FAAST Blast — Week of Nov 14, 2022 – Nov 20, 2022
Biweekly FAA Safety Briefing News Update
Medical Requirements for Commercial Balloon Pilots
The FAA adopted a final rule this week requiring commercial hot-air balloon pilots to hold medical certificates when flying paying passengers. The rule mandates a second-class medical certificate, the same standard required for other commercial pilots.
Previously, commercial balloon pilots were exempt from the medical requirement. In the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, Congress directed the FAA to revise the medical certification standards for commercial balloon pilots. The rule also addresses a NTSB recommendation that the FAA remove the exemption. For more information, see the press release here.
How to Avoid Plan Continuation Bias
Research conducted by the General Aviation Joint Safety Committee’s (GAJSC) Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT) work group report suggests that human bias — particularly plan continuation bias — may be a significant factor in CFIT accidents. It’s important for pilots to know how these human biases could negatively influence pilot decision-making, as well as learn how to more effectively manage things that we can control and plan for those that are beyond our control. Learn more here with our latest #FlySafe fact sheet.
Practical Ways to Practice Risk Management
FAA regulations (14 CFR section 91.3) clearly state that the PIC is “directly responsible for, and is the final authority as to, the operation” of the aircraft. This rule gives the PIC plenty of power, which comes with plenty of responsibility. The good news is that you also have plenty of resources to help you exercise your PIC power in a safe and responsible way. The key to this is Single Pilot Resource management (SRM). Have a closer look at how you can master this critical skill in the article “How Do You Do? – Practical Ways to Practice Risk Management” in the Nov/Dec 2022 FAA Safety Briefing.
Produced by the FAA Safety Briefing editors, www.faa.gov/newsroom/faa-safety-briefing-magazine
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