The damage has been done. Even if ALPA "retracted" their objection it won't matter, the concern has already registered with the Senators. The best thing we can do is hit ALPA in the pocket, stop doing business with companies that employ their members. Here is the list:

Air Transat
Air Transport International
Air Wisconsin
Alaska
Atlantic Southeast
Bearskin
Calm Air
Canadian North
CanJet
CommutAir
Compass
Delta
Endeavor Air
Envoy Air
ExpressJet
FedEx Express
First Air
Hawaiian
Island Air
Jazz
JetBlue
Kelowna Flightcraft
Mesa Air Group
Piedmont
PSA
Spirit
Sun Country
Trans States
United
Wasaya

Fly with a company not on this list. Ship with a company not on this list.

I know this is only a pin prick, but perhaps if they heard what some reactions are they might rethink similar stands in the future-but probably not. It's all about power and money- for them. Pisses me off.

fast eddie wrote:I know the AMA membership supports 3rd class reform. Maybe old Tim believes in more rules for pilots.

If by AMA, you're referring to the American Medical Association, that organization already came out AGAINST third class medical reform. It may well be that their members are in favor, but the organization has already gone on record as opposed to the bill.

In addition, the Civil Aviation Medical Association (which allegedly represents Aviation Medical Examiners) has come out opposed to this legislation. That and the AMA coming out against this is far more damaging to the outcome than the ALPA.

They're all self serving, and I don't doubt that individual members of all these organizations may in fact be in favor of reform. Problem is, the organizations do have pull with Congress.

Not ride on a given airline? Some of us really don't have much choice what airline we fly......

MTV

mtv wrote:Not ride on a given airline? Some of us really don't have much choice what airline we fly......

MTV

Do what you can.

And thanks CaptMike, and every other Commercial Pilot that's pissed and letting someone know about it. You are standup guys.

GumpAir wrote:I've been following this issue on some of the big iron forums. There are a lot of non-GA airplane drivers out there who have absolutely no use for private aircraft, and no concept of how useless a third class medical really is.

Gump

Useless as in can't be used for anything but recreational flying? If so, I agree that they're placing far too much energy into fighting the issue. I've seen too many older (but not OLD yet) pilots grounded for issues that are totally manageable. Issues that I'd trust a guy in the air recreationally with.

If you're allowed to drive a car, I don't see why you'd be forced to go through literally PILES of paperwork every year to continue flying if you can fly safely.

I can see the counter argument, that there's people on the road that have no business behind the wheel, and I don't know the right answer for that. But I feel like keeping all the folks who'd be perfectly fine flying from doing so is not in line with what this country is supposed to stand for.

My dues at work. Another reason for me to dislike ALPO.

Grassstrippilot wrote:My dues at work. Another reason for me to dislike ALPO.

Remember you get FastRead access! Haha!

I wrote to Wyden and drafted my own plea. I hope it reads well. Probably should have made it shorter but I'm a wordy guy.

-----------------------

Senator Wyden,

I'm writing to urge you to support the Pilots' Bill of Rights 2 measure in the Senate. It's been dubbed PBOR2, though I'm not sure if that's an official name or not. As a Portland area resident, a 40-year old Private pilot who's been flying for 18 years, and an Internet community leader among 5,000+ "backcountry" pilots, I strongly believe in this measure.

As a purely recreational pilot, now past the age of 40, I am required to visit a doctor every 2 years to renew my 3rd Class medical certificate which allows me to exercise my pilot privileges for aircraft that qualify for "standard category" by FAA definitions. This would be your average Cessna. If I choose to forego the medical certification, I can fly what is called a Light Sport Aircraft under the Sport Pilot rules, purely at my own discretion, using my best judgement as to my personal health and well being, no official doctor's stamp of approval. Since the Sport Pilot Rule was implemented by the FAA in 2004, thousands and thousands of pilots have safely operated under this category of flight, WITHOUT a paper medical certificate. The data collected over that time shows that lack of a medical certificate represented no attributable risk for safety of flight.

Why is that? Because pilots who've studied and proven their skills to a FAA pilot examiner, whether Sport Pilot or Private pilot or Commercial pilot all evaluated themselves as to their physical well being and capability for carrying out the flight without burden or distraction of a medical ailment. They self-certify.

My own 64 year old father intimated to me that he has stopped flying because his eyes are not the same since his cataract surgery. I have another friend in his early 60's who is a Type 1 diabetic and flies as a Sport Pilot. I have great respect for his skill and judgement, and have no doubt he could fly a Cessna just as safely, an aircraft that many would be challenged to distinguish from his Light Sport airplane. The only difference is a few hundred pounds.

The point is that pilots make myriad decisions about safety of flight during the planning and execution phase, health and physical/mental status being only one of those. And while it may be important to certify airline and charter pilots for commercial operations in aircraft that weigh 100,000 lbs and carry 200 passengers, the 3rd Class Medical Certificate that Private pilots are required to carry for general aviation/recreational flying is practically ineffective at increasing safety for anyone.

