Does anyone know what the status of the proposed rule changes regarding using a valid drivers license in place of a third class medical is? It has been a while since I have seen anything about this.
Thanks,
Tim
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Does anyone know what the status of the proposed rule changes regarding using a valid drivers license in place of a third class medical is? It has been a while since I have seen anything about this.
Thanks,
Tim
After some looking around, the only thing I could find was that the current FAA Administrator Micahel Huerta said that he wanted to have a ruling on the issue by the end of the year. So, there may be a ruling sometime in the next two months, but so far, nothing else that I know of.
The proposed rule has been approved by the FAA and is now pending approval from DOT and OMB. After DOT and OMB sign off on the proposed rule, the FAA will release it to the public as a notice of proposed rule making (NPRM). Once the NPRM is released, the public comment period starts. After the comment period closes, the FAA reviews all of the comments, incorporates changes to the rule based on the comments (if necessary), and finally enacts the new rule.
The Type Club Coalition recently sent a letter to DOT and OMB to urge both organizations to expedite the review/approval process. (http://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/eaa-news-a...medical-review)
As soon as DOT and OMB complete their reviews we will communicate the outcome.
Hey Anders, I searched the EAA website this morning for articles concerning this and found two recent ones. On Sept 18, 2014 EAA published an article entitled "Education DC on Medical Certification Reform" and on Oct 23, 2014 they published and article titled "Type Clubs to DOT: Expedite third class medical review" It looks like the pressure on the FAA DOT NTSB is being kept up. As you say, hopefully by the end of the year.
Tim
Thanks for the update Jonathan, good to see that progress is being made.
Tim
So it was a good thing that I renewed my DL with my glasses stowed in my pocket. I missed the fine print. Will it permit night or IFR?
I think we all need to comment during the comment period that we want it to include night and ifr.
We don't yet know what's in the NPRM because the FAA can't show us (an interested party) until it is made public. To do so would be an "ex parte communication," which is forbidden.
We are all very interested to know what the proposal includes and leaves out. I wish we had more to tell you.
I have pulled down the reports from the DOT website showing the progress, or lack thereof, on moving a change in the 3rd class Medical toward a new regulation.
The FAA sent the proposed rule to the Office of the Secretary of Transportation (OST) in July2014. DOT originally indicated the rule would go to Office of Management & Budget (OMB) a monh later. And should have been roughly two months from arrival in OMB to publication of the NPRM.
DOT updates their schedule early each month (the last update was dated 6 Oct). If you look at the attached graphic, you can see that the proposed rule has not left OST for OMB, and worse, in Sept and Oct, DOT didn't even bother to update their report with dates that would be in the future.
I am hoping that at the very least DOT's November report will have achievable dates in the future rather than disrespecting us with such a patently false report with rearview dates.
As it appears to me now, the earliest we will see this proposed rule is February.
The delay is unbelievable, even for the government! How does one protest this inaction? Seems like it may be time to flood the DOT, OMB, & FAA with letters and emails, with copies to our elected congressional delegations. Where are the alphabet organizations' leadership on this? AOPA, we know, just asks us for more lobbying money (I got a call just yesterday), EAA appears to prefer gentle jawboning, the Type-Club Coalition seems to be the most forward moving on this with the letter mentioned above, don't know what the others are doing, but all approaches seem ineffective.
The other frustration is not know what is being reviewed. If only the CIA & NSA were so secure with their information. Unfortunately, there is no determined aviation press to go in and dig out what's in the proposal. We can't know what is being proposed? Seems crazy to me.
Don
"Gentle jawboning" is lobbying. It's not necessary that the EAA do the continual self-back clapping that the AOPA does whenever something happens they want to take credit for.
You can try contacting your senator or congressman provided you didn't vote him out yesterday (or at least claim you supported him anyway) and ask if he could exert some pressure on the Secreatary.
