Special Report
Senate legislation would expand medical exemption

With legislation to expand the FAA's third class medical exemption gathering momentum in the House, Sens. John Boozman (R-Ark.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) on March 11 introduced an identical measure in the Senate. All three are members of the Senate General Aviation Caucus.

The bill would make thousands of additional pilots and a broader range of aircraft eligible for the exemption, which has applied exclusively to sport pilots for the past decade.

"Thousands of pilots, including many from Arkansas, have asked the FAA to expand the light sport aircraft medical exemption to cover additional small aircraft," Boozman said. "If FAA continues to delay, this bill will start the discussion toward a legislative solution."

The Senate bill mirrors the language of the General Aviation Pilot Protection Act introduced by AOPA members Rep. Todd Rokita (R-Ind.), a member of the House General Aviation Caucus, and GA Caucus Co-Chair Sam Graves (R-Mo.) in December. That bill has been gathering supporters and now has 52 co-sponsors.

"For many communities in Kansas, and other rural areas of the country, general aviation pilots are the only reliable access to the outside world," Moran said. "These pilots are also integral to agriculture, forestry, disaster relief, rescue and medical evacuation operations, and countless other fields. Six thousand pilots are already leaving the general aviation industry every year—the FAA should not be making it any more difficult for capable pilots to stay. The General Aviation Pilot Protection Act will help the FAA retain and attract pilots to this vital industry, while preserving important standards of safety in our nation's skies."

AOPA, which has advocated strongly for expanding the medical exemption, expressed appreciation for the senators' leadership.

"On behalf of our hundreds of thousands of AOPA members, we thank Sens. Boozman, Roberts, and Moran for introducing this legislation which will do so much to support general aviation and keep pilots in the air," said AOPA President Mark Baker. "By making it easier and more affordable to start flying and keep flying, this measure addresses the number one concern of our members."

Currently, most pilots who fly recreationally must undergo an FAA medical exam every two or five years, depending on their age. They also must assess their fitness to fly before each flight and have their skills evaluated by a certificated flight instructor every two years.

"With passage of this legislation, pilots will continue to assess their fitness to fly and undergo regular flight reviews with a flight instructor, just as they do today," said Jim Coon, AOPA senior vice president of government affairs. "But the resources now being used on the FAA medical certification process could be reinvested in ways that do far more to enhance safety, including increased proficiency flying and installing new safety equipment on aircraft. This measure will make flying more affordable for AOPA members and will ultimately help reinvigorate the pilot population."

Like the House bill, the new Senate legislation would exempt pilots who make noncommercial VFR flights in aircraft weighing up to 6,000 pounds with no more than six seats from the third class medical certification process. Pilots would be allowed to carry up to five passengers, fly at altitudes below 14,000 feet msl, and fly no faster than 250 knots. The FAA would be required to report on the safety consequences of the new rule after five years.

The legislative action goes a step further than a March 2012 petition filed by AOPA and EAA. Under the petition, pilots would be able to operate noncommercial VFR flights in single-engine aircraft with 180 horsepower or less, four or fewer seats, fixed gear, and a maximum of one passenger. To participate, pilots would need a valid driver's license and would be required to take recurrent safety training to help them accurately assess their fitness to fly. More than 16,000 overwhelmingly favorable comments were filed during the public comment period on the petition.

"Expanding this commonsense exemption to other GA aircraft operating for recreational purposes makes sense from both a practical and safety standpoint. The FAA has had two years to review this request for an exemption. Let's get this thing moving," Roberts said.

AOPA continues to work with the FAA and Congress to allow more pilots to fly without going through the costly and time-consuming medical certification process.

"Our elected officials recognize general aviation's importance as not only an economic engine, but also as a unique American activity," said Baker. "The measures now in the House and Senate will help GA grow and thrive, and that's good for everyone."

Well....

It sounds great, but I just have my doubts that the FAA will really move very quickly. Also, while this will help keep aging pilots active, the issue of getting larger numbers of young pilots into GA remains .

There are certain hobbies .... Coin collecting, stamp collecting, model railroading, ham radio..that have a heavy "gray factor" . I think general aviation will qualify pretty soon, if it indeed has not already.

I don't know. I see a lot of younger folks at our fly outs.

Okay. "Younger than me" folks.

don't know. I see a lot of younger folks at our fly outs.

That is very good news. Maybe that is the luck of California. A few months ago I attended an AOPA sponsored weather seminar. I'd say about 200 people were there. Great talk.

At one point the speaker even asked who was under 30 ? Under 40 ? My guess was that the average ( as well as median ) age was well into the 60's.