A FAA employee from the aeromedical office once told me at a tradeshow that he too wished the 3rd Class medical certificate would go away-- special issuance cases were just clogging up the system, delaying certification for the pilots who are operating large jets.

What to be GAINED by doing away with the 3rd Class medical certificate and allowing qualified pilots to fly standard category aircraft? The biggest impact would be economical, in my opinion. Pilots spend money-- on fuel, on manufactured goods from the general aviation industry, on aviation-oriented real estate. Pilots who have been grounded by loss of their 3rd Class medical certificate for Type 2 diabetes or sleep apnea-- 2 example diagnoses that are easily managed and are no incompatible with safe flight, yet require special issuance and review by a FAA medical board in Oklahoma City, a process that can take up to a year and countless government man hours-- those pilots can once again operate a simple 4-seat Cessna and travel across county or the state to buy fuel and spend their money at mom 'n pop restaurants.

You can be sure those pilots, prior to ever leaving to house to drive to the airport, consider whether they're feeling healthy and sharp. The rules don't change-- certain medical diagnoses result in us not being able to legally operate an airplane. But we follow those rules just like any other rules of the FAA. To have a physician sign the paper or not, and possibly escalate the case to Oklahoma City to impede the other medical certification cases of airline pilots-- is just a waste of time and resources. With my medical certificate in hand, I still self-certify myself prior to every flight. I'm my own best doctor, and if I'm under the weather or suffering some issue that makes me less safe, 2-seat or 4-seat or 6-seat, it makes no difference. I don't go flying. Please support the PBOR 2.


Sincerely,
Zane Jacobson
BackcountryPilot.org
Lake Oswego

Zane, well said! I hope the staffer that opens your letter puts it square on the middle of the Senator's desk.
Thanks to everyone else that's weighed in as well.
-DP

I posted this originally in another thread, but deleted it and moved it here. Barnstormer had appealed for folks to write to Senator Cruz in support of S571. I wrote:

@ Barnstormer

Thanks for posting the heads up. I got that email as well.

So fellow BCP readers.... have you emailed or called your Senators regarding 3rd Class Medical reform? Are your 2 Senators on Board?

I called and emailed the office of Senator Tim Kaine ( D, Virginia) today (July 28, 015) to state my position (in favor) of Senate Bill S-571. I was surprised to learn there is still such mixed demonstrated support in the Senate. Only one of my 2 Senators (Senator Warner) has committed his support. Here is the status as of July 28, 2015. Aside from the recent ALPA letter, I wonder what the holdup is in certain states? It's weird, but does it seem like many of the strongly Democratic states like NY, Mass, Hawaii, CT, CA, etc are hold outs?

Both Senators: 19 States
Only One Senator: 18 States
Neither Senator: 13 States

Support Breakdown

Alabama
• Sessions, Jeff (R-AL)
• Shelby, Richard (R-AL)
Alaska
• Murkowski, Lisa (R-AK)
• Sullivan, Dan (R-AK)
Arizona
• Flake, Jeff (R-AZ)
Arkansas
• Boozman, John (R-AR)
• Cotton, Tom (R-AR)
California
Colorado
• Gardner, Cory (R-CO)
Connecticut
Delaware
• Coons, Chris (D-DE)
District of Columbia
Florida
• Rubio, Marco (R-FL)
Georgia
• Isakson, Johnny (R-GA)
• Perdue, David (R-GA)
Hawaii
Idaho
• Crapo, Mike (R-ID)
• Risch, Jim (R-ID)
Illinois
• Kirk, Mark Steven (R-IL)
Indiana
• Coats, Dan (R-IN)
Iowa
• Ernst, Joni (R-IA)
• Grassley, Chuck (R-IA)
Kansas
• Moran, Jerry (R-KS)
• Roberts, Pat (R-KS)
Kentucky
• Paul, Rand (R-KY)
Louisiana
• Cassidy, Bill (R-LA)
• Vitter, David (R-LA)
Maine
• King, Angus S., Jr. (I-ME)
Maryland
Massachusetts
• Warren, Elizabeth (D-MA)
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
• Cochran, Thad (R-MS)
• Wicker, Roger (R-MS)
Missouri
• Blunt, Roy (R-MO)
Montana
• Daines, Steve (R-MT)
• Tester, Jon (D-MT)
Nebraska
Nevada
• Heller, Dean (R-NV)
New Hampshire
• Shaheen, Jeanne (D-NH)
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
• Burr, Richard (R-NC)
• Tillis, Thom (R-NC)
North Dakota
• Heitkamp, Heidi (D-ND)
• Hoeven, John (R-ND)
Ohio
• Brown, Sherrod (D-OH)
• Portman, Rob (R-OH)
Oklahoma
• Inhofe, James (R-OK)
• Lankford, James (R-OK)
Oregon
• Wyden, Ron (D-OR)
Pennsylvania
• Casey, Robert P., Jr. (D-PA)
• Toomey, Pat (R-PA)
Rhode Island
South Carolina
• Scott, Tim (R-SC)
South Dakota
• Rounds, Mike (R-SD)
Tennessee
• Alexander, Lamar (R-TN)
Texas
• Cornyn, John (R-TX)
Utah
• Hatch, Orrin (R-UT)
• Lee, Mike (R-UT)
Vermont
Virginia
• Warner, Mark (D-VA)
Washington
West Virginia
• Capito, Shelley Moore (R-WV)
• Manchin, Joe, III (D-WV)
Wisconsin
• Baldwin, Tammy (D-WI)
• Johnson, Ron (R-WI)
Wyoming
• Barrasso, John (R-WY)
• Enzi, Mike (R-WY)