DOT is where the politics are played. Once it gets to the Office of Mismanagement and Beancounting that approval should be relatively forthcoming. In fact, it should be a slam dunk for DECREASING federal budget impact as it will take a lot of load off Joklahoma City.
Jonathan- Has EAA queried DOT or FAA for any explanation as to why the NRPM has not left OST, and when one might expect it to leave OST?
One gets their Congressman or Senator to have their staffer call the staff over there at OMB and gently ask if they can get an update on the review process of this action, say in the Senator's office at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday?Incredible amounts of action by a regulatory agency can be achieved that way.Quote:
How does one protest this inaction?
Ted,
EAA senior management approached FAA and DOT senior management late last week to ask that very question, and the answer we got back was that the NPRM was in the final stages of review in both OMB and DOT. While we weren't given a specific expected date of completion (no one ever is), we know that a significant majority of the work is done. We are cautiously optimistic about that.
Oh boy, scrambled ponies! yum
Tim
That's part of why I dropped my menbership a while back.Quote:
It's not necessary that the EAA do the continual self-back clapping that the AOPA does whenever something happens they want to take credit for.
It is now 12 Nov and there is no update to DOT's Significant Rulemaking status site. The last update was 6 Oct. they are supposed to update it monthly. This site statuses a lot more than the Driver License Medical we are all waiting to see.
In addition to providing a status and schedule, they are supposed to have a colored box next to each item coded Green, Black or Red. And if it is Red (late) their own website says they will say why it is late.
It just galls me when they ignore us and don't even abide by their own rules.
I wonder if it's still coded "Black" because it did go to OST before the projected date. OTOH, the current update indicates that it hasn't gone to OMB yet (see below). However, Jonathan tells us that is has in fact already gone to OMB. Sounds like someone simply forgot to update the attachment that downloads from the DOT website. If OMB is just about finished reviewing it, as Jonathan says, then the process is within the projected schedule:
20.
Medical Self-Evaluation for Certain Noncommercial Operations in Lieu of Airman Medical Certification Black Popular Title: Medical Self-Certification RIN 2120-AK45 Stage: NPRM Previous Stage:None Abstract: This rulemaking would consider allowing certain operations to be conducted by individuals exercising private-pilot privileges without holding a current FAA airman medical certificate. The intended effect of this action is to provide relief from having to obtain a medical certificate for pilots engaged in low-risk flying, such as private pilots operating a small, general aviation aircraft. Effects:
None Prompting action: Secretarial/Head of Operating Administration Decision
Legal Deadline: None Rulemaking Project Initiated: 02/04/2014 Docket Number: Dates for NPRM:
Milestone Originally
Scheduled
DateNew
Projected
DateActual
DateTo OST 07/03/2014 08/14/2014 07/24/2014 To OMB 08/04/2014 08/25/2014 OMB Clearance 11/04/2014 11/25/2014 Publication Date 11/10/2014 12/09/2014 End of Comment Period 01/09/2015 03/09/2015
Explanation for any delay: N/A Federal Register Citation for NPRM: None
I called DOT and they walked me through where we are on this (that is, they walked me through what they can legally state). Bottom line is that officially the proposal is at OST. Got confirmation from FAA rulemaking division, who said the same thing.
DOT Updated their schedule today for the Drivers License Medical and now projects public release on 5 March 2015. Their newly published schedule does not appear to show any parallel activity that would have accelerated the schedule toward publication. They still show that the NRPM has not left DOT and now isn't scheduled to leave DOT till 30 Nov. Then OMB will have it for three months.
Me thinks they have been blowing smoke up EAA's (et al) skirt.
http://eaaforums.org/attachment.php?...&stc=1&thumb=1
Here is the list of current House sponsors and the date they joined sponsorship.
If your Representative isn't below, then you need to turn up the heat.