I think a significant part of it is that young folks just have a lot of other alternatives these days, and whether it is Boy Scouting or aviation, things just get spread out more thinly. Of course, the poor economy in many places has not helped either, and some states like California are blessed in being strong in that sector as well.

In the mean time..fly on....

I hope this legislative action will get some administrative movement on the proposed changes the FAA has sat on two years. Just bringing the C-150 into the no need for medical area will make a world of financial difference. If they drag their heels on 100 horse and two seats, they my see legislation on 300 horse and six seats.

Of course it has nothing to do with safety or viability. The FAA is in the same position as all pilots. High demand, low supply, big price. The low and diminishing numbers of airplanes and pilots means low and diminishing numbers of papers and sanctions created. That means fewer jobs and smaller government. The military, airlines, and even ag pretty much self regulate. That leaves corporate and recreational sanctions and paperwork. AOPA lawyers have put a real dent in that. The FAA has a real vested interest in the medical sanctions, waiver applications, etc.

This is. A election year for senate and house members . - watch to see how they vote against or for and vote accordingly .

The EAA has set up a petition for supporting the bill to expand the Drivers License in lieu of an FAA medical option to cover most personal aircraft operating under VFR rules (Ditch the special issue, eh?).

You don't have to be a member to sign - and then it gives you a link to send a letter to our senators / representative.


http://govt.eaa.org/14781/support-gener ... ection-act

Thanks for the link. Comment made and letters sent.

Geoffrey Thorpe wrote:The EAA has set up a petition for supporting the bill to expand the Drivers License in lieu of an FAA medical option to cover most personal aircraft operating under VFR rules (Ditch the special issue, eh?).

You don't have to be a member to sign - and then it gives you a link to send a letter to our senators / representative.


http://govt.eaa.org/14781/support-gener ... ection-act

Thank you!

It took less than a minute to sign and send three emails to my representatives.

Done;

Please concider doing this if you have not allready.

Done. One to my Senator, one to my Representative.

Done

Where are the rest of the members on this forum?

Can we sticky this and send and email to all members?

When you look at the members and see they are inactive on the forum, I wonder how many quit the forum (and flying) due to arcane medical regs.

Remember, the next pilot who loses his medical could be you. Sign the petition and the letters.

Done and letters sent. Forwarded to friends and family that don't frequent the aviation news hubs and may have missed it. This is an excellent step in the right direction IMO

Contacting your representatives doesn't get any easier then this.

http://govt.eaa.org/14781/support-general-aviation-pilot-protection-act/?m=5072104

And as Skalywag did, pass it on to your friends that aren't here at BCP.

Done

My Senators response to me,

Dear Jon:

Thank you for contacting me about changes to medical certification requirements for general aviation pilots. I appreciate hearing from you and welcome the opportunity to respond.
As you may know, on March 11, 2014, Senator John Boozman (R-Arkansas) introduced S. 2103, the General Aviation Pilot Protection Act. The bill would ease the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Third Class Medical Certificate requirements by replacing the FAA’s current compulsory medical examination requiring pilots; to:
• possess a valid driver’s license as proof of health;
• fly with no more than five passengers, not above 14,000 feet and at no more than 250 knots; and
• fly in aircraft that has a maximum takeoff weight of 6,000 lbs.

S. 2103 has been referred to the Senate Commerce Committee, where it awaits further action.
Like you, I recognize the vital service the transportation sector plays in the lives of Idahoans and others from rural states. General aviation, in particular, is a key to enhancing the accessibility of many communities in Idaho, especially during emergencies and natural disasters. Thousands of Americans are employed in the field as small business owners, part manufacturers, pilots, recreational guides, technicians, and in many other direct and indirect jobs.

As an advocate for their unique needs, I am a member of the Senate General Aviation Caucus. The Caucus provides a mechanism to help educate Members of Congress and the public about the policies and practices that most affect the industry. Moreover, it serves as a forum to discuss the best ways to address the needs of the general aviation sector.
Please rest assured that I will continue to make decisions to reflect the interests of general aviators as well as the safety of Idahoans and the American people.

Again, thank you for contacting me. Please feel free to contact me in the future on this or other matters of interest to you. For more information about the issues before the U.S. Senate as well as news releases, photos, and other items of interest, please visit my Senate website, http://crapo.senate.gov.

Sincerely,
US Senator Senator Mike Crapo
Mike Crapo
United States Senator

Got the same response. Seems like Idaho is on board with this.

Great link! Thank you. I've done it with an edited message as well as posted the link to Facebook.

Sen. Crapo must have a form letter that returns, my response was identical except the addressee.

I believe that he is on board and as far as I know he is a pilot as well.