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