158 cosponsors (132R, 26D) (show)
Flores, Bill [R-TX17]
(joined Dec 11, 2013)
Graves, Sam [R-MO6]
(joined Dec 11, 2013)
Hanna, Richard [R-NY22]
(joined Dec 11, 2013)
Peterson, Collin [D-MN7]
(joined Dec 11, 2013)
Pompeo, Mike [R-KS4]
(joined Dec 11, 2013)
Johnson, Bill [R-OH6]
(joined Dec 12, 2013)
Kinzinger, Adam [R-IL16]
(joined Dec 12, 2013)
Pearce, Stevan ?Steve? [R-NM2]
(joined Dec 12, 2013)
Smith, Lamar [R-TX21]
(joined Dec 12, 2013)
Long, Billy [R-MO7]
(joined Dec 16, 2013)
Collins, Chris [R-NY27]
(joined Dec 23, 2013)
Huelskamp, Tim [R-KS1]
(joined Dec 23, 2013)
Marchant, Kenny [R-TX24]
(joined Dec 23, 2013)
Rogers, Mike [R-AL3]
(joined Dec 23, 2013)
Westmoreland, Lynn [R-GA3]
(joined Dec 23, 2013)
Young, Don [R-AK0]
(joined Dec 23, 2013)
Conaway, Michael [R-TX11]
(joined Jan 7, 2014)
Upton, Fred [R-MI6]
(joined Jan 7, 2014)
Kline, John [R-MN2]
(joined Jan 9, 2014)
Schrader, Kurt [D-OR5]
(joined Jan 9, 2014)
Terry, Lee [R-NE2]
(joined Jan 9, 2014)
Hartzler, Vicky [R-MO4]
(joined Jan 13, 2014)
McHenry, Patrick [R-NC10]
(joined Jan 13, 2014)
Yoder, Kevin [R-KS3]
(joined Jan 13, 2014)
Duncan, John ?Jimmy? [R-TN2]
(joined Jan 15, 2014)
Barrow, John [D-GA12]
(joined Jan 21, 2014)
Hall, Ralph [R-TX4]
(joined Jan 21, 2014)
Bachus, Spencer [R-AL6]
(joined Jan 27, 2014)
Frelinghuysen, Rodney [R-NJ11]
(joined Jan 27, 2014)
Guthrie, Brett [R-KY2]
(joined Jan 27, 2014)
Ross, Dennis [R-FL15]
(joined Jan 27, 2014)
Graves, Tom [R-GA14]
(joined Feb 5, 2014)
Roe, David ?Phil? [R-TN1]
(joined Feb 5, 2014)
Schock, Aaron [R-IL18]
(joined Feb 5, 2014)
Tipton, Scott [R-CO3]
(joined Feb 5, 2014)
Williams, Roger [R-TX25]
(joined Feb 5, 2014)
Bridenstine, Jim [R-OK1]
(joined Feb 14, 2014)
Duncan, Jeff [R-SC3]
(joined Feb 14, 2014)
Fleischmann, Charles ?Chuck? [R-TN3]
(joined Feb 14, 2014)
Griffith, Morgan [R-VA9]
(joined Feb 14, 2014)
Petri, Thomas ?Tom? [R-WI6]
(joined Feb 18, 2014)
Griffin, Tim [R-AR2]
(joined Feb 25, 2014)
Tiberi, Patrick ?Pat? [R-OH12]
(joined Feb 25, 2014)
Bucshon, Larry [R-IN8]
(joined Feb 26, 2014)
Davis, Rodney [R-IL13]
(joined Feb 26, 2014)
Gibson, Christopher [R-NY19]
(joined Feb 26, 2014)
Latta, Robert [R-OH5]
(joined Feb 26, 2014)
Brooks, Susan [R-IN5]
(joined Mar 4, 2014)
Messer, Luke [R-IN6]
(joined Mar 4, 2014)
Rohrabacher, Dana [R-CA48]
(joined Mar 5, 2014)
Young, Todd [R-IN9]
(joined Mar 5, 2014)
Amodei, Mark [R-NV2]
(joined Mar 10, 2014)
Jenkins, Lynn [R-KS2]
(joined Mar 11, 2014)
