In a burner for operating a 
combustor, the former consists essentially of a rotation generator (100), a transition piece following the rotation generator, and a mixing 
pipe following this transition piece. Transition piece and mixing 
pipe form the mixing section (220) of the burner and are located upstream from a 
combustion chamber (30). In the lower part of the mixing 
pipe is located a 
pilot burner 
system (300) which creates, among other things, a stabilization of the 
flame front, in particular in the transient load ranges, while minimizing 
pollutant emissions. A sensor (400) installed in the burner detects a flashback of the 
flame (80), whereupon the fuel quantity of this 
flame is at least temporarily reduced and at the same time the fuel quantity for the 
pilot burner is increased in such a way that the total fuel quantity and thus the 
turbine output remains constant. This measure prevents a destruction of the burner.