Aviation Bill of Rights

[wypaul 448]

Subject: FW: Aviation medical bill before congress 2nd time

 

There is a bill before congress to eliminate the 3^rd class medical for some types of general aviation. Pilots self certify themselves every time that they choose to operate a aircraft. The third class medical for many is a costly and cumbersome requirement that does nothing to improve aviation safety. For a decade now, the Sport Pilot license has been in force, with no medical requirement and it is clear that there is no risk to safety for private pilots flying non commercial flights.

 

Would you please support this call-to-action from EAA. If you received this and you are not involved in aviation please believe me, the facts support the passage of this bill. Click on the link below it only takes a couple of minutes, Enter your zip code and the site will automatically generate emails to your representatives in the house and senate. It's easy and it's fast.

 

Thank you for helping.

 

http://govt.eaa.org/17422/support-pilots-bill-rights-2/?m=5245104

 

[William Davis 4]

Supported.... Done.

[GrayWalk 1]

Thanks for posting the link. I have sent my letters.

[Av8r3400 1179]

The letters are good, I encourage everyone to send them! I have, too.

However, I also encourage you to do a little more and call your reps' office, house and senate. Direct phone calls elicit more response than blind, form emails can and it only takes a couple of minutes!

[wypaul 448]

Good point Larry.

[Av8r3400 1179]

Get your reps phone and fax number here.

http://www.contactingthecongress.org

[dholly 718]

So like a good aviation enthusiast I sent the EAA link letters in Post #1 when Paul started the thread. Over the ensuing months I've received replies from all. Most were a typical form response but did at least state the Representative supported the Bill. None were as late or as completely useless as the one I just received from NY Senator Schumer nearly 9 months later. What a total waste of energy, time and resources. Just thought you might be interested.

 

 

Thank you for contacting me to express your support for S. 571, the Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2. I agree with you about the importance of assuring the vitality of the general aviation industry while also maintaining robust safety standards.

 

     As you know, general aviation is a large and vibrant industry in New York and across the country, which serves as an important economic driver in many local communities. According to the FAA, there are nearly 16,000 active pilots in New York State. And according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association’s 2014 report, New York ranks ninth in the nation in terms of total jobs attributable to general aviation. I believe that it is important for the federal government to support the general aviation community and maintain strong safety measures.

 

     The Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2 was introduced by Senator Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma. The legislation would amend the Pilot’s Bill of Rights, which was signed into law in 2012. The bill would reform the third class medical certification requirements for certain pilots, among other legislative changes. The Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2 was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation in February 2015. While I am not a member of this committee, I will continue to monitor this bill as it moves through the Senate.

           

     Again, thank you for contacting me about this important issue. Please feel free to contact me in the future if I can be of further assistance on this or any other matter.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

Charles E. Schumer

United States Senator

[Av8r_Sed 82]

Not to go too far into the politics hole but... Sen. Chuck generally has never been interested in anything that doesn't hold potential for getting his sound bites on TV.  He's the poster child for knee jerk politicians everywhere.  ...but you knew that living in his great state.

[dholly 718]

Ditto that... and top contender for Majority Speaker when the Senate goes Democrat.

 

[KFfan 151]

So like a good aviation enthusiast I sent the EAA link letters in Post #1 when Paul started the thread. Over the ensuing months I've received replies from all. Most were a typical form response but did at least state the Representative supported the Bill. None were as late or as completely useless as the one I just received from NY Senator Schumer nearly 9 months later. What a total waste of energy, time and resources. Just thought you might be interested.

Must be a "form letter" response.

Nearly identical to the one I received from my Senator

 

Lou

[KFfan 151]

Yes sir, that 3rd class medical is a great safety tool!

Heard on the news this morning of a ATP dying in flight.

The co-pilot was a better safety alternative.

Lou

[dholly 718]

December 9, 2015

By Elizabeth A Tennyson

 

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation has passed the Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2 (S. 571), bringing significant third class medical reform one big step closer to reality. 

“This is great news for the pilot community because it brings us closer than ever to meaningful third class medical reform,” said AOPA President Mark Baker. “Bringing the legislation this far has required persistence and compromise in order to get the very best possible deal for pilots while winning the support needed to keep medical reform on the table. Today’s action signals that lawmakers are continuing to move legislation that will help hundreds of thousands of pilots fly safely while saving them millions of dollars and countless hours now wasted on the medical certification process.”