Walorski, Jackie [R-IN2]
(joined Mar 11, 2014)
Carson, Andr? [D-IN7]
(joined Mar 12, 2014)
Cramer, Kevin [R-ND0]
(joined Mar 12, 2014)
DesJarlais, Scott [R-TN4]
(joined Mar 12, 2014)
Hurt, Robert [R-VA5]
(joined Mar 12, 2014)
McIntyre, Mike [D-NC7]
(joined Mar 12, 2014)
Posey, Bill [R-FL8]
(joined Mar 12, 2014)
Schweikert, David [R-AZ6]
(joined Mar 12, 2014)
Stutzman, Marlin [R-IN3]
(joined Mar 12, 2014)
Broun, Paul [R-GA10]
(joined Mar 18, 2014)
Miller, Jeff [R-FL1]
(joined Mar 18, 2014)
Duffy, Sean [R-WI7]
(joined Mar 21, 2014)
Loebsack, David [D-IA2]
(joined Mar 21, 2014)
Sessions, Pete [R-TX32]
(joined Mar 21, 2014)
Black, Diane [R-TN6]
(joined Mar 24, 2014)
Brooks, Mo [R-AL5]
(joined Mar 24, 2014)
Crawford, Eric ?Rick? [R-AR1]
(joined Mar 24, 2014)
DeSantis, Ron [R-FL6]
(joined Mar 24, 2014)
Hultgren, Randy [R-IL14]
(joined Mar 24, 2014)
Jones, Walter [R-NC3]
(joined Mar 24, 2014)
Massie, Thomas [R-KY4]
(joined Mar 24, 2014)
Chabot, Steve [R-OH1]
(joined Mar 26, 2014)
Denham, Jeff [R-CA10]
(joined Mar 26, 2014)
Fitzpatrick, Michael [R-PA8]
(joined Mar 26, 2014)
Fortenberry, Jeff [R-NE1]
(joined Mar 26, 2014)
McClintock, Tom [R-CA4]
(joined Mar 26, 2014)
Nolan, Richard [D-MN8]
(joined Mar 26, 2014)
Ribble, Reid [R-WI8]
(joined Mar 26, 2014)
Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL8]
(joined Mar 27, 2014)
Farenthold, Blake [R-TX27]
(joined Mar 27, 2014)
Crenshaw, Ander [R-FL4]
(joined Apr 2, 2014)
Gohmert, Louie [R-TX1]
(joined Apr 2, 2014)
LaMalfa, Doug [R-CA1]
(joined Apr 2, 2014)
Barr, Garland ?Andy? [R-KY6]
(joined Apr 3, 2014)
Mica, John [R-FL7]
(joined Apr 4, 2014)
Smith, Adrian [R-NE3]
(joined Apr 4, 2014)
Wenstrup, Brad [R-OH2]
(joined Apr 4, 2014)
Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN7]
(joined Apr 8, 2014)
Kirkpatrick, Ann [D-AZ1]
(joined Apr 8, 2014)
Poe, Ted [R-TX2]
(joined Apr 8, 2014)
Goodlatte, Bob [R-VA6]
(joined Apr 28, 2014)
Neugebauer, Randy [R-TX19]
(joined Apr 28, 2014)
Walberg, Tim [R-MI7]
(joined Apr 28, 2014)
Weber, Randy [R-TX14]
(joined Apr 28, 2014)
Meadows, Mark [R-NC11]
(joined Apr 30, 2014)
Barletta, Lou [R-PA11]
(joined May 1, 2014)
Huizenga, Bill [R-MI2]
(joined May 6, 2014)
Jordan, Jim [R-OH4]
(joined May 6, 2014)
Esty, Elizabeth [D-CT5]
(joined May 8, 2014)
Yoho, Ted [R-FL3]
(joined May 8, 2014)
Garrett, Scott [R-NJ5]
(joined May 15, 2014)
Ryan, Tim [D-OH13]
(joined May 15, 2014)
Simpson, Michael ?Mike? [R-ID2]
(joined May 15, 2014)
Walden, Greg [R-OR2]
