DGCA Issues Regulations For Manufacture, Registration, Maintenance Of Manned Hot Air Balloons

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued regulations regarding the manufacturing, registration, maintenance and airworthiness certificate of hot air balloons, the New Indian Express reports.

The DGCA has brought in the latest set of regulations in a bid to ensure safety on manned hot air balloons.

Issued on 18 January, the regulations state that all manned hot air balloon is required to be registered to undertake a flight. "The hot air balloon shall not be sold or disposed of in any way to any person or firm without a certificate issued by the DGCA," the regulations said.

The DGCA will only issue the certificate only after verifying antecedents of the prospective buyers by the local police authorities, the regulations add.

The DGCA to ensure the continued airworthiness of the balloon states that the manufacturer needs to develop a satisfactory maintenance programme and should deliver them with every balloon manufactured.

"The owner (or operator) will be responsible for the safe custody, security and access control to the hot air balloon," DGCA said further.

"Notwithstanding the above, the owner/operator of hot air balloon shall comply with the security-related directives issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs," the regulations said.

The regulations also addressed issues like repair or maintenance of the hot air balloons. They state that the repairs, modifications and overhaul of balloons and their components need to be performed according to the approved drawings/repair schemes and the overhaul instructions given by manufacturers.