of a fuel leak or ruptured hose, there are three or more tanks  feeding the leak. This is an extremely hazardous practice.)  Pilots should also note that there is a growing trend towards  the use of inflation, or “pony” tanks, used to supplement on- board fuel for inflation. Use of an inflation tank allows the  pilot to launch with completely full tanks, as the additional  tank is either temporarily plumbed into the balloon’s fuel  system by the use of a quick-disconnect fitting, or hoses  are switched around at the burner fitting. There is no  manufacturer’s written procedure available for the use of an  inflation tank, and the procedure is strongly discouraged. Of  perhaps greater concern is the mindset that the one or two  gallon advantage this gives the pilot, is of greater concern  than the safety aspect of the procedure. If a pilot consistently  requires these one or two gallons of fuel to safely conduct  a flight, then there are possibly other performance planning  factors being neglected. Most pilots conduct a burner check at the beginning of each  flight. Others, if conducting multiple flights over a relatively  short period of time (a weekend balloon rally, for example),  may do a full burner check for the first flight only, and then  only check for leaks on each remaining flight. This practice,  while common, may violate the manufacturer’s operations  manual and invites problems; it is best avoided.  or missing sheathing (found on Kevlar® suspension cables).  Once the envelope is attached, the hardware should be  checked for security and the envelope laid out for inflation. There are many variations of laying out a balloon and  preparing it for inflation. The manufacturer of the balloon or  the way the balloon is assembled sets some of these inflation  styles. The launch site surface, the order in which the balloon  is assembled, and how the balloon is removed from the chase  vehicle have a bearing on the way the preflight layout and  inspection proceeds. There is no one best way to lay out  a balloon, as there is no one best way to inflate a balloon.  The two most common ways to prepare the balloon for cold  inflation are to spread it out or inflate from a long strip. It is appropriate to check the instruments at this point.  Virtually all instrument systems currently in use require  battery power; it is wise to check the instruments, and  ensure that the batteries provide sufficient power to operate  them. There is nothing more frustrating than being ready to  fly and finding that the instruments do not work. After the  instruments are checked for operation, they may be mounted  in the basket. Some pilots choose to set the altimeter at this  time; the barometric pressure should be set according to the  information gathered during the weather briefing. In the  absence of a barometric pressure setting, the altimeter should  be set to the appropriate field elevation. The only time that  the altimeter may be set to zero is when the balloon is being  flown from an ocean beach; 14 CFR part 91, section 91.121  provides clarification on this requirement. This is necessary  to avoid airspace issues.  [Figure 6-10] The pilot should be mindful of current conditions prior to  removing the envelope from its bag. It is wise to take a  moment and walk around the launch site to check the surface  for any debris that may damage the balloon. As a cautionary note, do not drag the envelope bag along the  ground when pulling the envelope out. Many envelopes have  holes and tears caused by being dragged over sharp objects  while getting the envelope out of the bag. Lift the bag clear  of the ground and carry it unless the launch surface is perfect  with no sharp objects or dirty spots. The spread layout method for inflation is the most widely  used method. By handling the envelope with the load tapes,  the fabric is pulled away from the center until the envelope  takes its normal shape while still flat on the ground. Exercise  At this point, the basket is on its side with the instruments  mounted and ready for the envelope to be attached. The  pilot and crew should open the envelope bag, remove the  suspension cables and attachment hardware (carabiners,  “A-blocks,” or toggles), and attach the bottom of the  envelope to the basket superstructure in accordance with the  manufacturer’s instructions. Care should be taken that cables  are not twisted and are free of damage, kinks, loose wires,  6-10 Spread Layout Instrument Checks Layout $_{Figure 6-10.}$  The altimeter should be set to barometric pressure, if  available, or to the field elevation.