AOPA Action / By 'Flight Training' staff

Medical exemption petition comments pass 1,250

Proposal would expand ability to fly without medical

Have you told the FAA that you support the AOPA/EAA medical exemption request? The FAA has received more than 1,250 comments on the request by AOPA and the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) to provide pilots who fly recreationally the option of becoming educated on medical self-assessment and using a driver’s license as the baseline for their health in lieu of obtaining a third class medical certificate.

“The continued outpouring of support since the proposal was presented to the FAA demonstrates the importance the general aviation community places on the request,” said Rob Hackman, AOPA vice president of regulatory affairs.
There is strength in numbers—and this is the time to tell the FAA how granting the request would positively affect your flying or bring you back to the airport. Pilots flying under the exemption would be restricted to day-VFR operations in a single-engine aircraft of 180 horsepower or less, four seats or fewer, fixed gear, with no more than one passenger, among other criteria.

To sharpen understanding of what the associations are seeking, and to make the potential effects on pilots’ personal flying clear, the associations recommend that pilots review the complete proposal, peruse these guidelines for submitting comments, and submit comments online.

Looks like the comment period is closed but we can still contact the FAA and our Reps.

www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D- ... -0350-0001

Rick

It is likely a typo in the number of comments posted above. 12,500 ? I know AOPA hoped to exceed 10,000 originally

There have been over 14,000 postings in support of the proposal. The comment period has been extended through September 14, 2012.

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