Seven influential general aviation organizations are asking the Department of Transportation to expedite a review of the FAA’s proposed rulemaking on third-class medical reform.
In an August 15 letter, the associations urged Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx to complete its review of the FAA notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) within the next 30 days and open the proposal for public comment.
“The FAA has moved far too slowly on medical reform,” said Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) President Mark Baker. “This is a top priority for our members and we will do absolutely everything in our power to get the government moving and keep them moving. We’re working with friends in Congress and with the GA industry to make sure pilots get relief as soon as possible, and we will keep pushing until we get results.”
In their letter, the industry groups noted that changing the third-class medical process could save pilots as much as $140 million a year and the FAA more than $1 million a year—money that could be reinvested in ways that do much more to enhance safety, including increased proficiency flying and installing advanced safety equipment in aircraft.
The letter also notes that the FAA first recognized that pilots do not need a third-class medical certificate to fly safely a decade ago when it instituted the standard for sport pilots. And the industry is now in the process of developing a comprehensive online education course to ensure that pilots have the information needed to self-assess their fitness to fly. That, paired with an open and honest relationship with a primary care doctor, will enhance pilot safety, the groups wrote.
In addition to AOPA’s Baker, the letter was signed by the leaders of the Experimental Aircraft Association, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, Helicopter Association International, the National Agricultural Aviation Association, the National Air Transportation Association and the National Business Aviation Association.
More than two-and-a-half years ago, AOPA and EAA filed a petition with the FAA to expand the number of pilots who can fly without a third-class medical certificate.
When the FAA allowed the AOPA-EAA petition to languish, AOPA turned to friends in Congress for help. On Dec. 11, 2013, Rep. Todd Rokita (R-Indiana), a member of the House General Aviation Caucus, and GA Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Sam Graves (R-Missouri), introduced the General Aviation Pilot Protection Act (GAPPA). GAPPA now has 129 co-sponsors in the House and 17 in the Senate.
Thousands of AOPA members and other pilots have contacted their congressional representatives in Washington and signed an AOPA traveling petition in support of third-class medical reform.
“We are committed to seeing medical reform for our members and the entire aviation community,” said Baker. “Medical reform will save money, enhance safety, and get more people flying. That’s good for pilots now, and it’s critical for the future of the general aviation industry.”
I have lost faith that the F.A.A will ever do anything about Medical reform,but if they would only add two and four place airplanes up to 180 horse power as Light sport airplane,that in it self would help General Aviation.It would put more Airplanes in the air,and more pilots learning to fly.At least it would be a start.
For those who are interested this is supposedly the info currently available on the FAA reg. Not very enlightening really but it is something new at least and we even have a title so we can all learn a new acronym PPPWAM.
Popular Title: Private-Pilot Privileges without a Medical
RIN 2120-AK45
Stage: NPRM
Previous Stage:None
Abstract: This rulemaking would consider allowing certain operations to be conducted by individuals exercising private-pilot privileges without holding a current FAA airman medical certificate. The intended effect of this action is to provide relief from having to obtain a medical certificate for pilots engaged in low-risk flying, such as private pilots operating a small, general aviation aircraft.
Effects:
Prompting action: Secretarial/Head of Operating Administration Decision
Rulemaking Project Initiated: 02/04/2014
Docket Number:
I was in the “town hall meeting” at Spokane Felts Field Saturday afternoon when Mr. Baker spoke on this issue. After watching Mr. Baker respond to questions I am of the opinion that he is sincerely doing his best, and I am certain that the sea of grey haired pilots, some of whom arrived in very expensive personal aircraft and others in homebuilts like mine, are with him.
I have no ill will toward Mr. Huerta of the FAA. He is a professional politico who probably has no personal opinion about the drivers license medical issue and just wants to continue his career in D.C. OTOH, I have watched the FAA’s “milestone” dates on the DOT NPRM website get postponed and extended in spite of the “we are doing all we can to move quickly” comments from Mr. Huerta. All the stakeholders (AOPA/EAA, AMEs, AMA etc. etc.) have already made their views known so any further delay is simply a rope-a-dope tactic to wait us out.
Doubtless, there are various camps within the FAA and its medical standards people, some of whom may be sympathetic, and others who are die-hard “not on my watch” types. If political muscle is required to gently nudge the nay-sayers aside, we will have to use it. A decade of positive (other than pricing) experience with LSA cannot be ignored and nobody’s getting any younger.
For God’s sake, come up with PAX limits, HP limits, landing gear limits, altitude limits, VFR limits, or whatever you need to keep older-PP-flown Skyhawks and Cherokees out of the way of the ATPs. At the same time, start promoting recreational aviation instead of pandering to the airlines, the bizjets and now the drones, at our expense.
Amen. And while we’re at it:
1. No ethanol or lead in av gas.
3. No AD-SB VFR below 12501 MSL.