(joined May 15, 2014)
Daines, Steve [R-MT0]
(joined May 19, 2014)
Braley, Bruce [D-IA1]
(joined May 22, 2014)
Buchanan, Vern [R-FL16]
(joined May 22, 2014)
Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA19]
(joined May 27, 2014)
Owens, William [D-NY21]
(joined May 29, 2014)
Lipinski, Daniel [D-IL3]
(joined Jun 2, 2014)
Scalise, Steve [R-LA1]
(joined Jun 11, 2014)
Valadao, David [R-CA21]
(joined Jun 11, 2014)
Southerland, Steve [R-FL2]
(joined Jun 12, 2014)
Forbes, Randy [R-VA4]
(joined Jun 18, 2014)
Joyce, David [R-OH14]
(joined Jun 24, 2014)
Gosar, Paul [R-AZ4]
(joined Jun 30, 2014)
Jolly, David [R-FL13]
(joined Jul 10, 2014)
Pocan, Mark [D-WI2]
(joined Jul 14, 2014)
Issa, Darrell [R-CA49]
(joined Jul 22, 2014)
Bustos, Cheri [D-IL17]
(joined Jul 23, 2014)
Perry, Scott [R-PA4]
(joined Jul 25, 2014)
Cartwright, Matthew [D-PA17]
(joined Jul 30, 2014)
Harris, Andy [R-MD1]
(joined Jul 30, 2014)
Byrne, Bradley [R-AL1]
(joined Jul 31, 2014)
McCollum, Betty [D-MN4]
(joined Jul 31, 2014)
Miller, Candice [R-MI10]
(joined Jul 31, 2014)
Coble, Howard [R-NC6]
(joined Sep 8, 2014)
Collins, Doug [R-GA9]
(joined Sep 8, 2014)
Napolitano, Grace [D-CA32]
(joined Sep 8, 2014)
Thompson, Bennie [D-MS2]
(joined Sep 8, 2014)
Veasey, Marc [D-TX33]
(joined Sep 8, 2014)
Miller, Gary [R-CA31]
(joined Sep 9, 2014)
Nunnelee, Alan [R-MS1]
(joined Sep 9, 2014)
Scott, Austin [R-GA8]
(joined Sep 9, 2014)
Aderholt, Robert [R-AL4]
(joined Sep 11, 2014)
Clawson, Curtis ?Curt? [R-FL19]
(joined Sep 11, 2014)
Rothfus, Keith [R-PA12]
(joined Sep 11, 2014)
Lance, Leonard [R-NJ7]
(joined Sep 15, 2014)
Herrera Beutler, Jaime [R-WA3]
(joined Sep 16, 2014)
Hudson, Richard [R-NC8]
(joined Sep 16, 2014)
Mullin, Markwayne [R-OK2]
(joined Sep 17, 2014)
Bishop, Timothy [D-NY1]
(joined Sep 18, 2014)
C?rdenas, Tony [D-CA29]
(joined Sep 18, 2014)
Cook, Paul [R-CA8]
(joined Sep 18, 2014)
Cotton, Tom [R-AR4]
(joined Sep 18, 2014)
Luetkemeyer, Blaine [R-MO3]
(joined Sep 18, 2014)
Rice, Tom [R-SC7]
(joined Sep 18, 2014)
Delaney, John [D-MD6]
(joined Nov 12, 2014)
Gerlach, Jim [R-PA6]
(joined Nov 12, 2014)
Hunter, Duncan [R-CA50]
(joined Nov 12, 2014)
Turner, Michael [R-OH10]
(joined Nov 12, 2014)
Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD8]
(joined Nov 12, 2014)
Wilson, Joe [R-SC2]
(joined Nov 12, 2014)
Womack, Steve [R-AR3]
(joined Nov 12, 2014)
Benishek, Dan [R-MI1]
(joined Nov 13, 2014)
Below is a list of the Senators currently sponsoring S2103.