 

 

 

The committee passed the measure by voice vote on Dec. 9. The full Senate and the House of Representatives also must pass the bill before it can go to the president to be signed into law. The Senate bill has 70 cosponsors, and there are 151 cosponsors in the House.

Under the Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2, most pilots who have held a valid third class medical, either regular or special issuance, within 10 years of the legislation’s enactment would never need to get another FAA medical exam. The rule would apply to pilots flying VFR or IFR in aircraft weighing up to 6,000 pounds and carrying up to five passengers at altitudes below 18,000 feet and speeds up to 250 knots.

Pilots who develop certain medical conditions, including a small list of specific cardiac, mental health, or neurological conditions, will have to get a FAA special issuance medical one time only.

For pilots who have not had a valid medical in the past 10 years and those who have never applied for and received a medical certificate, a one-time third class medical certification by an aviation medical examiner will be required. After a pilot has been medically certified once, either through the regular or special issuance processes, he or she also will be able to fly indefinitely without needing to go through the FAA medical certification process again.

After pilots have met these requirements, they will need to visit their personal physician once every four years for a medical exam. Pilots will need to fill out a form and provide it to the doctor performing the exam. The form includes a short questionnaire for pilots as well as a list of items the doctor must include in the examination. Following the exam, both the physician and the pilot must sign the form. The pilot must make a note of the visit and keep the signed form in his or her logbook.

While the form will include some of the items that are now part of the third class medical exam, it will not require the doctor to make a “pass/fail” judgment, and no information about the exam needs to be provided to the FAA unless it is specifically requested.

“This legislation moves the responsibility for managing many health issues out of the FAA’s bureaucracy and puts it in the hands of pilots where it belongs,” said Baker. “The Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2 frees pilots to work with their personal physicians to manage their own health, wellness, and fitness to fly.”

In addition to the medical exam by a personal physician once every four years, pilots will be required to take a free online education course on aeromedical factors every two years. The course will be designed to increase awareness and understanding of medical factors that can affect a pilot’s fitness to fly.

Under the bill, the FAA will have a year from the date the legislation becomes law to produce a final rule reflecting the legislation’s provisions. If the final rule is not ready within one year of the bill’s enactment, pilots will be allowed to fly under the guidelines set out in the legislation without facing FAA enforcement action. The legislation also directs the FAA to streamline the special issuance medical process and identify additional medical conditions that AMEs can issue medical certificates for without requiring the pilot to go through the special issuance medical process.

Learn more about the legislation and how it pertains to you on AOPA’s Third Class Medical Reform FAQs Web page.

 

 

Elizabeth A Tennyson | Senior Director of Communications, AOPA

AOPA Senior Director of Communications Elizabeth Tennyson is an instrument-rated private pilot who first joined AOPA in 1998.

[EDMO 1078]

I knew the "Driver's License Medical" for LSA was too good to last.  I guess this replaces that too?

 I think the airplane factories have pushed this so people will buy their planes, since so many pilots have gone to LSAs.

Guess I will just have to finish and sell my experimental rather than go the AME route again - Been over 10 years for me!

EDMO

Edited 10 Dec 2015 by EDMO

[Emory Bored 61]

I don't know ED.  Regardless of all this stuff Cessna, Piper and Mooney will sell no more airplanes than they sell now.  Half a million for a 182 just ain't a price point many can make.  The '70s were arguably the most successful market years since the mid '40s for general aviation.  I think a 172 cost mid $20Ks then?  The whole shootin' match is dying out I think.  I sure don't bring home 15 to 20 times what I did in 1975.  In any case I'm trying to get myself in just good enough shape to get an SI class 3 one more time.  We'll see.  

[gregpro50 64]

I knew the "Driver's License Medical" for LSA was too good to last.  I guess this replaces that too?

 I think the airplane factories have pushed this so people will buy their planes, since so many pilots have gone to LSAs.

Guess I will just have to finish and sell my experimental rather than go the AME route again - Been over 10 years for me!

EDMO

There are no changes to the lsa rule.  You'll still be able to fly lsa on a drivers lisence.

