Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. (1997, July 30). 14 CFR part 61, section 61.127. Retrieved on 19 January 2007 from http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies. 

NOTE: A commercial pilot with a balloon category and class rating may instruct, and is authorized to do so under the provisions of his or her certificate. 

If a pilot currently holds a pilot certificate for a powered aircraft and wants to add a balloon category rating on that certificate, he or she is exempt from the knowledge test, but must satisfactorily complete the flight training and practical test. Certificated balloon pilots are not required to hold an airman medical certificate to operate a balloon within the United States. Flights in foreign countries fall under the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regulations, and a medical certificate is generally required. 

For private pilots working toward the commercial pilot certificate, the regulatory requirement is ten additional hours of flight training, per the provisions of 14 CFR part 61. Flight time logged as instructional time towards the initial certification may not, under most circumstances, be counted towards that time which must be accumulated toward the commercial rating. 

## Introduction to Integrated Airman Certification and/or Rating Application (IACRA) 

The Integrated Airman Certification and/or Rating Application (IACRA) is an online application system that allows for the issuance of student, private, and commercial certificates without generating paperwork; all certificate application and approval is done through the use of electronic signatures. IACRA interfaces with multiple databases to validate data and verify specific fields of information, and upon completion of the approval process, forwards the data automatically to the Airman Certification Branch. 

In order to utilize the system, an applicant must first register at http://acra.faa.gov/iacra/. This registration process results in the issuance of an FAA Tracking Number (FTN). This number becomes the applicant’s registration number for all future utilization of the system, so it is important to keep it for future reference and action. 

Upon completion of all training requirements, the student pilot (which refers to both the student applying for a private certificate, as well as the private pilot upgrading to the commercial certificate) makes application through the IACRA web site. The FAA Form 8710-1 is completed online in several steps. When complete, the form is submitted to the central server at the FAA Airman Certification Branch in Oklahoma City. If the form is accepted at the server, the applicant is issued an application ID number for future reference. 

The instructor, who has previously enrolled in the IACRA system as a recommending instructor, uses the applicant’s FTN to retrieve the application for review. It is also the responsibility of the instructor to attach the results of the student’s written test to the IACRA file, using the Exam ID, which is usually found in the upper right portion of the printed results. Once the recommending instructor has reviewed the application, and the results are attached, the application is again sent to the central server at the Airman Certification Branch. 

At the appropriate time, the examiner retrieves the applicant’s application from the central server, verifies the individual’s identification, and administers the practical test. IACRA has provisions for the issuance of a temporary airman certificate, notice of discontinuance, or notice of disapproval. When the evaluation is completed, and the examiner has completed the appropriate processing, the file is again returned to the Airman Certification Branch. Upon successful completion, the permanent certificate is prepared and forwarded to the pilot. 

## Chapter Summary 

This chapter provides an overview of the FAA, the flight instructor, and DPE’s roles in the qualification and licensing of lighter-than-air pilots. Additionally, the regulatory requirements for both ground and aeronautical training have been outlined. 

The reader has also been given some basic information and techniques concerning flight safety practices and aeronautical decision-making. This information is not exhaustive; the student pilot would be well advised to avail himself or herself of other materials published by the FAA and other organizations. 

