Preparation. Clean your balloon. Remove all non-essential items from the
basket, such as:
In addition to the above-listed items, other balloon-related equipment your repair facility doesn’t need to inspect are your fan, trailer, tarps and chase vehicle.
Plan Ahead. Don’t fuel the balloon after the last flight before inspection; save your repair person from getting a hernia and yourself some money; inspecting full tanks takes longer, particularly if they have to be recertified, in which case they must be emptied. If you take them to the repair facility empty, or nearly empty, you won’t have to pay a repair person to empty them.
Don’t wait until the last day before you want to fly to schedule an inspection. Since all annuals expire the last day of the month, there’s a good chance someone has already reserved that day.
Make a date with your repair facility with enough advance notice to allow them to order any parts that might be needed. If it’s time to replace hoses or re-certify fuel tanks, let them know. (Many repair facilities don’t stock hoses since they are age- dated.) When you make the appointment, ask if there are any ADs, Service Bulletins, or Service Letters recently issued for your balloon, so both you and the repair facility will be prepared.
If you have repair fabric for your balloon, take it with you. (When ordering a new balloon it’s a good idea to order 10 yards of each color as manufacturers change fabric and colors.)
Documents. The original Airworthiness Certificate should be displayed, the Registration Certificate should show owner’s current address, the manual or placards with limitations and weights, with correct registration and serial numbers should be in the balloon. Compliance with ADs (if any) should be documented, and a copy of any 337s completed for the balloon should be presented. Present all maintenance records.
Remove any documents that do not apply to the balloon being annualled, such as airworthiness certificates from old balloons, state tax licenses, outdated copies of registrations, ride certificates, insurance certificates, municipal permits, etc.
Make sure the aircraft log is up-to-date. The only flight entries required by FARs are date of flight, length of flight, and a current, cumulative total of time on the balloon.
Equipment. In order to complete an annual inspection, you must bring to your repair facility a complete balloon—envelope, basket, heater, instruments, gauges, tanks, tank fastenings. If you use more tanks than those installed in the basket, they must be inspected also.
Special Requests and Damage.If you have any special requests (such as repairing the envelope bag, or installing banner velcro, for example) or if you know of damage you want repaired, give your repair facility a written list to work from.
At the Repair Facility. When you deliver your balloon, discuss special requirements with your repair person. Discuss price of the annual inspection and estimated cost of other work so you won’t have any surprises. If you plan to assist with the annual, make that clear when you make your appointment, and schedule enough time. Owner-assisted inspections take more time.
Your annual inspection can be an expensive ordeal, or an educational experience and a good time to “clean house”. It’s up to you.