Medical Reform Legislation introduced to House and Senate

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Nomore767
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Medical Reform Legislation introduced to House and Senate

Post by Nomore767 »

From AOPA:-


The Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2 would allow pilots flying recreationally in a wide range of aircraft to no longer obtain a third class medical certificate. The new bill would allow private pilots to make noncommercial VFR and IFR flights in aircraft weighing up to 6,000 pounds with up to six seats.
A group of powerful senators and representatives has introduced new legislation in both houses of Congress that would allow thousands of pilots to fly without going through the costly and time-consuming third class medical process and would offer new protections for general aviation pilots.

Under the Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2, pilots flying recreationally in a wide range of aircraft would no longer need to obtain a third class medical certificate. The new bill would allow private pilots to make noncommercial VFR and IFR flights in aircraft weighing up to 6,000 pounds with up to six seats. Pilots also would be allowed to carry up to five passengers, fly at altitudes below 14,000 feet msl, and fly no faster than 250 knots. Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2 also includes a provision to ensure that pilots can fly under the new rules even if the FAA fails to comply with the bill’s provisions 180 days after enactment.

“The introduction of the Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2 is great news for the general aviation community and we are grateful to Sens. Jim Inhofe and Joe Manchin, and Reps. Sam Graves and Dan Lipinski, and all their bipartisan colleagues for putting forward this legislation that would do so much to help grow and support GA activity,” said AOPA President Mark Baker. “Pilots have already waited too long for medical reform, so we’re particularly pleased to see it included in this important measure. Third class medical reform is our top legislative priority, and we will actively work with Congress to build support for this legislation that is so vital to the future of general aviation.”

In addition to third class medical reform, the Pilot's Bill of Rights 2, which was introduced in the House (H.R. 1062) and the Senate (S.571) late on Feb. 25, would protect GA pilots from liability on charitable flights, extend legal protections to FAA representatives, and require FAA contractors to provide information under Freedom of Information Act requests.

"Pilot's Bill of Rights being signed into law in 2012 was a major victory for the aviation community, but I promised we would not stop there,” said Inhofe. “Today, I am taking the next step in keeping that promise by introducing the Pilot's Bill of Rights 2, which expands upon necessary reforms and continues to cut red tape hampering the general aviation community. Among many things, the legislation most importantly expands the FAA's existing third-class medical exemption for light sport aircraft to cover most recreational airmen. This will protect the rights of thousands of qualified airmen who would otherwise be grounded due to excessive medical regulation technicalities; this reform is of great need. It is an honor to have the strong bipartisan support of my colleagues in Congress and of those in the general aviation community, and I am committed to shepherding this legislation through the 114th Congress.”

In addition to Inhofe, the Senate legislation was introduced by Sens. Manchin, John Boozman (R-Ark.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Angus King (I-Maine), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.). Both Inhofe and Manchin are AOPA members and Senate GA Caucus members, while Boozman serves as the Senate GA Caucus co-chair. Heitkamp, Moran, Roberts, Shaheen, Tester, and Wicker are also Senate GA Caucus members.

The legislation in the House was introduced by Reps. Graves, Lipinski, Todd Rokita (R-Ind.), and Collin Peterson (D-Minn.). Graves, Rokita, and Peterson are all AOPA members and House GA Caucus members, while Lipinski is a GA Caucus member who has been a stalwart GA supporter.

“As a pilot, I know how important the original Pilot’s Bill of Rights, as signed into law in 2012, has been in establishing needed protections for pilots when dealing with FAA enforcement proceedings,” said Graves. “This new bill improves upon those protections and expands the rights afforded to pilots and other certificate holders,” he continued. “I fully expect this bill to receive the same strong, bipartisan support in Congress and across the general aviation community.”

The language in the Pilot's Bill of Rights 2 regarding third class medical reform is identical to that in a new General Aviation Pilot Protection Act bill also introduced on Feb. 25 in the House (H.R. 1086) and Senate (S.573). Reps. Rokita, Graves, Steve Pearce (R-N.M.), Peterson, Lipinski, Bill Flores (R-Texas), Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.), and Richard Hanna (R-N.Y.) introduced the House measure. Like Graves and Rokita, Pearce, Flores, and Hanna are AOPA members.

In the Senate, the new General Aviation Pilot Protection Act legislation was introduced by Sens. Boozman, Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), who chairs the Senate Aviation Subcommittee, Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), Inhofe, Moran, and Roberts.

