FAA apologizes for delay on medical petition.

valittu

valittu

Pre-takeoff checklist
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Fredericksburg, Va
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Marvin
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I am this much closer to being able to own a Cessna 150/152, or am I? Will this medical change only apply for existing Pilots or will it enable those of us avoiding medical "red tape" to be licensed?
 
Until (if) it happens, there is no way to know what it looks like.

I'm not holding my breath.
 
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Good to see the FAA realizes that this issue is not going away. Or maybe they want the congress to act and take them off the hook.
 
Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe said:
Until (if) it happens, there is no way to know what it looks like.

Are you stuck by the Sport Pilot catch 22 or just the "sport pilots are not real pilots" thing?

The catch 22 does not apply to gliders BTW.
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It's more about LSAs to me. Truth be told, I could probably pass a medical, if I jump through a few hoops, but Sport Pilot fits my mission. The problem is, for every single LSA out there for sale, there are dozens of easy to maintain 150s and Cherokee 140s for sale dirt cheap. Dirt cheap is not my goal, but buying either a six figure LSA or a homebuilt contraption pales in comparison to owning and flying one of the most proven GA planes ever built. If I could do that without needing a medical, it would be great. If not, I'll continue to peruse the Carlson Sparrows, Flybabys, Zodiacs and Onexes of the world.
 
Let me know when (if) it is done. Right now it is all smoke and mirrors. AOPA has to look like they are doing something and the FAA has to look responsive.
 
It's a reaction to the pressure being applied by Congress. I seldom write my CongressPeople, but did concerning this issue. And received replies. Write yours and just let them know that the General Aviation Pilot Protection Act is needed because of the FAA's foot dragging.
 
valittu said:
It's more about LSAs to me. Truth be told, I could probably pass a medical, if I jump through a few hoops, but Sport Pilot fits my mission. The problem is, for every single LSA out there for sale, there are dozens of easy to maintain 150s and Cherokee 140s for sale dirt cheap. Dirt cheap is not my goal, but buying either a six figure LSA or a homebuilt contraption pales in comparison to owning and flying one of the most proven GA planes ever built. If I could do that without needing a medical, it would be great. If not, I'll continue to peruse the Carlson Sparrows, Flybabys, Zodiacs and Onexes of the world.
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My Champ is for sale... To me, the Champ and the Cub are the most proven GA airplanes ever built. As a testament, both are still in production.
 
Wont happen, they have to protect OKC jobs and LSA investors.
 
CT4ME said:
It's a reaction to the pressure being applied by Congress.
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I agree. We might now see the FAA act on the AOPA petition in order to stave off the passing of the more permisive congressional action.
 
I may be out to lunch on the Drivers License Medical and even the Sport Pilot medical, but does it really change anything other than the need to see an AME?

If I have read any of this correctly all it does is allow the pilot to self certify like we do every day between our trips to see the AME.

We are still required to determine ourselves whether we are fit to fly or not and the same standards still apply.

If we have something going on medically that our AME or the FAA would say is disqualifying we are supposed to ground ourselves.

As an example, I have Hypertension that has been well controlled by medication and diet. My PCP has to type a letter and submit it to my AME that says everything is ok. With a drivers license medical I am the one that determines I am ok to fly. If my BP is out of whack I am responsible to ground myself until such time as it is ok again.

I am concerned that many think the drivers license medical is a free ticket to not have to meet the standards required of us to fly. IE: my bp is 200/90 but I don't need a medical because I am flying on a drivers license medical.

Am I missing something here?
 
tmyers said:
I may be out to lunch on the Drivers License Medical and even the Sport Pilot medical, but does it really change anything other than the need to see an AME?

If I have read any of this correctly all it does is allow the pilot to self certify like we do every day between our trips to see the AME.

We are still required to determine ourselves whether we are fit to fly or not and the same standards still apply.

If we have something going on medically that our AME or the FAA would say is disqualifying we are supposed to ground ourselves.

