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hand around the fitting and “snuffing” out the flame before it can spread further. 

Because of the variety of systems, valve types, and differences in operations, a pilot should review the flight manual for his or her particular balloon system, and be familiar with and regularly practice the emergency procedures. The previously listed information is general in nature, and is not specific to any particular type of balloon, nor should it be taken as a specific procedure to be followed in the event of an in-flight emergency. In all cases, the information contained in the manufacturer’s flight manual should be followed. 

In all emergencies, it is imperative that the pilot maintain control of the balloon. Many minor problems can quickly become major problems if the pilot fails to continue to fly the balloon. Additionally, the use of a checklist for in-flight emergencies is not appropriate. First, the pilot must resolve the situation, and then refer to an appropriate checklist or the balloon’s flight manual to verify the appropriate action. 

## Tethering/Mooring 

Tethering a hot air balloon, despite its apparent simplicity, is perhaps the most demanding and stressful operation in ballooning, both in terms of equipment and the pilot. Balloons are designed to be free flown, not tied to the ground, and tethering incurs forces on a balloon that can, under certain circumstances, exceed design limits. The pilot conducting a tether is often called upon to conduct two or three hours of precise, “finesse” flying, which many times he or she is not prepared for. The crew must endure 2 to 3 hours of non- stop handling to manage this complex and often exhausting operation. Safe conditions fall within narrow ranges and a safe tether often demands more attention and management than flying in marginal conditions. 

Every tether situation is unique enough to require tailoring the operation to specific needs and equipment. However, the idea of a “simple” tether should not lure the pilot into underestimating the very real demands and risks that come with it. A skilled and knowledgeable crew allows a pilot to take advantage of the many benefits tethering offers. Under suitable conditions, a well planned multi-hour commercial tether can last for hours, reach a media audience of millions, and offer several hundred people their first brief balloon ride. Regardless of the reasons for tethering a balloon, all forms of tethering require the same basic preparations and guidelines for safety. 

The balloon pilot contemplating a tether operation should remember that the requirements of 14 CFR Part 91, General Operating and Flight Rules, apply to all operations conducted with a type-certified hot air balloon. There is a popular 

misconception that tether operations are conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 101, Applicability; this is an incorrect assumption. Tether operations must be conducted by a certificated pilot, and may not, under any circumstances, be performed by an individual not in possession of an airman’s certificate. 

Laying out the balloon for a properly executed tether operation requires a little more preparation than a normal launch layout. Initial planning needs to take into consideration the winds, both current and forecast, for the period of time the tether is to be conducted. The tether site should be at least twice, and preferably three times, the size of a normal launch area for that particular balloon. It may be surrounded by trees, buildings, and other obstacles. Under certain circumstances, this may work to the pilot’s advantage, as these may block low-level, lower velocity winds. Higher winds may create turbulence that significantly affects the balloon. [Figure 7-11] 

There are two primary methods of tethering, the three-line method and the six-line method. In the three-line method, lateral lines are attached at the top of the basket, generally to the suspension of the balloon, to transfer stress loads from the balloon directly to the lateral lines, and not through the basket’s superstructure. In the six-line method, three vertical “bridle” lines are connected from the top of the balloon to the top of the basket’s superstructure and three additional lines 

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