Good luck with any of you Minnesotans. No response from either of them other than an automated, "recieved your message". But then again, this state is controled mostly by the very left leaning 'big cities'. This never ending fight for a little relief from government control is seeming to be pointless. Rarely do those in power relinguish it. Yes, I am angry.

Earlier in the year I contacted both Murray and Cantwell, got a response that said they would look at it?? Sent another yesterday, probably get the same thing!, All you Seattle flyers should get on the phone!! Maybe they will listen??

Email sent a few days ago to Utah senators. No response as of yet.

M6RV6 wrote:Earlier in the year I contacted both Murray and Cantwell, got a response that said they would look at it?? Sent another yesterday, probably get the same thing!, All you Seattle flyers should get on the phone!! Maybe they will listen??

Phone calls email etc make no difference. I think it's time we voted them out of office-- they've been in there long enough. I don't feel that being a senator should be a lifetime job. My rep (Derek Kilmer) is a freshman, but there doesn't appear to be much hope for him either. Hope we get some credible candidates running against all of them next time around.

Reply from Oregon senator Ron Wyden (D):

Dear Mr. Jacobson:

Thank you for contacting me about the regulation of general aviation pilots. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue.

As you may know, Senator James Inhofe of Oklahoma introduced the Pilots Bill of Rights II in February 2015. I am a cosponser of Senator Inhofe’s bill, which, among other things, would expand the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) sport pilot rule to include general aviation (GA) pilots, allowing certain small aircraft pilots to use their driver’s license in lieu of obtaining a third class medial certificate. These pilots would still be required to pass a flight review every two years and follow other standard safety rules. The bill was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation but has yet to receive a hearing.

I have long believed that general aviation is an important part of Oregon’s economy and of America’s national transportation system. I will be sure to keep your views in mind as the Senate considers this bill and any other legislation related to the GA community.

Again, thank you for keeping me apprised of issues that are important to you. If I may be of further assistance in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me.


Sincerely,

Ron Wyden
United States Senator

Looks real similar to the one I received on Sept. 18 of last year:

Dear Mr. Hess:

Thank you for contacting me about the regulation of general aviation pilots. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue.

As you may know, Senator John Boozman of Arkansas has introduced the General Aviation Pilot Protection Act. This bill would expand the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) sport pilot rule to include general aviation (GA) pilots, allowing certain small aircraft pilots to use their driver’s license in lieu of obtaining a third class medial certificate. These pilots would still be required to pass a flight review every two years and follow other standard safety rules. Senator Boozman’s bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, where it awaits further consideration.

I have long believed that general aviation is an important part of Oregon’s economy and of America’s national transportation system. I certainly understand the concerns some folks have about regulations and fees on GA pilots and how these impact the industry as a whole. I also believe that changes to the current regulatory framework should be carefully considered to ensure the safety of pilots, passengers, and the public. The FAA has announced plans to explore whether making changes would reduce costs while maintaining adequate levels of safety, and I look forward to reading the conclusions. Please also be assured that I will keep your views and needs in mind as the Senate continues to examine this and other issues related to the GA community.

Again, thank you for keeping me apprised of issues that are important to you. If I may be of further assistance in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me.



Sincerely,

Ron Wyden
United States Senator


To write to me, go to http://wyden.senate.gov/ and choose the "Contact" link. Please do not reply to this e-mail. Mail sent to this address cannot be answered.

Sent a email to both Murray and Cantwell, naw I did not get any response!!

I sent a note to ALPA today. I also posted on our internal pilot forum recommending that others do the same. I really believe that ALPA is necessary, and it is my responsibility as a member to keep them in check when they necessary. Much like out government, they are only as good as who we elect, and sometimes it seems we are picking the lesser of two evils. I am third generation airline pilot, so I watched my dad fight the good fight, and heard stories from my grandfather. Ive done a ton of union work and I could talk for hours about the good and the bad.

AEROPOD wrote:I sent a note to ALPA today. I also posted on our internal pilot forum recommending that others do the same. I really believe that ALPA is necessary, and it is my responsibility as a member to keep them in check when they necessary. Much like out government, they are only as good as who we elect, and sometimes it seems we are picking the lesser of two evils. I am third generation airline pilot, so I watched my dad fight the good fight, and heard stories from my grandfather. Ive done a ton of union work and I could talk for hours about the good and the bad.

Thanks to all of you ALPA members who are responding!!

I just fired off emails to both Ne. Senators that are missing from the above list of supporters.

Here's an updated list of sponsors. It's up to 56, but still missing one from Ne.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-con ... ultIndex=1