{"id":"F2006B03556","name":"AD/BAL/18 - Trivents","slug":"ad-bal-18-trivents","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":43123,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B03556-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/BAL/18 - Trivents","content":"COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 \\- 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nHot Air Balloons\n\nAD/BAL/18 Trivents 5/97\n\nApplicability: Thunder and Colt balloon envelopes SN 3528, CN 3553, CN 3688, CN 3719, CN 3746, CN 3825, CN 3833, CN 3835, CN 3845, CN 3886, CN 3891, CN 3922, CN\n\n3949, CN 3956, and CN 4026.\n\nRequirement: 1. Inspect the red line attachment on the trivent flap for damage to the stitching at the ends of the attachment loop in accordance with Cameron Balloons Ltd (Thunder & Colt) Service Bulletin SB3 Issue 1 revision C.\n\n2. Reinforce the attachments on the Trivent flap in accordance with Cameron Balloons Ltd Service Bulletin SB3 Issue 1 revision C.\n\nNote: UK CAA AD 003-01-97 refers.\n\nCompliance: Unless already accomplished:\n\n    Before every flight after 24 April 1997; until Requirement 2 is accomplished.\n\n    2. Within 20 hours time in service after 24 April 1997.\n\nThis Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 24 April 1997.\n\nBackground: This Directive action is required to ensure that all the attachments on the centreline of the flap are adequately reinforced.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"No text in the directive indicates an expansion or narrowing of scope beyond its stated purpose. The instrument applies to the listed serial-numbered Thunder and Colt envelopes (Applicability) and prescribes inspection and reinforcement per the manufacturer bulletin (Requirement), effective 24 April 1997 (Compliance). The Background states the safety goal; there is no provision suggesting a change from that stated intent."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow applicability: applies only to a stated list of Thunder and Colt envelope serial numbers (Applicability).","Prescriptive technical remedy: mandates inspection and reinforcement to a manufacturer service bulletin (Requirement: 'in accordance with Cameron Balloons Ltd ... Service Bulletin SB3 Issue 1 revision C').","Immediate and recurring compliance burden: requires inspection before every flight after 24 April 1997 until reinforcement is done (Compliance: 'Before every flight after 24 April 1997; until Requirement 2 is accomplished').","Hard deadline for corrective action: reinforcement must be done within 20 hours time-in-service after 24 April 1997 (Compliance: 'Within 20 hours time in service after 24 April 1997').","Cost allocation and responsibility: places inspection and repair obligations on owners/operators (Requirement & Compliance imply operator bears cost and action).","Dependence on external document: compliance depends on following a specific revision of the manufacturer service bulletin (Requirement references SB3 Issue 1 revision C), adding reliance on that document's availability and content.","Cross-regulatory reference: notes related UK CAA AD 003-01-97 (Note), which may influence interpretation or scope in practice.","Clear safety objective stated: Background explains purpose as ensuring centreline flap attachments are adequately reinforced (Background)."],"plain_english_summary":"This Airworthiness Directive requires owners and operators of specified Thunder and Colt hot‑air balloon envelopes to inspect the trivent flap red‑line attachment and to reinforce those attachments per Cameron Balloons Service Bulletin SB3 (Issue 1 rev C). It takes effect 24 April 1997.\n\nUntil reinforcement is done, operators must inspect before every flight and complete reinforcement within 20 hours’ time‑in‑service. The directive places inspection and repair responsibility and costs on operators to ensure centreline flap attachments are adequately reinforced."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a targeted safety directive for a specific manufacturing defect in specific balloon models. It has not expanded beyond its original narrow technical purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (under 300 words)","Only 2 substantive requirements (inspect and reinforce)","Single interpretation issue: 'trivent' is a technical balloon term but explained by context","Clear applicability list (15 specific serial numbers)","Simple compliance structure with two alternative timelines","No cross-references to other legislation beyond a single related UK safety bulletin","No defined terms section"],"plain_english_summary":"This is a **safety order for specific hot air balloons** made by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).\n\n**What it does:**\nThis Airworthiness Directive (AD) — essentially a mandatory safety fix — applies to **15 specific Thunder and Colt hot air balloon envelopes** (identified by their serial numbers). It requires balloon operators to:\n\n- **Inspect** the stitching on a part called the \"trivent flap\" (a ventilation panel on the balloon) before every flight, looking for damage where the red line attaches\n- **Reinforce** those attachments within 20 hours of flying time\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Owners and operators of the listed Thunder and Colt balloon models\n- Maintenance engineers who work on these balloons\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThe trivent flap attachments can fail if not properly reinforced. If they break in flight, the balloon could lose control of its ventilation system — potentially causing dangerous handling problems or uncontrolled descent. This directive forces a fix before accidents happen.\n\n**Key dates:**\n- Effective from 24 April 1997\n- Inspections required before every flight until the reinforcement is done\n- Reinforcement must be completed within 20 flight hours of that date"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-bal-18-trivents","history":"/api/acts/ad-bal-18-trivents/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-bal-18-trivents/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-bal-18-trivents/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-bal-18-trivents/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-bal-18-trivents/documents"}}