Language Added In Reaction To 2016 Accident In Texas

The FAA reauthorization bill passed Friday by the U.S. House of Representatives contains language that would require commercial balloon pilots to get a medical certificate just as other commercial pilots are required to hold.

The Statesman newspaper reports that the amendment to add the medical certificate requirement was introduced by U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX). He said the FAA should have removed the exemption for commercial balloon pilots "long ago" when he introduced the language. "Now with adoption of this amendment, I am hopeful that no other family will ever suffer the same horror as this tragedy near Lockhart."

He was referring to an accident which occurred in 2016 the fatally injured 16 people when the balloon they were aboard struck power lines and caught fire. An autopsy of the pilot found he have had a variety of prescription drugs in his system. He was also known to have other medical conditions, according to the NTSB.

The amendment was overwhelmingly supported by Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle, as was the overall reauthorization bill. It now goes to the U.S. Senate for consideration.

(Image from file)

FMI: Original Report