WASHINGTON, D.C. — The House of Representatives has unanimously approved a bipartisan FAA extension that ensures the FAA is funded through Sept. 30, 2017. Current FAA reauthorization expires July 15.
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) and Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) sponsored the measure, H. Res. 818, the “FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016.”
“This extension provides stability to our aviation system over the next 14 months, and includes limited but critical and time-sensitive provisions to improve aviation safety and security,” Shuster said. “Today’s measure reflects the bipartisan, bicameral agreement reached with Senate leaders, and I look forward to the Senate sending it to the president before the current FAA authorization expires on Friday. With this extension in place, Congress can continue to develop a long-term, comprehensive FAA bill that includes many additional reforms and improvements to our aviation system.”
“While I would have rather moved a comprehensive long-term FAA reauthorization, this legislation reflects a bipartisan compromise that provides more than a year of certainty and includes a number of time-sensitive safety and security provisions that will better protect our nation’s airspace and air travelers,” said DeFazio.
The FAA funding extension, which heads to the Senate next for a vote — expected soon so the president can sign the bill before the July 15 deadline — includes language to reform the current third-class medical certification system.
The aeromedical reform language in the bill has already passed the Senate three times in various measures since last December, according to officials with the Experimental Aircraft Association, which has been lobbying — along with the officials from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) — for reform for years.
“This bill is not yet law, but this is a major step forward and makes us more optimistic that our efforts can finally reach the finish line,” said Jack J. Pelton, EAA’s CEO/chairman. “EAA and AOPA have put in exhaustive efforts on this priority, working directly with leadership in both the House and Senate. We urge the Senate to take up this legislation quickly so it can further advance toward becoming law.”
After the president signs the bill into law, the FAA will have up to one year to develop and issue regulations before the new third class medical provisions become effective.
But a 10-year reachback will allow many pilots who have held a valid medical certificate or special issuance within the past decade to fly without needing another FAA medical exam, EAA officials note. Instead pilots will be able to be examined by their personal physician every four years and take an online aeromedical factors course every two years to remain medically qualified to fly.
Comparing the scope of the bill’s coverage with the original petition filed by EAA and AOPA in 2012, the legislation greatly expands the number of pilots and aircraft who will be eligible to fly under third-class medical reforms, EAA officials said.
Original Petition
- Up to 4 seats, 180 hp, single-engine, fixed gear
- Day VFR Only
- Up to 1 passenger
- Altitude Restrictions: Up to 10,000 feet or up to 2,000 feet AGL
New Legislative Reforms
- Up to 6 seats, up to 6,000 pounds (no limitations on horsepower, number of engines, or gear type)
- Day and Night VFR and IFR
- Up to 5 passengers
- Altitude Restrictions: Up to 18,000 feet MSL
“We have been working day in and day out to win much needed medical reforms for pilots, and the inclusion of those reforms in the FAA extension, and the House’s overwhelming support puts us one step closer to getting this to the President’s desk,” added AOPA President Mark Baker.
In addition to medical reforms, the legislation requires the FAA to develop regulations for marking towers between 50 and 200 feet tall to improve their visibility to low-flying aircraft and help prevent accidents. Other provisions would expand the Transportation Security Administration’s PreCheck program and provide protections to airline passengers, including ensuring families can sit together, allowing passengers to deplane after long waits on the tarmac, and providing fee refunds for lost and delayed baggage.
I am not a fan of Obama.However in almost eight years he has finally done something that I can agree upon…
Now that he has signed this bill into law.
I must admit what I am so confused about is it legal or not for me to fly my C150 NOW.?…without a 3rd class medical….. I certainly do not want to violate any FAA rules…
Also I understand that they have a year to make any adjustments or admendments to fine tune the new law.
Question……am I now legal to fly my new Cessna 150 with NO current medical?
Note* my 3rd class medical was in effect 3 years ago. I decided not to renew it in order to fly my TCraft as light sport.
I would like an answer from the FAA about this……thanks
Pete … first off, the Prez couldn’t care less about 3rd class medical relief for recreational fliers. He signed the Bill because it funded the FAA until the end of FY 2017 … that’s all. Had he not signed it, the FAA woulda been out of money and the flying public would have been mad. He may not have even known it was in the Bill? It was a ‘perfect storm’ timing wise. Don’t thank him … you can thank two people for third class medical relief … Sen Inhofe (R-OK) and Rep Graves (R-MO). THEY are the people who finally forced it all the way through to passage.
WIth respect to your “legality,” this new law has NOT — I repeat … NOT — taken effect YET. The Congress has funded the FAA and contained within the Bill is language which DIRECTS the FAA to do TWO things. Within 180 days, they must WRITE the language to enact the third class medical changes contained within the Bill. Within 365 days, they must run it through their Administrative process and CODIFY it into the FAR’s. If they do not do this, the language automatically kicks in which — in essence — directs the FAA to NOT do enforcement action against any pilot flying within the other constraints of the Bill’s language if they do not have a medical. Personally, given the two choices — codification into the FARs or no action and automatic kick in — I’ll take the later because I believe the FAA will find a way to screw it all up. That’s my personal opinion, however.
