PBOR2 developments

[Edgefly]

Perhaps it is the fine Fall weather, the unexpected resignation of Speaker Boehner or even the Papal visit but, for some reason the recent developments in the status of this legislation don't seem to have brought forth any discussion on this forum as to their potential impact on Sport Pilots and LSA. As I have reviewed other aviation forums/discussion groups tonite, I find this to be a topic of great interest and, as usual with pilots, rife with extensive and passionate comment. I have even found three members of our group who have already contributed some comment on other venues. while I have my own views and opinions, my purpose in this post is simply to inquire if the membership in general feels this topic to not be an important one ?

[SportPilot]

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[SportPilot]

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[dstclair]

A pretty good FAQ is available over at EAA: http://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/eaa-news-and- ... s-it-stand

[BrianL99]

Perhaps it is the fine Fall weather, the unexpected resignation of Speaker Boehner or even the Papal visit but, for some reason the recent developments in the status of this legislation don't seem to have brought forth any discussion on this forum as to their potential impact on Sport Pilots and LSA. As I have reviewed other aviation forums/discussion groups tonite, I find this to be a topic of great interest and, as usual with pilots, rife with extensive and passionate comment. I have even found three members of our group who have already contributed some comment on other venues. while I have my own views and opinions, my purpose in this post is simply to inquire if the membership in general feels this topic to not be an important one ?

Hardly a week goes by, there's not a discussion on here, about 3rd Class Medical "reform".

It's a red herring ... it's not happening, never was, never will ... at least not anything like the nonsense that EAA & AOPA propose.

For the life of me, I can't understand why pilots don't understand and acknowledge the genesis of this initiative. it's nothing more than an initiative designed to enhance the credibility of the 2 organizations and raise their public profile. No one on the inside, really believes this is going to happen.

But without a galvanizing issue, groups like EAA & AOPA can't raise funds and increase membership.

It's merely their "issue d' jour"

[Jack Tyler]

A few clarifications from the EAA link above:

"Why the changes in the bill’s language?
Simply put, the original language of the Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2 did not have enough support in the Senate..."

"Will this affect me if I still want to fly as a sport pilot?
No. This bill does not change any provision of the sport pilot rule."

"Isn’t the requirement to have had a medical certificate within the past 10 years only a move to a 10-year renewal of a medical?
No. If you are a private pilot and have a valid medical certificate (regular or special issuance) within 10 years from the date when the bill is signed into law, you may never have to visit an AME again. You will simply have to take an online medical education course every two years, and visit your personal physician once every four years and note that visit in your logbook. No requirement will exist to report the outcome of the visit to the FAA."

No clarification was offered re: the comprehensive medical review. Most likely, no one knows at this point.

Re: Brian's fervent statement: "It's a red herring ... it's not happening, never was, never will ... at least not anything like the nonsense that EAA & AOPA propose."
The change that the EAA & AOPA proposed was substantially narrower in scope than the current PBOR 2 language. So if you thought the one-passenger, day only, 180 hp, fixed pitch/fixed prop goal was too much to ask for, you'll think PBOR 2 is a flight to the moon.

Will a bill similar in content eventually be passed? It's hard to say since the fat lady hasn't even arrived at the opera house yet.

[BrianL99]

A few clarifications from the EAA link above:



Will a bill similar in content eventually be passed? It's hard to say since the fat lady hasn't even arrived at the opera house yet.

EAA & AOPA have been advocating for 3rd Class Medical reform for 25 years, Jack.

Not a lot of progress so far

[Edgefly]

Well Jack and Brian, both of your closing comments may, in fact, be partially true. But I believe there are some additional factors of importance here. Amongst them a likelihood that the obvious betrayal of their membership by both organizations is likely to build into a negative reaction against the (currently) proposed bill language and that 25 years or not, this is the first time that a real change to the 3rd Class medical solution (broadly supported across GA) has been so close to being possible. How and why the ultimate success of this attempt may impact Sport Pilots and development of LSA vehicles is a much more complex subject. There are prognosticators of of both Delight and Doom in this respect and the possibility of passage of the current legislation still exists, although I personally don't believe that to be likely. With most serious bill handling it is possible that more changes to the language may be forthcoming before the fat lady shows up. I will say that for those of us in the Sport Pilot/LSA segment of GA should not be simply disinterested because there is not an obvious direct loss of benefit is an error.

[SportPilot]

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[Jack Tyler]

"I will say that for those of us in the Sport Pilot/LSA segment of GA should not be simply disinterested because there is not an obvious direct loss of benefit is an error."

I think that's an excellent point to make. We sometimes forget we are - fundamentally - a community of pilots & owners. We are all using the same NAS and aviation infrastructure while being overseen by the same regulations and agency. One of the major weaknesses of the GA community in Florida, my state of residence, is that we've sliced and diced our affiliations into specific type clubs, EAA chapters, unique activity groups et al. but with no overarching 'GA Voice' at the state level. So with the 2nd largest pilot population in the country, we have no effective, coordinated political or commercial voice. By contrast, most of the western states, despite usually much smaller pilot populations, have state-wide pilot associations which in turn organize work parties, are represented on DOT and other state committees, and have an influential voice in state aviation matters. Everyone ends up a winner with this arrangement, including state officials. Regulations tend to be practical because they are influenced by those they are intended to serve, and 'common enemies' (e.g. USAF changes in MOA areas & operations) can be more effectively dealt with. Alas, nationally we tend to kibitz and split hairs while making our version of the perfect the enemy of the good.

"The proposed PBOR2 has no direct impact on Sport Pilots or LSA."

Really? Assuming the guts of PBOR 2 eventually become adopted, just about the entire GA community - both the industry & the member associations believe it will have a positive net effect. Consequently and given the observations I posted above, I just don't think that claim is valid. A rising tide floats all boats, and so forth...

"EAA & AOPA have been advocating for 3rd Class Medical reform for 25 years, Jack. Not a lot of progress so far"

Thanks for telling me about the period during all of which I've been a licensed pilot, Brian. As has been noted here and elsewhere umpteen times, 'progress' on medical reform has been partly real and partially in the eye of the beholder. The SPL is a ten-year old result of the progress, so let's not pretend there hasn't been meaningful 'progress' on a forum where most pilots here don't hold current medicals. The EAA in particular deserves a lot of credit for that 'result'. One can claim GAPPA & PBOR 2 don't represent 'progress' because they haven't yet produced 'results'. Or one can trumpet them as progress because there hasn't before been bills in Congress like these. Which by extension probably suggests the initial EAA/AOPA proposals for medical reform and their subsequent lobbying also represented 'progress'. Looks to me like the glass is now half full...but no one knows today if or when it gets topped up.

[SportPilot]

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[Jack Tyler]

Fair enough. Let's call it the side cushion which makes a bank shot to the corner pocket possible. My point is that we're all part of the pool table, and the cushion feels the impact.

For the Doubting Thomases and Pollyannas alike, here's today's AVweb editorial by Paul (let his medical lapse) Bertorelli, which is spot on thread task. Paul describes lots of progress, no results (yet? he's unsure...) and wraps it all up in some enjoyable humor. It offers a good time for us all to take a breath...

http://www.avweb.com/blogs/insider/Thir ... 941-1.html

[SportPilot]

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[Jack Tyler]

SportPilot, I thought I did acknowledge your point, which was that possible impacts of PBOR 2 to the LSA world would not be 'direct'. See: "Fair enough. Let's call it the side cushion which makes a bank shot to the corner pocket possible. My point is that we're all part of the pool table, and the cushion feels the impact."

No offence meant. What title or category we want to assign to the impact just isn't my issue.

[SportPilot]

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