The National Transportation Safety Board this week called upon the FAA to treat balloon pilots like all others by requiring them to possess a current medical certificate. Currently, balloon pilots are exempt from medical certificate requirement in order to conduct commercial operations.
NTSB Calls for Regulatory Changes to Commercial Balloon Operations
Key Takeaways:
- The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has urged the FAA to mandate current medical certificates for commercial balloon pilots, citing the 2016 Lockhart, Texas, crash caused by a medically impaired pilot.
- Currently, commercial balloon pilots are exempt from medical certificate requirements, which the NTSB believes enabled the pilot in the fatal Texas accident to fly while impaired.
- In response, the Balloon Federation of America (BFA) launched its "Envelope of Safety" accreditation program to provide consumers with clearer information on operator qualifications and safety standards.
- The BFA's voluntary program includes stricter pilot requirements, such as an FAA second-class medical certificate, drug and alcohol background checks, and participation in safety seminars.
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