Balloon Flying Menu > Introduction to Ballooning > Support Equipment > Miscellaneous Items

• Igniters—It is recommended that you carry at least two sources of ignition on board. The best igniter is the plain and simple welding striker. Many new balloons have built-in piezo ignition systems.

• Fueling Adapter—Pilots should carry their own adapters to ensure that the adapters are clean and not worn. Adapters that are dirty and worn may damage a fuel system.

• Fire Extinguisher—Some balloons come with a small fire extinguisher affixed in the basket. However, they are usually too small to extinguish grass fires or serious basket fires caused by a propane leak. Fumbling for a fire extinguisher may just use up the time required to manually extinguish a propane-leak fire before it becomes serious. Most propane fires can be extinguished by turning off a valve.

• First Aid Kit—Some pilots carry a small first aid kit in their balloon, some in the chase vehicle. This is a matter of personal preference. A kit’s contents are often a topic at safety seminars and may vary from region to region.

• Drop Line—A good drop line has a quick release provision, is easy to deploy, recover and store, and is easy for a person on the ground to handle. Webbing is a popular drop line material because it is strong. Webbing is hard to roll up, but easy to store. Half-inch nylon braid is strong and is easily rolled into a ball and put in a bag.

• Gloves—Gloves should be made of lightcolored smooth leather to reflect/deflect propane, and gauntlet-style to cover the wrist. Avoid synthetic material which melts in heat and ventilated gloves which let in flame or gas.

• Spares—The following are recommended spares to carry in the chase vehicle or to have on hand.
• Quick pins and carabiners.
• Gloves and helmets.
• Envelope fabric.
• Spare tire for the trailer.
• Extra fuel for the fan.

• Helmets—Some balloon manufacturers suggest protective headgear be worn, especially in high-wind conditions. The intention is to protect heads from impact injury. Store helmets in a bag that can be carried inside or outside the basket, depending on number of passengers and available room.