[Av8r3400 1179]

Yes, the LSA rules remain intact and unchanged. 

The next big thing on the docket will be part 23 reform. There is talk of changing the cretification requirements to an ASTM standard (similar to the LSA rules) to allow for easier certification of parts and designs in the certified plane world. 

Follow that up with meaningful tort reform and maybe...  Oh, yeah.  As long as the democRAT party exists that will never happen. 

[EDMO 1078]

I don't know ED.  Regardless of all this stuff Cessna, Piper and Mooney will sell no more airplanes than they sell now.  Half a million for a 182 just ain't a price point many can make.  The '70s were arguably the most successful market years since the mid '40s for general aviation.  I think a 172 cost mid $20Ks then?  The whole shootin' match is dying out I think.  I sure don't bring home 15 to 20 times what I did in 1975.  In any case I'm trying to get myself in just good enough shape to get an SI class 3 one more time.  We'll see.  

Around 1970 the Cessna 150 was $8K, and the 172 was $12K, and a new car from the Big 3 was around $3K.  My house was $12K new - then prices went up like you put dynamite under them!  Interest on houses went as high as 18% by 1978!  I was too busy working to figure out who caused it.

EdMO

[Geoffrey Thorpe 31]

Here is the problem I see.

Yes, it is a step in the right direction.

But...

You still need to get a medical to fly without a medical - OK, but that's still and improvement over special issues and all that - right? But what happens if there were ever an opportunity for real medical reform?  Right now, all that is required for reform is a change to FAA rules. If the PBOR2 (as amended) passes, it becomes an act of law and would require congress to make any further changes - not just the FAA.  Whole 'nuther process that just plain ain't never gonna happen.

And, while PBOR-2 doesn't address sport pilot, there is nothing in it to prevent the FAA from making SP rules "consistent" with the wishes of Congress...

I hope I'm wrong.

Edited 13 Dec 2015 by Geoffrey Thorpe

[EDMO 1078]

Here is the problem I see.

Yes, it is a step in the right direction.

But...

You still need to get a medical to fly without a medical - OK, but that's still and improvement over special issues and all that - right? But what happens if there were ever an opportunity for real medical reform?  Right now, all that is required for reform is a change to FAA rules. If the PBOR2 (as amended) passes, it becomes an act of law and would require congress to make any further changes - not just the FAA.  Whole 'nuther process that just plain ain't never gonna happen.

And, while PBOR-2 doesn't address sport pilot, there is nothing in it to prevent the FAA from making SP rules "consistent" with the wishes of Congress...

I hope I'm wrong.

NEVER leave anything in the hands of politicians - their hands are too dirty to cleanly handle anything!

EDMO

[KFfan 151]

NEVER leave anything in the hands of politicians - their hands are too dirty to cleanly handle anything!

EDMO

And the rest of them is just plain slippery

[Av8r3400 1179]

PBOR2 has passed the full Senate with unanimous consent. 

EAA

AOPA

[Av8r3400 1179]

Here is the problem I see.

Yes, it is a step in the right direction.

But...

You still need to get a medical to fly without a medical - OK, but that's still and improvement over special issues and all that - right? But what happens if there were ever an opportunity for real medical reform?  Right now, all that is required for reform is a change to FAA rules. If the PBOR2 (as amended) passes, it becomes an act of law and would require congress to make any further changes - not just the FAA.  Whole 'nuther process that just plain ain't never gonna happen.

And, while PBOR-2 doesn't address sport pilot, there is nothing in it to prevent the FAA from making SP rules "consistent" with the wishes of Congress...

I hope I'm wrong.

Under the bill, the FAA will have a year from the date the legislation becomes law to produce a final rule reflecting the legislation’s provisions. If the final rule is not ready within one year of the bill’s enactment, pilots will be allowed to fly under the guidelines set out in the legislation without facing FAA enforcement action. The legislation also directs the FAA to streamline the special issuance medical process and identify additional medical conditions that AMEs can issue medical certificates for without requiring the pilot to go through the special issuance medical process.

[KFfan 151]

Now that it has been sent to the House, I notified my Rep of my desire for him to get on board and actively push for passage. It was carefully worded to be convincing but non-threatening.

Where did I leave my AK.....?