As an example, I have Hypertension that has been well controlled by medication and diet. My PCP has to type a letter and submit it to my AME that says everything is ok. With a drivers license medical I am the one that determines I am ok to fly. If my BP is out of whack I am responsible to ground myself until such time as it is ok again.

I am concerned that many think the drivers license medical is a free ticket to not have to meet the standards required of us to fly. IE: my bp is 200/90 but I don't need a medical because I am flying on a drivers license medical.

Am I missing something here?
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Yes.

1) You don't have to prove to the FAA's satisfaction that whatever they think you might have is not an issue. (which you and your doctor already know)

2) No special issue paperwork, medically unnecessary tests, waiting, nonsense.

3) The criteria for self grounding (at least for sport pilot) is not able to safely act as PIC - it does not say anything about meeting the standards for a third class medical.
 
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tmyers said:
I may be out to lunch on the Drivers License Medical and even the Sport Pilot medical, but does it really change anything other than the need to see an AME?

If I have read any of this correctly all it does is allow the pilot to self certify like we do every day between our trips to see the AME.

We are still required to determine ourselves whether we are fit to fly or not and the same standards still apply.

If we have something going on medically that our AME or the FAA would say is disqualifying we are supposed to ground ourselves.

As an example, I have Hypertension that has been well controlled by medication and diet. My PCP has to type a letter and submit it to my AME that says everything is ok. With a drivers license medical I am the one that determines I am ok to fly. If my BP is out of whack I am responsible to ground myself until such time as it is ok again.

I am concerned that many think the drivers license medical is a free ticket to not have to meet the standards required of us to fly. IE: my bp is 200/90 but I don't need a medical because I am flying on a drivers license medical.

Am I missing something here?
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I have had thoughts like this over the LSA medical situation. I hate to say it, but it basically opens things up for people to cheat a little, or maybe even a lot.

Some years ago, Texas did away with the need to have a signature notarized when transferring an auto title. I always thought that was a bit suspicious. Doesn't this just invite people to commit fraud?

I am certainly no doctor, but it seems that there are some situations that will allow people to fly that under current law cannot, but it would not be unsafe for them to do so. Of course, it very well might mean that the opposite is also true.
 
Right now those walking corpses can fly one of these. Pretty serious stuff. With freedom comes splattered skulls. Meh. The sudden death(cardiac type stuff) unfit guys are probably less of a risk then the bipolar unfit guys, but hey we won't know until we open the door.
 
My question is what would this do to the price of aircraft in general. I think it hurts the LSA market but I imagine tri-pacers, colts, 152s, 172s all get a boost.

I wish they would act quickly on this but I think this is a pipe dream.
 
ClimbnSink said:
Right now those walking corpses can fly one of these. Pretty serious stuff. With freedom comes splattered skulls. Meh. The sudden death(cardiac type stuff) unfit guys are probably less of a risk then the bipolar unfit guys, but hey we won't know until we open the door.
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As you point out, the door has been open for a long time for gliders, hot air baloons, and LSAs.

There is no data that supports the wish that there will be death raining down from the sky.
 
Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe said:
As you point out, the door has been open for a long time for gliders, hot air baloons, and LSAs.

There is no data that supports the wish that there will be death raining down from the sky.
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I agree that there won't be any noticeable change in carnage. Also think it sad that all pilots aren't for getting rid of medicals.
 
Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe said:
As you point out, the door has been open for a long time for gliders, hot air baloons, and LSAs.

There is no data that supports the wish that there will be death raining down from the sky.
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ClimbnSink said:
I agree that there won't be any noticeable change in carnage. Also think it sad that all pilots aren't for getting rid of medicals.
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Tsk. Gentleman, please drink your Kool-Aid.


Oh - and now that they've apologized they can keep delaying a decision while appearing to be taking action.
 
DFH65 said:
I wish they would act quickly on this but I think this is a pipe dream.
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I suspect they will act quickly. Of course, "act" encompasses several different possible outcomes, including "deny".

