• Maintaining the aircraft in an airworthy condition, including compliance with all applicable Airworthiness Directives. 

• Assuring that maintenance is properly recorded. 

• Keeping abreast of current regulations concerning the operation and maintenance of the aircraft. 

• Notifying the FAA Civil Aviation Registry immediately of any change of permanent mailing address, or the sale or export of the aircraft, or the loss of the eligibility to register an aircraft. (Refer to 14 CFR part 47, section 47.41.) 

## Aircraft Maintenance 

Maintenance is defined as the preservation, inspection, overhaul, and repair of an aircraft, including the replacement of parts. A properly maintained aircraft is a safe aircraft. In addition, regular and proper maintenance ensures that an aircraft meets an acceptable standard of airworthiness throughout its operational life. Although maintenance requirements vary for different types of aircraft, experience shows that aircraft need some type of preventive maintenance every 25 hours of flying time or less, and minor maintenance at least every 100 hours. This is influenced by the kind of operation, climatic conditions, storage facilities, age, and construction of the aircraft. Manufacturers provide maintenance manuals, parts catalogs, and other service information that should be used in maintaining the aircraft. 

## Balloon Inspections 

14 CFR part 91 places primary responsibility on the owner or operator for maintaining a balloon in an airworthy condition. Certain inspections must be performed on the balloon, and the owner must maintain the airworthiness of the balloon during the time between required inspections by having any defects corrected. This typically means that fabric damage outside the maximum allowable damage limits specified by the manufacturer must be repaired before the envelope can be deemed airworthy and returned to service. 

## Annual Inspection 

Any balloon flown for business or pleasure and not flown for compensation or hire is required to be inspected at least annually. The inspection must be performed by a certificated and appropriately rated repair station, by the manufacturer, or by a certificated airframe and powerplant (A&P) mechanic who holds an Inspection Authorization (IA). The aircraft may not be operated unless the annual inspection has been performed within the preceding 12 calendar months. A period of 12 calendar months extends from any day of a month to the last day of the same month the following year. 

## 100-Hour Inspection 

All balloons used to carry passengers for hire must have received a 100-hour inspection within the preceding 100 hours of time in service and have been approved for return to service. Additionally, an aircraft used for flight instruction for hire, when provided by the person giving the flight instruction, must also have received a 100-hour inspection. This inspection must be performed by an appropriately rated FAA certificated repair station, the aircraft manufacturer, or by an FAA certificated A&P mechanic. An annual inspection, or an inspection for the issuance of an Airworthiness Certificate, may be substituted for a required 100-hour inspection. 

## Preflight Inspections 

The preflight inspection is a thorough and systematic means by which a pilot determines if the aircraft is airworthy and in condition for safe operation. The balloon’s Flight Manual contains a section devoted to a systematic method of performing a preflight inspection. For balloons, this inspection is usually a part of the layout and inflation process, and is greatly aided by the use of a checklist. Again, the pilot must also be aware of maximum damage limitations as published by the manufacturer. 

## Preventative Maintenance 

Preventive maintenance is considered to be simple or minor preservation operations and the replacement of small standard parts, not involving complex assembly operations. Certificated pilots may perform preventive maintenance on any balloon that is owned or operated by them. According to 14 CFR part 43, appendix A, preventive maintenance may be performed by the owner/operator of an aircraft who holds at least an FAA Private Pilot Certificate with a balloon rating. 

The following is a partial list of preventive maintenance that may be performed by the owner/operator of a balloon: 

• Replacing defective safety wiring or cotter keys. 

• Lubrication not requiring disassembly. 

• The making of small fabric repairs to envelopes (as defined in, and in accordance with, the balloon manufacturers’ instructions) not requiring load tape repair or replacement. 

• Refinishing decorative coating of the basket when removal or disassembly of any primary structure or operating system is not required. 

• Applying preservative or protective material to components where no disassembly of any primary structure or operating system is involved and where such coating is not prohibited or is not contrary to good practices. 

