However, unlike other pilots, balloon pilots do not have to get regular medical exams from FAA-certified examiners. Had he been a commercial airplane pilot, Nichols probably would have been grounded long ago. In order to keep his St. Louis business going, he started offering flights in Texas in the winter when St. Louis was rainy and cold. However, Cannon said, there is no oversight of that reporting requirement for balloon pilots. But the agency is unlikely to accept an airline pilot with convictions for driving under the influence, he said.

Source: Fox News August 01, 2016 20:21 UTC