House Passes Medical Reform!

[Jndz1010]

https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2016/july/11/house-passes-medical-reform-in-faa-extension

[1600vw]

If this bill is about medical reform, why not list medical reform in the list bellow. Showing what was in the first draft or original petition? From they way I read it you are not getting anything you did not already have. Maybe I am missing something here. In the list They show passengers as" up to one" and in the new reform bill "up to six". Are they talking SP or PP? I thought PP could carry more them one passenger, Please someone explain this. I am lost here.

How does this legislation compare with the petition that AOPA and EAA filed jointly in 2012?The legislation greatly expands the number of pilots and aircraft who will be eligible to fly under third class medical reforms. The table below compares some of the key points.



Original Petition
New Legislative Reforms


Aircraft Specifications
Up to 4 seats, 180 hp, single-engine, fixed gear
Up to 6 seats, up to 6,000 lbs (no limitations on horsepower, number of engines, or gear type)


Flight Rules
Day VFR Only
Day and Night VFR and IFR


Passengers
Up to 1 passenger
Up to 5 passengers


Aeromedical Training
Pilots must take a free online course every 2 years
Pilots must take a free online course every 2 years


Altitude Restrictions
Up to 10,000 feet or up to 2,000 feet agl
Up to 18,000 feet msl

[WLIU]

This does not affect Sport Pilot. Its about what a Private Pilot can do without holding an FAA 3rd Class Medical Certificate. Nothing more. Its a win for Private Pilot Certificate holders in as much as they can have their personal physician periodically say that they are healthy, just like Commercial truck drivers do, people who want to play in sports leagues, etc.

Best of luck,

Wes
N78PS

[1600vw]

This does not affect Sport Pilot. Its about what a Private Pilot can do without holding an FAA 3rd Class Medical Certificate. Nothing more. Its a win for Private Pilot Certificate holders in as much as they can have their personal physician periodically say that they are healthy, just like Commercial truck drivers do, people who want to play in sports leagues, etc.

Best of luck,

Wes
N78PS

I am still confused. It states passengers Up to 1. I thought PP could carry more then one passenger. Now its up to 5. Was this already not the case?

[CarlOrton]

The one passenger was the original PETITION to fly as a PP w/o 3rd class medical. All it's saying is that now in the final language, you can fly up to 5. They gave us more than that for which we asked.

Original PP could fly up to the limits of their planes. It was THOUGHT that it would make it easier to pass medical reform if we could only take one other person.

[1600vw]

The one passenger was the original PETITION to fly as a PP w/o 3rd class medical. All it's saying is that now in the final language, you can fly up to 5. They gave us more than that for which we asked.

Original PP could fly up to the limits of their planes. It was THOUGHT that it would make it easier to pass medical reform if we could only take one other person.

Gotcha...

[MEdwards]

The one passenger was the original PETITION to fly as a PP w/o 3rd class medical. All it's saying is that now in the final language, you can fly up to 5. They gave us more than that for which we asked.Pardon me, but "They" didn't "give" us anything. DOT blocked the petition version, so Senator Inhofe went his own way via legislation. He, plus EAA and AOPA (though they've been so close-mouthed as to be suspicious), and thousands of letter-writing pilots like you and me, lobbied long and hard to get this for us.

[spydergun45]

I wonder how this will effect LSA and Experimental aircraft manufactures once signed into law. The majority of their sales were coming from pilots who switched to light sport because they feared they wouldn't be able to pass their 3rd class medical exam. I wonder if manufactures will take advantage of it and increase the performance and passenger capacity of their light sport planes.

[1600vw]

I wonder how this will effect LSA and Experimental aircraft manufactures once signed into law. The majority of their sales were coming from pilots who switched to light sport because they feared they wouldn't be able to pass their 3rd class medical exam. I wonder if manufactures will take advantage of it and increase the performance and passenger capacity of their light sport planes.

I don't think this is like SP were you drive off your drivers licences. You still need to pass a medical, but from my understanding your doctor can give this. You do not need to go to a special doctor for this. I could be wrong though.

1600vw

[wallda]

I wonder how this will effect LSA and Experimental aircraft manufactures once signed into law. The majority of their sales were coming from pilots who switched to light sport because they feared they wouldn't be able to pass their 3rd class medical exam. I wonder if manufactures will take advantage of it and increase the performance and passenger capacity of their light sport planes.