19 cosponsors (14R, 5D) (show)
Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
(joined Mar 11, 2014)
Roberts, Pat [R-KS]
(joined Mar 11, 2014)
Hatch, Orrin [R-UT]
(joined Mar 24, 2014)
Tester, Jon [D-MT]
(joined Mar 24, 2014)
Crapo, Michael [R-ID]
(joined Mar 26, 2014)
Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
(joined Mar 31, 2014)
Begich, Mark [D-AK]
(joined Apr 1, 2014)
Risch, James [R-ID]
(joined Apr 1, 2014)
Inhofe, James ?Jim? [R-OK]
(joined Apr 8, 2014)
Enzi, Michael [R-WY]
(joined Apr 10, 2014)
Donnelly, Joe [D-IN]
(joined Jun 5, 2014)
Pryor, Mark [D-AR]
(joined Jun 5, 2014)
Toomey, Patrick ?Pat? [R-PA]
(joined Jun 5, 2014)
Ayotte, Kelly [R-NH]
(joined Jun 19, 2014)
Wicker, Roger [R-MS]
(joined Jun 19, 2014)
Landrieu, Mary [D-LA]
(joined Jul 15, 2014)
Portman, Robert ?Rob? [R-OH]
(joined Jul 23, 2014)
Fischer, Deb [R-NE]
(joined Sep 15, 2014)
Johanns, Mike [R-NE]
Ted,
As you know, come January 3 many of the Representatives and Senators on that list will be pursuing other career options and the bill's support coalition will have to be rebuilt. There is work to be done in building up the GA caucuses, too.
The bill will likely stay alive in one form or another, and I suspect that the FAA does not want that legislative language to be a factor in the 2015 re-authorization bill. That is why we are holding out hope for an acceptable NPRM, as slow as the process may be.
Jonathan- I believe in Christmas Miracles.
There isn't any reason this reasonably uncontroversial Bill couldn't be swept up in the end of year clean-up and tacked onto a omnibus before the Session is out. If we keep the heat on the yet unsponsored, it just might happen.
As it stands now, the bureaucrats have slow rolled us so we won't even see the NPRM until March. I am mad as heck because for two months DOT had dates in the rear view mirror.
EAA indicated that DOT and OMB were working together to fast track the NPRM. Do you see any evidence of that?
if we get a good NPRM, I'm ok with that, but I never put all my chips on one number.
In July, the DOT Significant Rulemaking tracker said that the Third Class Medical NPRM would be released for public comment in November.
It it is now January 2015, and the DOT Rulemaking tracker indicates that the NPRM won't be released until May 2015.
So in six months, we have slid six months.
Jonathon, can you tell us what EAA is doing?
Does anyone know if our staff at EAA are lobbying for the Drivers License at this time, January 14? ...Why do 'bad' regulations take a few days for Congress to pass and benevolent ones stall out? If the Republicans control the majority, where is the logjam? Thanks, Lynn
From a January 22 AOPA update, "The Department of Transportation has announced plans to complete its review of proposed third class medical reforms on Jan. 26, allowing the FAA’s draft rule to move to the Office of Management and Budget for another round of mandatory reviews."
Does anyone know if the NPRM actually moved over to the OMB? The DOT web site has not been updated for several months and fails to show any reason for the 8 month delay.
I think the AOPA assumption was that the DOT was going to hold to the scheduled dates which they haven't done yet. Whoever wrote that press release wasn't actually paying attention to the issue.
