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S. 1394Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Commercial Balloon Pilot Safety Act of 2017

Sponsored by Ted CruzSen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)
Introduced June 21, 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 4:27 PM UTC

The Commercial Balloon Pilot Safety Act of 2017 would require the Federal Aviation Administration to extend its existing medical certification rules to commercial balloon pilots. Within 180 days of the law’s enactment, the FAA must amend its regulations so that balloon operators must meet the same medical standards as pilots of other aircraft. This change would affect anyone who operates an air balloon for commercial purposes, ensuring they hold appropriate medical certificates.

Key Provisions

  • The FAA must revise part 61.3(c) of the aviation regulations within 180 days to apply the same medical certification requirements to air balloon operators as to other aircraft operators.
  • The bill defines “air balloon” using the existing definition of “balloon” in the FAA’s regulations.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

June 21, 2017

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

June 21, 2017

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

June 21, 2017

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued June 21, 2017

II

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1394

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 21, 2017

Mr. Cruz introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

A BILL

To apply the medical certification standards of the Federal Aviation Administration to operators of air balloons.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Commercial Balloon Pilot Safety Act of 2017.

2.

Applicability of medical certification standards to operators of air balloons

(a)

In general

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall revise part 61.3(c) of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (relating to medical certificates), to apply to operators of air balloons to the same extent such regulations apply to operators of other aircraft.

(b)

Air balloon defined

In this section, the term air balloon has the meaning given the term balloon in section 1.1 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (or any corresponding similar regulation or ruling).