Pilots - please weigh in on this topic

[cashflyer]

This directly affects all Private pilots, Recreational pilots, and Sport (LSA) Pilots. This indirectly affects the entire aviation community.

I hope to not only get a discussion going here, but I also hope that you will follow the FAA links and make your voice heard during the comment period.


From the AOPA website:
Comment Period Open for Medical Exemption Request

Now is the time to make your voice heard - The exemption request filed by EAA and AOPA pertaining to third-class medical certificates has been officially posted by the federal government, making it possible for the public to submit comments on the proposal.

Public comments are currently accepted online. AOPA and EAA have issued a guide to assist aviators when making their comments on the exemption.

The request, officially named "Petition of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and Experimental Aircraft Association for an exemption from 14 CFR Part 61," is available at Regulations.gov under Docket FAA-2012-0350 (enter FAA-2012-0350-0001 in the search box). The request, if granted, stands to increase the level of safety and significantly reduce a substantial economic and regulatory burden for pilots who fly recreationally.

Currently, FAA regulations require all pilots to hold at least a third-class medical certificate to exercise the privileges of a private or recreational certificate. EAA and AOPA are asking the FAA for an exemption to that rule, which would give pilots who fly recreationally the option of getting a third-class medical or, instead, participating in a recurrent online education program that will teach them how to self-assess their fitness to fly.

The education program will cover aeromedical factors and will exceed the training presently mandated by the FAA. Participating pilots would also be required to hold a valid driver's license and conduct a meaningful self-assessment prior to flight. The self-assessment required in the exemption will be similar to what pilots do now between AME visits. The difference is that pilots will have a higher level of knowledge to do the self-assessment after completion of the required education program.

The requested exemption would help to mitigate the increased risk inherent in transitioning to unfamiliar and sometimes distinctly different aircraft, which is the only currently available alternative to the FAA's third-class medical.

This exemption request has been built upon substantial evidence obtained over the past 20 years, most recently proven through the successful medical safety standards allowed under the sport pilot certificate, which currently utilizes the driver's license medical standard in lieu of an FAA medical certificate.



Here is a link to the AOPA guidance, in PDF format:
http://www.eaa.org/news/2012/2012-03-29_exemption.pdf


Here is a DIRECT LINK to the comment form:
Regulations.gov

[KNS]

I once saw an elderly gentlemen in the AMEs office who was seeking his 3rd class medical - he could barely stand up. I could tell the Doc wasn't going to let him pass.

Would he have grounded himself if he didn't have to seek certification..? I felt bad for the guy, I may be there too someday.

[widgeon13]

Given that LSA pilots are already flying w/ a driver's license I really don't see the harm. I know where you're coming from on this. When I got my PPL many years ago my FAA examiner's age was 80+, not certain of the actually years. He was probably not as flexible as me at that time but he was very impressive as a pilot. I'm sure he could have had the "big one" at any time or a stroke. Heck, fifty year olds walking down the street can have the "big one' walking out of the doctor's office. Lots of the medical problems that bring a plane down are not readily diagnosed in a 3rd class medical. I think that is the point.

If this is approved I will still get a 3rd class medical.

[Tim Hancock]

I know of at least three older pilots who still flew their old airplanes occasionally even though they had no medical. I also know a couple pilots who had a very long wait and hassle to get their medical back after various conditions they were successfully treated for. I am healthy and have no issues with my medical, but I am all for eliminating over half of all govt regulation.

I bet the percentage of private pilot accidents due to pilot health issues would barely be measurable if the regulation went away.

That said....... I am not opposed to commercial pilots who fly passengers for hire being subjected to medical exams.

[cashflyer]

Originally Posted by KNS

I once saw an elderly gentlemen in the AMEs office who was seeking his 3rd class medical - he could barely stand up. [...] Would he have grounded himself if he didn't have to seek certification..?

Do you think the education component of the proposal, to expand understanding of aeromedical factors and basic physiology, would have had any influence on him?

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

I am not opposed to commercial pilots who fly passengers for hire being subjected to medical exams.

I agree completely. Commercial, for hire, whether cargo or pax, should still get the medical finger.

I'm sure you know this Tim, but I will put this here for clarification in case anyone does not read the links:

The exemption would be allowed for use in certain sized aircraft and particular types of operations: for example, a single-engine aircraft with 180 horsepower or less, four seats or fewer, and fixed gear, with operations limited to day VFR flight with one passenger, and not be for hire or fly in furtherance of a business.

[gshase]

As a CFII I am going to the Doc tomorrow to get a medical. It is 1 more government regulation I must go through to be able to instruct. What is harder than the medical is climbing into a j3 or BC12d, When I can no longer get in is when I will be grounded.

[NeedSpace]

I have mixed feelings about this, especially in light of my medical being up as of last week. I am sure it won't be a problem but it gets me thinking.

On one hand, I see people driving cars and think, holy crap, can they see the road? My grandfather drove until he was 80...he should have stopped at 70. He was a menace. It wasn't until he side-swiped 6 cars in a row that he stopped...took him 6 before realizing he was swiping them. My fathers eyesight is horrible and he should be tested. Over time, when we get old, we tend to think we are still ok, when we are not ("How many levels of thickness have you gone thru?", "Oh 3 or 4", "I think you need new glasses.", "Oh these are just fine").

On the flip side, pilots typically hold themselves to a higher standard. Given the LSA option, I am not too concerned about the medical. But perhaps a less stringent standard?

[flipper35]

On the one hand I see the same pilots that assess the weather and fly when they shouldn't ending in tragedy doing the same with their health, but with the restrictions as stated in the PDF I don't see any problems. It would be more like LSA regulations (with the included health assessment) in a larger plane from how I read it.

[cashflyer]

Originally Posted by flipper35

It would be more like LSA regulations in a larger plane from how I read it.

I've been following this peripherally for some time now, and what you said is (imo) exactly what it started out as being; a way for pilots to fly their Cessna 150s or 172s (and a myriad of other planes) as if it met the LSA requirements.

[matthew-s]

Originally Posted by cashflyer

I've been following this peripherally for some time now, and what you said is (imo) exactly what it started out as being; a way for pilots to fly their Cessna 150s or 172s (and a myriad of other planes) as if it met the LSA requirements.

Last I looked - this was a way for those holding a PPL to fly under Sport Pilot in certain aircraft. Not a way for brand new pilots to qualify as Sport Pilots and fly these larger aircraft under the restrictions.

Is is still panning out that way? Or are they looking to basically allow any Sport Pilot to also fly these somewhat larger AC?

[cashflyer]

"a way for pilots to fly their Cessna 150s or 172s (and a myriad of other planes) as if it met the LSA requirements."

I should have worded this more carefully. I did mean pilots holding a license for Recreational or above.




But now that you bring it up, I really don't know if they [EAA/AOPA] are pushing to allow LSA pilots to fly heavier planes.

If they do not allow LSA pilots to fly heavier planes, then it will hurt the LSA program as I think many people will go ahead and get the Recreational or Private license and fly without a medical.

If they DO allow LSA pilots to fly the heavier planes, it will hurt the LSA manufacturers - and their trade groups and lobbyists will not be happy about that.

[James Brown]

well, i'm an A&P mechanic, I can wrench till i drop dead no physical required to work on a plane...
There was an accident not too long ago where a owner/pilot and a A&P (78 year old) rigged the elevator backwards on his super cub. made it 50' in the air crashed and killed him. When do you say your to old, blind, feeble to be safe should be up to a governing body. To much pride to self ground your livelihood.

[Joeaksa]

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