14 CFR § 31.85 - Required basic equipment.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t14/s31.85"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "14 CFR § 31.85 - Required basic equipment."
title_number: 14
title_name: "Aeronautics and Space"
section_number: "31.85"
section_name: "Required basic equipment."
chapter_name: "FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION"
subchapter_number: "C"
subchapter_name: "AIRCRAFT"
part_number: "31"
part_name: "AIRWORTHINESS STANDARDS: MANNED FREE BALLOONS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701-44702, 44704."
regulatory_source: "Docket No. 1437, 29 FR 8258, July 1, 1964, as amended by Amdt. 31-1, 29 FR 14563, Oct. 24, 1964, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "31"
---


# 31.85 Required basic equipment.

In addition to any equipment required by this subchapter for a specific kind of operation, the following equipment is required:

(a) For all balloons:

(1) [Reserved]

(2) An altimeter.

(3) A rate of climb indicator.

(b) For hot air balloons:

(1) A fuel quantity gauge. If fuel cells are used, means must be incorporated to indicate to the crew the quantity of fuel in each cell during flight. The means must be calibrated in appropriate units or in percent of fuel cell capacity.

(2) An envelope temperature indicator.

(c) For captive gas balloons, a compass.

[Amdt. 31-2, 30 FR 3377, Mar. 13, 1965, as amended by Amdt. 31-3, 41 FR 55474, Dec. 20, 1976; Amdt. 31-4, 45 FR 60180, Sept. 11, 1980]