Third Class Medical Exemption Request - Joint filing by EAA and AOPA

Jerry,
I think that is part of the problem as to why more aren't commenting....they have gone the Sport Pilot route and figure it doesn't affect them so they don't need to 'waste their time' commenting. That and the issue I stated previously of the pilots that think 'it doesn't affect me' mentality also doesn't help the cause any. They are the one's that in a few years time will be kicking themselves in the butt and whining about why they can no longer fly their favorite bird just because of little weight issue. Reminds me of all the 150/152, Luscombe, etc. guys that ask why their steed can't be allowed to be flown under LSA yet they have no sympathy for the guys with other brands as long as THEIR plane is allowed. People in general are lazy until it personally relates to them and their pursuits. Ok, I'll quit rambling....this is just an issue I think is overly regulated for no reason other than because the "I say so" of the FAA.
Keith

I did nine....... just a note to say I took the time to comment. I was a bit miffed after writing a carefully crafted letter it was truncated by the charactor limits. I did include a full comment on the attachment.

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I think that is part of the problem as to why more aren't commenting....they have gone the Sport Pilot route and figure it doesn't affect them so they don't need to 'waste their time' commenting.

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This proposal doesn't help me much either but I still commented.

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Reminds me of all the 150/152, Luscombe, etc. guys that ask why their steed can't be allowed to be flown under LSA yet they have no sympathy for the guys with other brands as long as THEIR plane is allowed.

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That sounds like a lot of the discussions about AirVenture on this forum to be quite honest.

is there a way to track the number of comments for the exemption?

I am for the proposal, and did file a comment.

However, for what's it's worth our favorite AME Bruce C. has written in the AOPA forums that this is DOA ....

I hope he is mistaken.

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Originally Posted by snoskier1

I am for the proposal

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I am not. And after a few years of Sport Pilot, seeing what I have I am against that also. Too many people saying "But I feel fine" and you can tell half of them because of their really poor radio skills & blatant disregard of the FARs.

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Originally Posted by snoskier1

I hope he is mistaken.

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I don't think he is. And I am 100% behind the CDL proposal that he has proposed.

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Originally Posted by Mike Switzer

I am not. And after a few years of Sport Pilot, seeing what I have I am against that also. Too many people saying "But I feel fine" and you can tell half of them because of their really poor radio skills & blatant disregard of the FARs.
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Please enlighten me....what part of the medical exam increases radio skills or regard for FARs??

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Originally Posted by Mike Switzer

And after a few years of Sport Pilot, seeing what I have I am against that also. Too many people saying "But I feel fine" and you can tell half of them because of their really poor radio skills & blatant disregard of the FARs.

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Half of all the pilots in this country fit that definition, sport pilot has nothing to do with it.

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Originally Posted by rosiejerryrosie

Please enlighten me....what part of the medical exam increases radio skills or regard for FARs??

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I believe most doctors would be able to detect the loss of mental faculties that contribute to the problems I have witnessed.

Not that that would stop some people, like the guy that was flying SP without a BFR because he couldn't find a CFI that would fly with him.

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Originally Posted by snoskier1

...our favorite AME Bruce C. has written in the AOPA forums that this is DOA...

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Unique insight into FAA rulemaking, or wishful thinking by someone who makes his living issuing medical certificates?

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Originally Posted by Eric Page

Unique insight into FAA rulemaking, or wishful thinking by someone who makes his living issuing medical certificates?

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No, someone who isn't trying to inhale every whiff of BS that this 3rd class medical going away is. It simply will not happen.

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Originally Posted by Mike Switzer

I believe most doctors would be able to detect the loss of mental faculties that contribute to the problems I have witnessed.

Not that that would stop some people, like the guy that was flying SP without a BFR because he couldn't find a CFI that would fly with him.

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I rather doubt that the poor radio techniques (not skills) and the lack of appreciation for the FARs is caused by a diagnosable mental condition. These failings are more than likely the result of an attitude that is not on the list of things that will cause anyone to fail a medical....
If what you suggest is true, how come there are so many of those folks still out there when we still require medicals to fly? The current requirement for medicals doesn't seem to be too successful in keeping folks with "poor radio skills"
and "disregard for the FARs" from flying in your world, since you have had occasion to meet so many of them....

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Originally Posted by martymayes

Half of all the pilots in this country fit that definition, sport pilot has nothing to do with it.