I doubt you will see many changes in the light sport market. Those who manufactured airplanes sold as light sport, certified them to ASTM standards. If they decide to increase the gross weight, that would mean they would need to recertify to meet Part 23.

[1600vw]

I believe the only thing to change is the doctor who signs off on the medical.

[CarlOrton]

Pardon me, but "They" didn't "give" us anything. DOT blocked the petition version, so Senator Inhofe went his own way via legislation. He, plus EAA and AOPA (though they've been so close-mouthed as to be suspicious), and thousands of letter-writing pilots like you and me, lobbied long and hard to get this for us.
Concur.

[CarlOrton]

I don't think this is like SP were you drive off your drivers licences. You still need to pass a medical, but from my understanding your doctor can give this. You do not need to go to a special doctor for this. I could be wrong though.

1600vw
I haven't pored over the bill's language, but just from vague recollection, I believe you have to either a) have had an AME-given medical within the last 10 years, or you have to b) OBTAIN an AME-given medical ONCE. Subsequent "renewals" can be by your regular medical doctor. Like I said, this was from a quick scan.

[wallda]

Yes, there is a one time 3rd class medical requirement. The medical must be valid (not expired) no more than 10 years before the bill is signed into law. After you have the one time medical, you will need to take an online medical class every two years and see your doctor and have them sign a form every 4 years.

[1600vw]

Yes, there is a one time 3rd class medical requirement. The medical must be valid (not expired) no more than 10 years before the bill is signed into law. After you have the one time medical, you will need to take an online medical class every two years and see your doctor and have them sign a form every 4 years.

Everyone celebrating? Online medical class. I find that very interesting. I wonder what this on-line medical class will cost. They mention nothing as to the charges of this " medical Class". How many believe this will be free? Not only interesting but a bit funny as in tickles my funny bone.

[wallda]

Everyone celebrating? Online medical class. I find that very interesting. I wonder what this on-line medical class will cost. They mention nothing as to the charges of this " medical Class". How many believe this will be free? Not only interesting but a bit funny as in tickles my funny bone.

If the bills passes as written there will be no cost for the online class/course.....

(c) MEDICAL EDUCATION COURSE REQUIRE-
MENTS.—The medical education course described in this subsection shall—
(1) be available on the Internet free of charge;
(2) be developed and periodically updated in co- ordination with representatives of relevant nonprofit and not-for-profit general aviation stakeholder groups;
(3) educate pilots on conducting medical self-as- sessments;
(4) advise pilots on identifying warning signs of potential serious medical conditions;
(5) identify risk mitigation strategies for med- ical conditions;
(6) increase awareness of the impacts of poten- tially impairing over-the-counter and prescription drug medications;

[Frank Giger]

And it's not like the new manufactured LSA aircraft sales have been going gangbusters.

It may bring down the price on some older production aircraft, though, as the demand will go down slightly.

[dclaxon]

I doubt you will see many changes in the light sport market. Those who manufactured airplanes sold as light sport, certified them to ASTM standards. If they decide to increase the gross weight, that would mean they would need to recertify to meet Part 23.


I don't think the way the craft was certified is the point. I think a lot of pilots who would have been in the market for a
$100,000 LSA will now be in the market for a $40,000 "real" airplane. (And some will just be able to keep flying what
they already have.) I suspect this loss of customer base will hurt some of the LSA manufacturers.

Dave

[wallda]

I don't think the way the craft was certified is the point. I think a lot of pilots who would have been in the market for a
$100,000 LSA will now be in the market for a $40,000 "real" airplane. (And some will just be able to keep flying what
they already have.) I suspect this loss of customer base will hurt some of the LSA manufacturers.

Dave

His question included " I wonder if manufactures will take advantage of it and increase the performance and passenger capacity of their light sport planes."

My answer was this won't happen because of the LSA certification process and how different it is from Part 23.

[L16 Pilot]

As far as the doctor 'sign off' goes it's no different than my local physician who signs off my CDL medical or school bus endorsement.

[wallda]

The US Senate just passed the FAA extension which includes 3rd class medical reform.