As for the "walking corpses" that seem to so terrify some of our recent posters here, I'm one of them. There is a significant possibility that if I try to renew my third-class medical, I'll get denied. If that happens, I can't even fly LSA -- ever. There's an "aviation death penalty" for even asking, if you get denied. So, I won't take the risk of applying to renew my medical. The condition is, I am told, permanent and there is no practical way to fix it. Since there are zero options locally for LSA, I'm looking at either buying or building if I ever want to fly again.

On the other hand, my PCP (a pilot) along with two cardiologists feel that I have no significant risk of sudden incapacitation, and should be fine to fly. Indeed, I was (obviously) a FAR greater risk while I still could fly, we just didn't know it. So it's not like having a valid medical cert proves anything, other than you could pass the exam on that day.

If this gets passed, will there be people flying who shouldn't be? You bet, there still will be. Will there be more people flying who shouldn't be? Maybe, maybe not. Maybe the continuing education requirement would get some to make the decision to quit flying. In the end, though, a few people are going to make poor decisions and violate regs no matter what they are.

The long-ignored AOPA/EAA petition is a good start. I like H.R. 3708 better.
 
There is a bill in Congress. I we aviators really got behind it there could even be some traction. Narrowly focused legislation with emotional, committed, and economically endowed constituents has a much easier time getting through Congress than bills lacking these attributes.
 
tmyers said:
I may be out to lunch on the Drivers License Medical and even the Sport Pilot medical, but does it really change anything other than the need to see an AME?
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Yes. It eliminates all of the downstream stuff that comes with having to seen an AME.

For instance, a guy I know is grounded until later this month, because his 3rd class expired while he was on a sudden trip out of the country, and there was a one-month wait for the next opening at the AME's office.

When I go for my own renewal (also later this month), I will have to take most of a day off work to make a 100-mile round trip, so it will cost me about $300 (the money for the exam and lost income). Some pilots have to go hundreds of miles each way to reach the nearest AME.
 
ClimbnSink said:
Right now those walking corpses can fly one of these. Pretty serious stuff. With freedom comes splattered skulls. Meh. The sudden death(cardiac type stuff) unfit guys are probably less of a risk then the bipolar unfit guys, but hey we won't know until we open the door.
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Do you have any evidence to suggest that the 3rd class medical has any beneficial effect, other than employment for AMEs?

Looking at the number of airline pilots who drop dead on flight decks (with 1st class medicals in their pockets), it's hard to justify making a guy pass a medical to fly a 1600-lb 150 (especially when the FAA says a guy with no medical can fly an 1800-lb Icon A5).
 
MBDiagMan said:
I am certainly no doctor, but it seems that there are some situations that will allow people to fly that under current law cannot, but it would not be unsafe for them to do so. Of course, it very well might mean that the opposite is also true.
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Anyone who will fly when they know they're not in condition to do so doesn't care whether the law says they have to have a medical sign-off or not.
 
SoloEqs said:
Do you have any evidence to suggest that the 3rd class medical has any beneficial effect, other than employment for AMEs?

Looking at the number of airline pilots who drop dead on flight decks (with 1st class medicals in their pockets), it's hard to justify making a guy pass a medical to fly a 1600-lb 150 (especially when the FAA says a guy with no medical can fly an 1800-lb Icon A5).
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Perhaps I wasn't clear. I am anti medical, even if did cause a higher rate of accidents. Bruce mentioned there was a slightly higher number of medical related incidents not sure if it was glider data or SP data, and no idea if it was significant. Freedom means free to do things that might not be in your best interest. I'm all for freedom.
 
I see my Family Doc once a year for a checkup that covers more and is twice as often than the useless Class III. I also see him more often for any ailments that might crop up that would need any treatment like my recent shoulder pain.

If this passes, I basically will save the AME fee and be more medically tested than with the current process requires. :rolleyes2:

Cheers
 
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