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Amen to that Marty. There's one guy who flies around here a lot who announces himself on approach as "Battle Creek Traffic, November __________, inbound for landing. Two minute ETA." The bigger problem with that is that he's either on the fastest and widest traffic pattern ever for an airport 156 miles away or can't seem to remember that it's EAGLE Creek airport. The smaller problem is that he never bothers to give position reports in a way that are useful to help you figure out where he is exactly. People have tried to correct him on the radio ("Do you mean Eagle Creek?") and the few times he even bothers to respond it's "No, I know where I am at!"

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I rather doubt that the poor radio techniques (not skills) and the lack of appreciation for the FARs is caused by a diagnosable mental condition

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Yeah, in most cases it's just good ol' fashioned stupidity. Last time I checked, that's not listed in the DSM.

Jerry, I am talking about some specific cases where the guys don't have any business driving a car let alone flying a plane. They know full well they don't have any chance of passing a third class medical exam, so they are flying SP.

That is why this proposal doesn't have any chance of going thru. The same guys will then be flying heavier, faster planes, with absolutely no medical oversight.

I disagree with some of the elitist attiude I often feel on this site. I owned a Cherokee for many years. Eventually sold it and started flying light sport not because I couldn't pass the medical but because (1) my flying needs changed somewhat and (2) it was not required for flying my Champ or L16. I can't imagine how I would be any less safe flying a 150, 172 or Cherokee 140, etc. considering one passenger, no night flying, etc. I'm 73 in perfect health according to a recent physical by my regular physician (his exact words were "I wish I had your numbers". If I'm not feeling well or have some personal health concerns I'm not going to fly..plain and simple. I really can't see any difference between flying a Champ or a 150 ....medical wise, and by the way as a former teacher I can talk pretty well on the radio.

There are some that consider if you don't have an airplane license with all the endorsements (especially an instrument rating) you're not really a pilot........ I tend to disagree.

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There are some that consider if you don't have an airplane license with all the endorsements (especially an instrument rating) you're not really a pilot........ I tend to disagree.

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Honestly, most of the truly great pilots I know from strict flying ability outside of the "GREATS" (Hoover, etc) have been VFR only private pilots without any endorsements outside of that for flying gliders. Not my type of flying, but I envy the hell out of their skills.

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Originally Posted by Mike Berg

If I'm not feeling well or have some personal health concerns I'm not going to fly..plain and simple.

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If everyone did that the proposal might have a chance - but the fact of the matter is there are people abusing the SP system, and the FAA knows it.

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Originally Posted by Mike Switzer

If everyone did that the proposal might have a chance - but the fact of the matter is there are people abusing the SP system, and the FAA knows it.

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This is and does happen with current pilots so the SP designation makes no difference to the equation. Those type of people will break the rules anyway, so your analogy that is is going to happen with this proposal is a moot point. In all my years of flying (25 years) I have seen all manner of pilots flying that should not have been flying due to either a health issue of a self induced issue (drinking alcohol). No different that the idiots out driving cars that shouldn't be on the road....there is no possible way that every single 'rule breaker' will be stopped.

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Originally Posted by WWhunter

This is and does happen with current pilots so the SP designation makes no difference to the equation. Those type of people will break the rules anyway, so your analogy that is is going to happen with this proposal is a moot point. In all my years of flying (25 years) I have seen all manner of pilots flying that should not have been flying due to either a health issue of a self induced issue (drinking alcohol). No different that the idiots out driving cars that shouldn't be on the road....there is no possible way that every single 'rule breaker' will be stopped.

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Geeze, WW, do you mean that making them see a doctor every two years won't cure their disregard for regulations or safety? Ya' know, I'll just bet that there were folks flying without medicals even before the Sport Pilot Rule came into existance....

Exactly, I think if the feds were to check the licenses of some of the local fly in's in any location they would probably find 5-10% with either expired biennual flight reviews or medicals. I wouldn't do it because of insurance requirements but some just don't see the need. It's human nature and you only have to look at the traffic reports in the local paper to confirm it. Sorry but I still get back to the fact that if I'm qualified to fly LS without a medical there's no reason not to raise the bar at bit and include 150's, 172's, Cherokee's, etc. They're a h--- of a lot easier to handle in a cross wind on hard surface than a light weight tail dragger.
Mike

Mike - I totally agree. There is nothing in today's medical that makes anyone a safer pilot. There are few cases of accidents caused by medically diagnosable conditions, while there are a few anacdotal cases of folks suffering heart attacks weeks after passing a medical. Today's medical exam is not predictive of future medical problems oo of future airplane accidents.....