The FAA doesn’t see patients on a day-to-day basis, so they should leave medical certification procedures up to the AMEs who practice their trade!
In the process of medical recertification the FAA should only act as an appeal agency to make the final decision on whether airmen fly or not. As ironic as it seems, if an organization such as the FAA existed when the Wright brothers flew, flight might not have taken place!
FAA regulation part 61.53 states a pilot has the responsibility to consider himself safe to conduct a flight. If a pilot has a medical problem and wants to commit suicide in an airplane, no rule the FAA makes will stop him. Common sense should enter in the process of rule making for airmen medical recertification.
Now my comment to Mr. Sclair’s article, On the mend, Changes in medicals a step in the right direction, Oct. 20 issue: Why is there a need for super AMEs? Let the existing system that is in place work! Take the binders off of the AMEs! The cost to the general aviation pilot is getting so prohibitive we don’t need super AMEs to add more confusion, red tape and expense to aviation.
AL BUTZ
Jewett, Ohio