Jonathan- au Contraire, the grand majority of those sponsors were reelected.
Hope is not a strategy. The NPRM has spent over six months going absolutely nowhere. And AOPA embarrassed themselves by taking a cursory look at the DOT Significant Rulemaking website without looking at trend. A down in headwork. Amateurish.
So, as Lynn asked a few posts earlier, what is EAA's Strategy? This is the number One item among recreational aviators and neither AOPA nor EAA will state to their membership what their strategy for obtaining Third Class Medical Reform will be.
Frankly, it appears to me that EAA has been successfully cowed by the FAA and you are too afraid for Airventure to challenge the FAA. Please tell me something that proves me wrong.
But should I be right, and EAA has decided the Show is more important than being an Agent for Change, then perhaps we Members and Chapters need to consider how we abandon the husk and move forward. Perhaps, it might be time to ask is our organization working for us or working for themselves?
This subject is a hot issue with all the pilots at our local airport and our EAA Chapter meetings. Why has EAA HQ let this drop off the radar screen? The latest issue of Sport Aviation has not one word about Aeromedical Reform. No update to the membership. On the EAA Advocacy web page is appears to be the top issue, but the two little paragraphs of text on that page have not changed for months. At least AOPA writes letters to the DOT and updates their members with a little news when they get anything from the government.
Now that we have a new Congress, what is happening there to re-introduce the House and Senate bills this session?
Note that GAPPA even if it had passed would have done NOTHING with regard to this. It didn't abolish the medical requirement, it just told the FAA to initiate regulations to that effect.
Well the FAA has done that. There were time limits in the rule but such limits are almost UNIVERSALLY ignored by the executive branch so unless the Congress comes back and specifically takes them to task (rare), it doesn't happen. Further, it wouldn't short circuit the OMB part of the rulemaking (yes i know we're not there yet) because that's required by law and GAPPA didn't override that law.
If we have ever given the impression that reforming the 3rd Class Medical is not our top advocacy priority, nor one that we work on every day, then that was certainly unintentional on our part. Our strategy is comprehensive, and we’re not hanging our hats on any one thing. Yes, the fact that the FAA has developed a rule-making package is a step in the right direction, and we’re waiting for it to clear the same bureaucratic hurdles that all rulemaking must clear (the same hurdles, I might add, that help us fight bad rulemaking), but we’re in parallel continuing to actively push for legislation. The new congress is seated and we are on Capitol Hill every week recruiting members of the General Aviation Caucus and developing support for new legislation on medical reform, which will soon be filed. In addition, the FAA needs its budget reauthorized this year, so the must-pass reauthorization bill is another part of our legislative toolbox.
So the bottom line is this: the NPRM is forthcoming, but we’re very active in pursuing legislation on a parallel track. And I promise that’s not lip service. We’re on the ground in Washington on a regular basis to work on this. Nothing will be off the table until we have accomplished actual reform for pilots who fly recreationally.
Since this is undoubtedly the #1 subject matter with the EAA membership, why not have a monthly update in Sport Aviation as to the status and what is being done to make it happen EVERY MONTH WITHOUT FAIL until the goal is met?
No matter how much you do, if you fail to keep the membership informed on their #1 issue, then you will be seen as asleep at the wheel.
-Cub Builder
Tom-
An excellent post. Thank you.
However, it appears you are trying to do the heavy lifting without the benefit of the additional support the Members and Chapters could add. For example, why not publish who you have met with so we could roll in behind you as the exclamation point? When you go to see a Congressperson or Senator, do you take a powerful aviator from their district or state with you? Who? How can we work with that person?
Do do you have an Info Packet that you are providing to Hill denizens? Can we see the packet so we can sing from your hymnal?
This is is not just your fight, this is our fight. Include us and arm us. We can be a tremendous force multiplier.
Your thoughts, please?
Ted
(Jonathan, I owe you a cold one at OSH)