The FAA proposed a new rule Nov. 2, 2021, requiring commercial hot air balloon pilots to hold medical certificates when operating for hire. The rule would mandate a second-class medical certificate, the same standard required for commercial pilots.
“Balloon pilots are responsible for the safety of their passengers,” FAA Administrator Steve Dickson said. “This proposed rule would ensure that balloon pilots meet the same medical requirements as pilots of other commercial aircraft.”
Currently, commercial balloon pilots are exempt from a medical requirement. In the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, Congress directed the FAA to revise the medical certification standards for commercial balloon pilots. The draft rule also addresses a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendation that the FAA remove the exemption, FAA officials noted.
In recent years the FAA has taken steps to increase the safety of hot-air-balloon tourism by working with the Balloon Federation of America (BFA) on an accreditation program. The program includes voluntary standards for pilots and offers multiple tiers of BFA safety accreditation.
The FAA will publish the draft rule in the Federal Register in November, and the public will have 60 days to provide comments. After the comment period closes, the FAA will review all comments before publishing a final rule.
I have been waiting for this change for a couple years after we fought to have it changed and the bill was signed by President Trump.
Unfortunately, because of pilots, like the pilot that was operating a hot air balloon that killed 16 people, this is necessary. My daughter and granddaughter were amongst those killed. This pilot had his drivers license suspended; had a witches brew of drugs in his system; had been reported, yet was still flying. He should have not been allowed to fly!
So as for the future of others safety, I am ecstatic this is happening. No other families should have to endure the pain and read the autopsy of the horror our loved ones endured. Not all pilots are uncaring and selfish, however because of irresponsible pilots, changes are necessary.
The FAA medical department will lie, cheat, and steal to keep a pilot from flying . There is no accountability and no way to get justice. If they don’t want a pilot to fly , they will fabricate anything . The abuse starts at the the top . It doesn’t matter how many doctors and AMEs examine, test, and certify a pilot is fit to fly. . The FAA doctors who have never tested, examined , met, nor even talked to a pilot will lie about anything they can find and ground him . The only way they can get away with this abuse is because of every 1,000 people there are only 2 pilots. If they were abusing any other class of people they would be run out of town on a rail. They should be liable for the immense damage their lies and deceit cause.
Larry… “Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.” –Carl Sagan
Please provide extraordinary evidence of Your accusation… and don’t refer to obscure and hearsay and political tilted websites. Please point us to legal cases on record in aviation law and well regarded Aviation websites.
A long time ago [1970] my private pilot’s license had a statement across the top of one side stating it authorized me the ‘PRIVILAGE to exercise airmanship’.
My dad, a retired USAF command pilot and long-time flight instructor, pointedly informed me that NO ONE had a God-given right to fly… the PRIVILAGE to fly had to be earned thru continuous proof of recurrent training, good health, demonstrated skills, abilities and adherence to the legal principles under which our country governed flying activity. Otherwise the resulting chaos is a killer…
Many pilots love flying so much that they just can’t imagine not doing it. Over the years, I’ve known quite a number of people who should not be flying, but manage to find a lenient M.D. instead of their own doctor. I believe the FAA should require that the medical examiner have access to the applicant’s personal physician’s file.
How many balloon accidents occur on an annual basis where the pilots medical condition is the only factor for the accident?
How many result in injury or death?
Does that number truly dictate the need for a rule change and the additional cost to the balloon pilots?
If we are talking a couple a year it probably is over kill. We loose fix wing pilots with a valid Class 2 medical at a greater annual rate, because of in air medical emergencies.
I am all for safety rules that make sense and solve the problem that prompted them. On the same token the FAA is revising licensing and aircraft modifications because their original rules were actually preventing safety from increasing. AOA indicators are an example.
I hope that the rule was driven by research and data as opposed to a knee jerk reaction.
I agree with the requirement for the same reason I agree with the CDL requirement for commercial truck drivers. It’s one way of eliminating those who have no business either driving a truck or elevating a hot air balloon with a load of paying customers in it. Over the decades I’ve read of many hot air balloon crashes attributed to a number of reasons, including wind and weather, heading into high voltage transmission lines, overloading the basket, etc. When I lived in southern California, balloon accident news stories were relatively regular or same as GA plane stories. Although not always, government regs make common sense and enhance public safety. Regards/J
On the surface it seems like an unnecessary requirement. With that said, I’d like to know how many balloon accidents have been attributed to health related conditions of the pilot. I’m thinking it would be less then 1%. If that’s the case, what good would such a requirement be? A medical doesn’t guarantee the absence of any health related emergencies for the next year.
Just imagine you are a passenger in a hot air balloon and the pilot has a stroke or any other disabeling event. The chance that you could survive an uncontrolled landing are high but having a pilot in control always offers a much better potential for safety. I only have a few dozen hours flying hot air and am inclined to see this ruling as a great step towards protecting passengers.
Now that is about the most ridiculous overreach of government control and regulation I have heard in the aviation world recently. Just how does meeting any of the requirements of a 2nd class medical make a person any more qualified to operate a balloon comerrically. That is about the most benign operating environment an aerial vehicle could operate in so no stressing of the pilots physical abilities or need for speed of light reflexes and eagle eyed sight.
In spite of an NTSB recommendation for such (and they tend to go crazy on their recommendations) what evidence is there in the accident records that would indicate the possession of a 2nd class (or even 3rd class) medical could at all have any effect. And who was the idiot(s) in Congress that got this ridiculous rulemaking started? Sounds like they might be ready for retirement in the next election cycle unless of course they hold a 2nd class medical.
What really counts for safe operation is the demonstration of skill and aeronautical knowledge along with the ability to exercise good judgement and the possession of an FAA medical does not demonstrate or improve any of those factors.
I seem to recall a commercial balloon accident near Austin, TX, several years ago that had some casualties, and that the pilot’s medical condition was called into condition. Accidents, even if they begin slowly, require a prompt response.
Sarah, you obviously aren’t very well informed on this issue. Read through this
https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/ntsb-lockhart-balloon-crash-pilot-was-as-impaired-as-a-drunk-driver
and perhaps you’ll change your mind. A commercial balloon pilot can carry 16, 24, 30 passengers, depending on balloon size. Should have to meet the same standards as a commercial fixed wing pilot carrying passengers for hire. the medicla requirements may have prevented it. As with most FAA regulations, they are written in blood. The FAA (and Congress) won’t let 16 people be killed without some response.
(My credentials: 25 year Commercial Balloon Pilot, former DPE, Fixed wing, Instrument rated, airplane and balloon owner, 50 year career in aviation, FAASTeam Lead Rep).
Sarah when you have someone killed because of an irresponsible pilot, you will think differently. Not all pilots are irresponsible, however the one that was operating the balloon that killed my daughter and granddaughter, had a long record of alcohol and drug abuse.The day they were killed he had a witches brew of drugs in his system. 16 died that day because of pilot error.
Again this past year, another crash killing 4 because of pilot error and drugs in his system.
Yes, it’s time for change!
“New rule would required medicals for commercial hot air balloon pilots”
You might want to grammar check your headlines…
I agree with Don R.