Rokita and Boozman led the way on third class medical reform when they introduced similar legislation in the previous Congress. That earlier General Aviation Pilot Protection Act gained more than 180 bipartisan cosponsors in the House and Senate before it expired at the end of the congressional session.

“It’s clear that third class medical reform has widespread bipartisan support in Congress as well as in the general aviation community,” said Baker. “We appreciate the steadfast way in which Rep. Rokita and Sen. Boozman and their colleagues are pursuing this issue on behalf of GA pilots.”

In addition to medical reform, Pilot's Bill of Rights 2 includes provisions to improve the notice to airman (notam) program by establishing a rating system to prioritize notams, including TFRs, and creating a repository to maintain the information in a way that makes it accessible to the public. That system would be considered the sole source location for pilots to check for notams. The legislation also would protect pilots from enforcement action if a notam is not included in the repository and prohibit enforcement of notam violations if the FAA hasn’t finished the system within six months of the Pilot's Bill of Rights 2 being enacted while providing an exception for national security.

To help pilots facing enforcement actions, Pilot's Bill of Rights 2 would ensure that data collected by contract towers and other outsourced FAA programs is subject to the same Freedom of Information Act requirements as data from the FAA itself. The exception would be aviation safety action reports, which are designed to prevent accidents by encouraging voluntary reporting of safety concerns by employees of FAA contractors.

The measure also includes liability protections for representatives of the FAA working on behalf of the agency such as aviation medical examiners as well as nonprofit volunteer pilot organizations and volunteer pilots who fly for public benefit. The bill also would protect pilot certificates by preventing the FAA from requiring a re-examination of a covered certificate holder without clear evidence of wrongdoing or unsafe behavior.

AOPA was joined by other GA organizations in immediately sending letters of support for Pilot's Bill of Rights 2 to the lawmakers who introduced the legislation in the Senate and the House. The letters emphasized the importance of the legislation to the GA industry and thanked the legislators for leading the way on important reforms.

“The bill and its provisions will help ensure the future sustainability of our industry and its valuable contributions to the nation’s economy and transportation system,” the letters said.

In addition to AOPA’s Baker, the letters were signed by the leaders of the Experimental Aircraft Association, Flying Physicians Association, General Aviation Manufacturers Association, Helicopter Association International, National Agricultural Aviation Association, National Air Transportation Association, and National Business Aviation Association.
Last edited by Nomore767 on Thu Feb 26, 2015 3:22 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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MrMorden
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Re: Medical Reform Legislation introduce to House and Senate

Post by MrMorden »

Congress tired of dicking around with a foot-dragging FAA. Nice! 8)
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Re: Medical Reform Legislation introduced to House and Senat

Post by Nomore767 »

"Among many things, the legislation most importantly expands the FAA's existing third-class medical exemption for light sport aircraft to cover most recreational airmen."

I read this to mean that the same exemption from a 3rd Class Medical that sport pilots now have will be extended to private pilots. It doesn't mention a requirement to have a DL in lieu of a medical.

I also interpret this to mean that if you want to fly the bigger and heavier airplanes with 5 passengers , IFR and presumably at night then you have to be a PPL or higher. Sport only pilots are not included unless they obtain the license or rating.

If you are a sport only pilot now then no change. If you are a PPL or above, currently flying sport with only a DL, then you can take advantage of the new legislation assuming currency and qualification.
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Re: Medical Reform Legislation introduced to House and Senat

Post by MrMorden »

Nomore767 wrote:"Among many things, the legislation most importantly expands the FAA's existing third-class medical exemption for light sport aircraft to cover most recreational airmen."

I read this to mean that the same exemption from a 3rd Class Medical that sport pilots now have will be extended to private pilots. It doesn't mention a requirement to have a DL in lieu of a medical.

I also interpret this to mean that if you want to fly the bigger and heavier airplanes with 5 passengers , IFR and presumably at night then you have to be a PPL or higher. Sport only pilots are not included unless they obtain the license or rating.

