FAA GA Medical Reform

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) jointly petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to expand the third class medical exemption to cover more pilots and aircraft (Tennyson, 2014). The AOPA and the EAA are trying to get a ruling passed that allows Private Pilot Privileges who fly recreationally without a Medical Certificate. This reform would “would protect GA pilots from liability on charitable flights, extend legal protections to FAA representatives, and require FAA contractors to provide information under Freedom of Information Act requests” (Tennyson, 2015).  In 2012 the FAA failed to respond to the AOPA/EAA petition, which caused congress to step in and propose their own ruling on the GA medical reform.  

Currently the reform is a bill, “Second Pilot’s Bill Of Rights” (S. 571), (H.R. 1062), which is sponsored by the Senate and the House of Representatives (EAA, 2015).    The Senate and the House of Representatives committees are currently reviewing and amending the bill, which after approved by both will get passed or vetoed by the President.   

The idea that anyone with a valid drivers license can fly an aircraft without obtaining a medical certification seem a little risky.  One good thing that would come from this reform would be that more people would be allowed to exercise Private Pilot Privileges.  This would include anyone that has had a third class medical in the last 10 years who may have lost it for some reason can now fly again (Thurber, 2014).  This is good for the industry but I do not believe it is good for the public.  Some people may not have a medical certification for a reason; they may no longer be mentally for physically fit to anymore but now this bill will allow them to again.  This bill will also other risky behaviors such as pilot’s indulging in drug and other banned substances because now they are not required to have medical they are now not required to submitted to drug testing.  This seems to be the perfect prescription for more aviation accidents. 

I do not know if the current general aviation medical should be reformed.  In some ways I think it should be because so many people are unable to get aviation medical.  I feel that this would help this industry thrive.  But on the other hand I think this introduces more potential for accidents due to reckless behaviors and people exercising Private Pilot Privileges that should not be allowed to exercise any flying privileges.  

Reference:

Second Pilot's Bill Of Rights Pushes Long-Awaited Aeromedical Reform Forward | EAA. (2015, February 26). Retrieved from https://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/eaa-news-and-aviation-news/2015-news/02-26-2015-second-pilots-bill-of-rights-pushes-long-awaited-aeromedical-reform-forward

Tennyson, E. (2015, February 26). Medical reform legislation introduced in House, Senate. Retrieved from http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2015/February/26/Medical-reform-legislation-introduced-in-House-and-Senate

Tennyson, E. (2014, April 2). FAA announces rulemaking on third class medical. Retrieved from http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2014/April/02/FAA-announces-rulemaking-on-third-class-medical

Thurber, M. (2014, December 3). Proposed Rule for Third-class Medical Relief in Limbo. Retrieved from http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/general-aviation/2014-12-03/proposed-rule-third-class-medical-relief-limbo

Chinese Airboeing

China is one of the biggest aviation markets in the world but they solely rely on Boeing and Airbus to supply them with aircraft. China is yet again trying to manufacture aircraft's.  In 1980 China attempted this same idea but failed.  Now China’s multibillion-dollar effort to create the homegrown C919 jetliner is intended to reduce some of China’s needs to rely on foreign commercial aircraft manufactures like Boeing and Airbus. 

I want to say that the COMAC C919 will not get FAA certification, but I know maybe not today or tomorrow but they will eventually.  COMAC will eventually get their FAA certification for their aircrafts because at some point in time it will be hard for the FAA to deny or delay certification based on performance, design, or any other component they can think of. Because at that time COMAC would have evolved and corrected any problems the FAA had with their aircraft. 

   

If the C919 receives FAA certification, Boeing and Airbus may have a problem because COMAC intents to sale their aircraft at a lower price then Boeing and Airbus. But also if the FAA certification is given to COMAC and its aircraft it will boost their reputation, which they need to sale their aircrafts in the U.S. and cleared the way for the plane to be sold and operated globally - though expectations for foreign sales had been low (Govindasamy and Miller, 2015). Without the FAA, COMAC aircrafts can operate only in China and some Asian, African and South American countries that recognize the CAAC's certificate (Govindasamy and Miller, 2015).  If the C919 were to receive FAA certification I do believe that other company would try to manufacture aircrafts but they will not last long.

COMAC, Which stands for Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ldtd. is a Chinese state-owned aerospace manufacturer that is jointly established by Aviation Industry Corporation of China, Aluminum Corporation of China, Baosteel Group Corporation, Sinochem Group, Shanghai Guosheng Corporation Limited, and State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (english.comac.cc).

