Flight Manual for Gas Balloons of Type NL-STU
Issue 2.0
May 02, 2016
Page 4-13
4.8.4 Opening the appendix
The appendix must be opened completely before take-off.
4.8.5 Trial pull of the parachute
In order to test that it is functioning correctly, the parachute is opened and closed before take-
off.
4.9 Take-off
Take-off with the balloon not taut is recommended in order to reach the minimum safe altitude
without having to drop large quantities of ballast after lift-off.
The following points must be checked before take-off:
• Have the inflation tube and inflation socket been removed?
• Is the appendix closing device functioning properly?
• Has a trial pull of the parachute been carried out?
• Is the appendix completely open?
WARNING:
No take-off may ever be carried out for any purpose unless the appendix is com-
pletely open!
Once all passengers have taken up their place in the basket, procedures are commenced to
achieve equilibrium (neutral buoyancy) of the balloon. Once the balloon is in equilibrium, the
foreseeable quantity of ballast required for the planned flight is checked. If there is insufficient
ballast on board, one occupant must leave the basket and his mass must be replaced with bal-
last.
NOTE:
A rate of climb of about 2 m/s is recommended for take-off. For a 1000 m³ bal-
loon, this corresponds roughly to dropping one full bag of ballast once the balloon
has reached equilibrium.
4.10 Flight
Following take-off, checks must immediately be made again to ensure that the ballast outside
the basket is correctly attached and that the appendix is open as specified. If this is not the
case, the emergency opening must be opened immediately using the yellow emergency open-
ing line. If the balloon is not equipped with an emergency opening, bursting of the envelope can
be prevented by repeatedly pulling the parachute.
WARNING:
The appendix must never look taut (see Section 3.3 “Emergency procedures”).
