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of a fuel leak or ruptured hose, there are three or more tanks feeding the leak. This is an extremely hazardous practice.) 

Pilots should also note that there is a growing trend towards the use of inflation, or “pony” tanks, used to supplement on- board fuel for inflation. Use of an inflation tank allows the pilot to launch with completely full tanks, as the additional tank is either temporarily plumbed into the balloon’s fuel system by the use of a quick-disconnect fitting, or hoses are switched around at the burner fitting. There is no manufacturer’s written procedure available for the use of an inflation tank, and the procedure is strongly discouraged. Of perhaps greater concern is the mindset that the one or two gallon advantage this gives the pilot, is of greater concern than the safety aspect of the procedure. If a pilot consistently requires these one or two gallons of fuel to safely conduct a flight, then there are possibly other performance planning factors being neglected. 

Most pilots conduct a burner check at the beginning of each flight. Others, if conducting multiple flights over a relatively short period of time (a weekend balloon rally, for example), may do a full burner check for the first flight only, and then only check for leaks on each remaining flight. This practice, while common, may violate the manufacturer’s operations manual and invites problems; it is best avoided. 

## Instrument Checks 

It is appropriate to check the instruments at this point. Virtually all instrument systems currently in use require battery power; it is wise to check the instruments, and ensure that the batteries provide sufficient power to operate them. There is nothing more frustrating than being ready to fly and finding that the instruments do not work. After the instruments are checked for operation, they may be mounted in the basket. Some pilots choose to set the altimeter at this time; the barometric pressure should be set according to the information gathered during the weather briefing. In the absence of a barometric pressure setting, the altimeter should be set to the appropriate field elevation. The only time that the altimeter may be set to zero is when the balloon is being flown from an ocean beach; 14 CFR part 91, section 91.121 provides clarification on this requirement. This is necessary to avoid airspace issues. [Figure 6-10] 

At this point, the basket is on its side with the instruments mounted and ready for the envelope to be attached. The pilot and crew should open the envelope bag, remove the suspension cables and attachment hardware (carabiners, “A-blocks,” or toggles), and attach the bottom of the envelope to the basket superstructure in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Care should be taken that cables are not twisted and are free of damage, kinks, loose wires, 

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or missing sheathing (found on Kevlar® suspension cables). Once the envelope is attached, the hardware should be checked for security and the envelope laid out for inflation. 

## Layout 

There are many variations of laying out a balloon and preparing it for inflation. The manufacturer of the balloon or the way the balloon is assembled sets some of these inflation styles. The launch site surface, the order in which the balloon is assembled, and how the balloon is removed from the chase vehicle have a bearing on the way the preflight layout and inspection proceeds. There is no one best way to lay out a balloon, as there is no one best way to inflate a balloon. The two most common ways to prepare the balloon for cold inflation are to spread it out or inflate from a long strip. 

The pilot should be mindful of current conditions prior to removing the envelope from its bag. It is wise to take a moment and walk around the launch site to check the surface for any debris that may damage the balloon. 

As a cautionary note, do not drag the envelope bag along the ground when pulling the envelope out. Many envelopes have holes and tears caused by being dragged over sharp objects while getting the envelope out of the bag. Lift the bag clear of the ground and carry it unless the launch surface is perfect with no sharp objects or dirty spots. 

## Spread Layout 

The spread layout method for inflation is the most widely used method. By handling the envelope with the load tapes, the fabric is pulled away from the center until the envelope takes its normal shape while still flat on the ground. Exercise 

