In addition to the required documents, what carry-on equipment should be accounted for during preflight?

• A. Two means of burner ignition
• B. A spare parachute
• C. Extra fuel canister
• D. A first aid kit

Answer: (A)

Redundancy for the ignition system is the key idea. The burner is how you heat the air to lift the balloon, so having two independent ways to ignite it gives you a safe backup if one ignition source fails. This kind of carry-on equipment must be accounted for during preflight because it directly affects your ability to start and control the burner, which is essential for safe flight operations.

A spare parachute isn’t applicable to ballooning, as parachutes aren’t used in this type of operation. An extra fuel canister may be part of fuel planning, but it’s not the standard piece of carry-on equipment singled out for preflight accountability in this context. A first aid kit is prudent safety gear, but the scenario emphasizes ignition redundancy as the item you must account for.