The C919, a twin-engine, narrow-body aircraft seating up to 168 passengers, which is similar in size to the Airbus 320 and Boeing 737 series of jets (Bloomberg News, 2015). The C919 will have a flying range around 3,451 miles, it is designed to compete head-to-head with its Airbus and Boeing rivals, and said to easily cover popular business and leisure routes from China such as Shanghai to Singapore and Beijing to Bangkok (Jiang, 2015).

Another state-owned company in China is developing a smaller regional jet, called the Advanced Regional Jet for the 21st Century or the ARJ-21. The ARJ-21-700 will seat 90 passengers in an all-economy cabin arrangement. The ARJ-21-900 is intended to seat 115 passengers. The ARJ-21 will compete with the Embraer produced by Brazil and Bombardier produced by Canada.  COMAC also has future plans to build a C929 and C939, which are wide-body aircraft's that will have a seating capacity of approximately 300 and 400.

Boeing and Airbus seems to be very quiet, I was unable to find anything on their response to the unveiling of the Chinese c919. 

References 

Govindasamy, S., & Miller, M. (2015, October 21). Exclusive: China-made regional jet set for delivery, but no U.S. certification. Retrieved from http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/10/21/us-china-aircraft-arj21-exclusive-idUSKCN0SF2XN20151021

C919_Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://english.comac.cc/products/ca/

Jiang, S. (2015, November 2). China takes on Boeing, Airbus with new passenger jet - CNN.com. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/02/asia/china-new-c919-passenger-jet/index.html

 

Aviation All Organized

A few organizations that would be beneficial to be apart of would be Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), Aircraft Owners and Pilot Association (AOPA), Women in Aviation, International (WAI), and Advancing Women in Transportation (WTS). 

Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) is the largest pilot union in the world. The mission of the Air Line Pilots Association is to promote and champion all aspects of aviation safety throughout all segments of the aviation community; to represent, in both specific and general respects, the collective interests of all pilots in commercial aviation; to assist in collective bargaining activities on behalf of all pilots represented by the Association; to promote the health and welfare of the members of the Association before all governmental agencies; to be a strong, forceful advocate of the airline piloting profession, through all forms of media, and with the public at large; and to be the ultimate guardian and defender of the rights and privileges of the professional pilots who are members of the Association (ALPA).  Air Line Pilots Association is an organization that would be more beneficial to the pilots involved or that would like to be involved in the commercial airlines industry. The organization serves as the voice for the commercial airline pilots. Airline Safety, Security, Representation, and Advocacy are the services that ALPA offers its members.

Aircraft Owners and Pilot Association (AOPA) is a non-profit political organization that advocates for the general aviation.  The mission of Aircraft Owners and Pilot Association is to protect the freedom to fly by advocating on behalf of our members, educating pilots, non-pilots, and policy makers alike, supporting activities that ensure the long-term health of General Aviation, fighting to keep General Aviation accessible to all, and securing sufficient resources to ensure our success (AOPA). AOPA offers a mixture of services that are available for future and current pilots. An AOPA membership gives it member’s discounts on insurance, special financing rates when buying an aircraft, as well as special services just for pilots like flight training loans, and educational course in aviation.  

Woman in Aviation, International is an organization dedicated to providing education, mentoring, and scholarship opportunities for women and men who strive for challenging and fulfilling careers within the aviation and aerospace industries (WAI). Their mission is to advocate on behalf of the aviation and aerospace communities, strengthen communications with members and external constituencies, strengthen domestic and international membership and member services/benefits, create effective partnerships with chapters and external organizations, improve management and governance operations and strengthen our financial base, provide superior educational resources and opportunities (WAI).

Advancing Women in Transportation (WTS) is an international organization dedicated to building the future of transportation through the global advancement of women. WTS is helps women find opportunity and recognition in the transportation industry (WTS). Their mission is to o build the future of transportation through the global advancement of women. To fulfill this mission, WTS operates under a specific vision with core values, goals, and guiding principles behind all of its activities and programs (WTS).

In today’s world, networking is the key to success; it is the most important tool available to everyone. Staying involved within the industry is important to belong to these organizations because of the networking opportunities that are available within these organizations. I think building relationship and gaining networks by getting to know the members within the organization you are involved in can lead to networking connection throughout the aviation industry as a whole.  These organizations can also keep you informed about what is currently happening within the aviation industry. Most of these aviation organizations publish aviation magazines that discuss everything that is aviation related. So becoming a member of one of theses organizations would be worth it. Being involved is an important task in professional organizations and networks throughout the aviation industry. There are a broad selection of organizations to choose from, no matter what route you select within the industry.

Reference:

ADVANCING AVIATION SAFETY AND SECURITY SINCE 1931. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.alpa.org/

Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.aopa.org/

WTS - Advancing Women in Transportation. (n.d). Retrieved from https://www.wtsinternational.org/

Women in Aviation, International Official Site. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://wai.org/