
person. DGCA issues certification only after verification of
antecedents of prospective buyer.
Not to be flown over restricted and prohibited areas, not
even over the assembly of people or congested regions
without having permission from appropriate authorities.
No photography permitted from air. Even equipment is
barred to be taken in balloon.
Harmful objects, remote control devices shall not be
carried in balloon.
Certificate of Air Worthiness is mandatory before each
flight.

Certifications

Periodic inspections and certification from approved/

licensed personnel is needed.
Renewal can happen for a maximum of 12 months at a
time.
Flight Release shall be issued at least 24 hours before
flight and a pre-flight inspection to be done by licensed
pilot.
Only AME license holders are allowed to have inspections or
overhaul of balloon and its components for higher than 25
hours.

Flight Manual

Flight Manual is to be provided with each balloon.

Service and Repair

Documents

Repairs, overhauls and services of balloon and its

components shall be performed as per the approved repair
drawings of manual.

Log Books

Journey log book, to be maintained till balloon is

permanently withdrawn, or, if it meets some accident, for
at a minimum period of 2 years.
Balloon Log book, to be maintained at least for 5 years
Maintenance/Overhaul records
If some components is permanently withdrawn from use,
then till 1 year.

Manual Requirements

All operators are required to maintain Quality Control-cumMaintenance Systems Manuals (for maintenance staff)
This would include approved schedules of maintenance,
safety requirements during refueling, defueling and
balloon handling on ground, records of all defects detected
during inspection, recording of rectification undertaken,
occasions for carrying out the test flights and procedure for
mandatory inspections.

On-board Documents

Journey log book

Radio telegraph apparatus
Certificate of Airworthiness
Licenses
Registration certificates
Flight Manual
Weight schedule

In flights
Instruments
/Equipments

Hand fire extinguisher

Safety harness for every person. Exception: basket balloons
Compass

Altimeter
First Aid kit
Rate of Climb Indicator
Fuel quantity gauge
Temperature indicator
Burner relighter
Two way R/T communication

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