If you are a sport only pilot now then no change. If you are a PPL or above, currently flying sport with only a DL, then you can take advantage of the new legislation assuming currency and qualification.
Remains to be seen how this will affect SPs wishing to transition to PP using a DL medical. Presumably no medical would be required for the training, but it's not explicit.
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Re: Medical Reform Legislation introduced to House and Senat

Post by SportPilot »

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Last edited by SportPilot on Sun Mar 29, 2015 9:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Medical Reform Legislation introduced to House and Senat

Post by rezaf_2000 »

I've decided to venture out to private pilot training, and I've scheduled a medical exam in 2 weeks. It's important to note that this bill was just introduced to the house and senate, not passed. It'll probably take weeks or months of lobbying and discussion before the congress gets to vote on this.

I personally would have liked if this whole issue was solved earlier, but I don't think I'm going to cancel my medical exam appointment. Of course, if things move forward fast, I'd be happy to save the medical exam cost and fly two hours with its money :D

I think it won't be until late 2015 or 2016 when we see any of these efforts implemented, at the earliest.
Last edited by rezaf_2000 on Thu Feb 26, 2015 4:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Medical Reform Legislation introduced to House and Senat

Post by FastEddieB »

Read,

Just be 100% sure you can pass your medical.

Some examiners will give you a "pre-medical" screening to ensure that. But once the real paperwork is started, if he finds something disqualifying you are seriously hosed.

I assume you've thought about this, but just putting it out there.
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Re: Medical Reform Legislation introduced to House and Senat

Post by rezaf_2000 »

FastEddieB wrote:Read,

Just be 100% sure you can pass your medical.

Some examiners will give you a "pre-medical" screening to ensure that. But once the real paperwork is started, if he finds something disqualifying you are seriously hosed.

I assume you've thought about this, but just putting it out there.
Thanks FastEddie. I don't want to hijack this thread, so I made a new one in the medical board. I hope I'll pass, as far as know I'm healthy :)


As for the bill in the congress, I wonder how the FAA and DOT will respond to be side stepped. They are part of the federal government, I wonder if the POTUS might not like the congress going around the DOT process and veto the bill even if it passes the congress?
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Re: Medical Reform Legislation introduced to House and Senat

Post by Nomore767 »

"Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2 also includes a provision to ensure that pilots can fly under the new rules even if the FAA fails to comply with the bill’s provisions 180 days after enactment."

I take this to mean the FAA can't continue to drag it's feet and 'express concerns' about implementing the new law once it's passed, and thereby prevent pilots from taking advantage of the new legislation.
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Re: Medical Reform Legislation introduced to House and Senat

Post by Flocker »

Nomore767 wrote:If you are a sport only pilot now then no change.
Correct, but this certainly is an incentive to upgrade to a PPL ASAP.
Last edited by Flocker on Sun Mar 01, 2015 7:40 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Medical Reform Legislation introduced to House and Senat

Post by Nomore767 »

:I hope I'll pass, as far as know I'm healthy :)"

We don't know yet whether a pilot, under a reformed 3rd Class medical, will have the same rule applied as sport pilots operating under a DL do now. That is, you can't have have had your current medical revoked or be denied obtaining one. You can let an existing one lapse.

When you say you 'hope you'll pass' and as FAR as YOU know you're healthy, might come back to haunt you if what I just turns out to be the case.

Just saying.
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Re: Medical Reform Legislation introduced to House and Senat

Post by sandpiper »

rezaf_2000 wrote:
FastEddieB wrote:Read,

Just be 100% sure you can pass your medical.

Some examiners will give you a "pre-medical" screening to ensure that. But once the real paperwork is started, if he finds something disqualifying you are seriously hosed.

I assume you've thought about this, but just putting it out there.
Thanks FastEddie. I don't want to hijack this thread, so I made a new one in the medical board. I hope I'll pass, as far as know I'm healthy :)


As for the bill in the congress, I wonder how the FAA and DOT will respond to be side stepped. They are part of the federal government, I wonder if the POTUS might not like the congress going around the DOT process and veto the bill even if it passes the congress?
This should maybe be attached to the FAA funding bill? That might save it from a veto?
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Re: Medical Reform Legislation introduced to House and Senat

Post by BrianL99 »

Just my opinion, but this bill has about as much chance of passing and being enacted, as I have of being the next man on the moon.
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Re: Medical Reform Legislation introduced to House and Senat

Post by SportPilot »

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Last edited by SportPilot on Sun Mar 29, 2015 9:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Medical Reform Legislation introduced to House and Senat

Post by Wm.Ince »

SportPilot wrote:I think it will pass and there is no reason for it to be vetoed.
That remains to be seen.
Stranger things have been happening.
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