At Airventure, I attended three forums on the matter as well as the FAA Administrator’s forum and one featuring Sen. Inhofe. I also spoke privately with a doctor on the EAA Aeromedical Advisory Council. My takeaway is that the real story will be told when the FAA provides the NPRM on the subject. This should come some time in 2017 early. They COULD make it every bit as onerous as the current system when they make up the checklist which pilots will have to take to their personal physician … who is NOT schooled in aerospace physiology. It may happen that pilots will still have to ‘physician shop’ to find a doctor who will understand what’s happening and be willing to sign the document. The online education course part — which pilots will have to do every two years — is not a big thing. It COULD come down to STILL going to an AME IF you have any of the three conditions which the FAA will require further evaluation or you can’t find a physician willing to sign the checklist. Many see THIS as the next big hurdle in the process.
The essence of what’s happened is that the period of performance for the third class medical for people over 40 has gone from two years to four years between doctor’s visits. Even just that is a good thing.
For YOU … you need to have a valid current third class medical until July 15, 2017 after which we’ll find out the “real” final story on the matter.
Finally, I must tell everyone here that Sen Inhofe is a superb guy … we need more like him in the Senate and Congress. What he said during his Saturday forum at Airventure gave me pause that maybe all isn’t yet lost. The problem is, he’s only one among many. He deserves kudos from ALL pilots; during the forum, he received many from those in the packed building.
BTW … AOPA, EAA and Sen Inhofe, el al, say they will be watching like a hawk as to what the FAA does to ensure that not only the “letter” of the new law is complied with but that the intent is, as well. Sen Inhofe is not a big fan of the FAA for the obvious reasons.
At the EAA Membership meeting at Airventure, I addressed Jack Pelton and recommended that the EAA begin to press for an increase in the maximum gross takeoff weight of a light sport airplane. My reasoning is that this move would — in essence — help to include airplanes like your C150 into that class of airplanes and a driver’s license medical would then be the requirement vs the “new” medical described above. The response was that this IS a priority issue for EAA. That’s good news. AND … it’s another reason for every pilot to belong to one or the other or both Associations which represent us.
My third class medical certificate expires in December, 2016. In order to be able to legally fly on 2 January 2017, do I need to have a new third class medical certificate?
Depends whether the foot dragging FAA makes the changes by then They have a whole year to do it and I’d bet they will take every minute of that year to change the regulations regarding physicals.
I,m a little confused ,I have been flying using my drivers license. Will l have to get a 3rd class to continue flying? Had a 1st class 25years ago. Retired Airline Capt.
Robert … if you’ve been flying using a drivers license, then you’ve likely been flying under “Light Sport?” If so … you don’t have to do anything … light sport rules aren’t changing. But, IF you want to fly something heavier than 1320 pounds up to 6000 pounds, THEN you’d have to have passed at least one medical in the prior 10 years.
If I haven’t had a 3rd class physical in the last 10 yrs can I get one by going to my Dr? Or would it be an FAA Dr.?
Be absolutely sure you can pass a 3rd class before you take it, because if you don’t pass it, you won’t be able to fly light sport anymore either. See if you can find an AME who will give you a physical exam before you fill out the online application and then if he says you will pass it, then fill out the online application. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
I see that the EAA has now changed it’s Jul 13, “Finish Line in Sight” webpage.
They’re NOW saying, “Under the measure, the FAA has six months to issue the appropriate implementing regulations, but if they fail to do so within a year then the FAA can no longer take enforcement action against a pilot who does not hold a medical and otherwise meets the requirements stated in the legislation.”
SO … the answer is basically … both. The House Resolution gives them six months but the HR 636 gives them a year after which they can no longer enforce those who otherwise meet the law … whether they act … or not.
Any takers that the FAA will not act ??
Editor … There’s some sort of ‘error’ here … ??
In this article, et al, it’s saying, “… the FAA will have up to one year to develop and issue regulations before the new third class medical provisions become effective.”
In the medical Section 2307 of H. Res 818, it plainly says that, “Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall issue or revise regulations to ensure that an individual may operate as pilot in command of a covered aircraft if …”
What gives? Is it 180 days or is it one year? I believe everyone was fixated on the one year period and totally missed that the H. Res 818 specifies 180 days?
If you think about it, H. Res 818 along with whatever the Senate does only funds the FAA until Sep 30, 2017. Our friendly folks on Independence Ave could drag their feet beyond the one year period– so what else is new — and the medical provisions DICTATED by Congress could once again be effectively ignored once September 30 of next year comes and this (temporary … not much more than a Continuing Resolution) Bill expires.
The FAA … unable to do it’s job so the Congress has to do it FOR them. They’ve been making simple stuff hard since 1958 !!
Both EAA & AOPA say it is one year. Evidently that was some of the “give & take” when the senate & house committees met to work out differences. I sure hope you are right about the 180 days though.
Whatever the time is, it is from the date it becomes law which is when Obama signs it(if he does).
The statement below is not true. They actually have 180 days.
“After the president signs the bill into law, the FAA will have up to one year to develop and issue regulations before the new third class medical provisions become effective.”
What happens if Obama won’t sign it?
If he doesn’t sign it by the 15th of July, the FAA has no money to run on supposedly. It’s a damn shame that it has taken this long to get any kind of relief. I’m sure the FAA will figure out some way to mess it up for us though. Bureaucrats hate giving up any power & control.