Temperature gauge.  The thermometer system, required in all  type-certificated hot air balloons, that gives a constant reading  of the inside air temperature at the top of the envelope. May be  direct reading or remote, using a thermocouple or thermistor  connected to a gauge in the basket or reading signals sent  by a transmitter. Single Pilot Resource Management. A variant of the  crew resource management model that is or more practical  application to the balloon pilot. Defined as the “art and  science of managing all resources available to the single pilot  to ensure the successful outcome of the flight.”  Skew-T plot. In weather, a graphic depiction of the data  received from a radiosonde. Temperature recorder. A small plastic laminate with  temperature-sensitive paint dots that turn from white or silver  to black, to record permanently the maximum temperature  reached. Small aircraft. Aircraft having a maximum certificated  takeoff weight of 12,500 pounds or less. All currently type- certificated balloons are small aircraft. Tensile strength.  The strength of a material that resists the  stresses of trying to stretch or lengthen it. Serial number (S/N).  A number, usually one of a series,  assigned for identification. Step descent. A method of allowing a balloon to lower  toward the ground by reducing the altitude, leveling off, and  repeating the step, to lower the balloon in increments rather  than one continuous motion. Terminal velocity descent.  A term used by balloonists for  the speed obtained when the balloon is allowed to fall until  it apparently stops accelerating, at which point the envelope  acts as a parachute and its vertical speed is no longer affected  by its lifting gas, but only by its shape (which is caused by  design), load, and other factors. Superheat. A gas balloon term, superheat occurs when  the sun heats the gas inside the envelope to a temperature  exceeding that of the ambient air, resulting in expansion of  the gas. Tethering.  Operation of a manned balloon secured to the  ground by a series of lines. Thermal.  A column of rising air associated with adjacent  areas of differing temperature. Thermal activity caused by the  sun’s heating usually starts 2 to 3 hours after sunrise. Superpressure balloon. (1) A type of hot air balloon which  has no openings to the atmosphere—the mouth is sealed with  a special skirt—and is kept pumped full of air (at a higher  pressure than the atmosphere) by an on-board fan. Used on  moored balloons to allow operations in relatively strong wind.  (2) In gas ballooning, a sealed envelope in which the internal  envelope pressure exceeds that of a non-sealed envelope.  Time in service.  According to Title 14 of the Code of Federal  Regulations, with respect to maintenance time records, means  the time from the moment an aircraft leaves the surface of the  earth until it touches it at the next point of landing. Touch-and-go landing.  An operation by an aircraft that lands  and takes off without stopping. Suspension lines. Lines descending from the mouth of  a balloon envelope from which the basket and heater are  suspended. Syllabus.  An abstract or digest of training. It is intended to  be a summary of a course of training, and should be brief, yet  comprehensive enough to cover essential information. Topographic map.  A map depicting area information on a  smaller scale that an aviation sectional chart, and of much  more value to the balloon pilot. Most topographic charts show  areas of vegetation, roads, built-up areas, and the general  topography (or terrain) of a given area.  Trough.  In weather, an elongated area of low pressure with  no rotative motion. Telling and Doing Technique.  A four-step process teaching  process particularly well suited to teaching physical skills.  Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF).  TAFs are valid for  a 24-hour time period, and are updated four times daily. The  TAF reporting system uses the same abbreviations as used  in METAR reports. Turning vent.  A vent on the side of a hot air balloon envelope  which, when opened, allows escaping air to exit in a manner  causing the balloon to rotate on its axis.  G-8