FAA PROPOSES RULE THAT WOULD REQUIRE COMMERCIAL HOT-AIR BALLOON PILOTS TO GET MEDICAL CERTIFICATES
December 22, 2021
On Tuesday, November 2, 2021, the FAA issued a notice confirming that it plans to propose a new rule requiring commercial hot-air balloon pilots to hold medical certifications when operating hot-air balloons for hire. Specifically, under the proposed rule, there would be a mandate that pilots hold a second-class medical certificate, which is the same standard currently in place and required for commercial pilots.
Hot-air balloon pilots are currently exempt from the medical requirements imposed on other commercial aircraft pilots. However, under the 2018 FAA Reauthorization Act, Congress directed the FAA to revise the medical certification standards for commercial balloon pilots. In response, 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”), which is why the FAA is considering certain new safety-focused rules as it relates to hot-air balloon travel. According to the FAA, the reasoning behind the new proposed rule is that hot-air balloon pilots are responsible for the safety of their passengers just as commercial pilots are, and therefore, the proposed rule would ensure that hot-air balloon pilots meet the same standard of medical requirements as pilots of other commercial aircraft.
The FAA plans to publish a draft of the proposed rule in the Federal Register sometime this month.
If you have any questions, please contact Evelyn Sahr (esahr@eckertseamans.com 202-659-6622) or Drew Derco (dderco@eckertseamans.com 202-659-6665).
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