FAA and Medical Certificates

In recent months, weve highlighted the general aviation industrys efforts supporting federal legislation to ease existing FAA requirements to hold a medical certificate for many non-commercial flight operations. Both AOPA and EAA have worked hard on this project for several years, and U.S. Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) earlier this year spearheaded the effort with his Pilots Bill of Rights 2 (PBOR2). As this issue of the magazine was being prepared, some additional details were publicized, designed to help ensure the bills passage. Its always risky predicting Congressional action, but that could happen around the time this hits your mailbox. The results probably wont look like the original PBOR2, however.

Joseph E. (Jeb) Burnside

Wednesday, November 04, 2015 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The original Pilot's Bill of Rights 2 (PBOR2) sought to eliminate FAA medical certificate requirements for many non-commercial general aviation flights, but faced significant opposition, making its passage unlikely.
To ensure the bill's advancement, revisions were introduced: pilots with a medical certificate in the past 10 years would not need renewal, new pilots would require a one-time third-class medical, and all pilots would complete a biennial online aeromedical course and quadrennial personal physician visit.
Despite some pilot dissatisfaction with the changes, key organizations like AOPA and EAA support the revised PBOR2 as a necessary compromise and the only viable path to meaningfully reform FAA medical certification requirements.

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In recent months, we’ve highlighted the general aviation industry’s efforts supporting federal legislation to ease existing FAA requirements to hold a medical certificate for many non-commercial flight operations. Both AOPA and EAA have worked hard on this project for several years, and U.S. Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) earlier this year spearheaded the effort with his Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2 (PBOR2). As this issue of the magazine was being prepared, some additional details were publicized, designed to help ensure the bill’s passage. It’s always risky predicting Congressional action, but that could happen around the time this hits your mailbox. The results probably won’t look like the original PBOR2, however.

As originally written, PBOR2 eliminated the need for a pilot to hold a medical certificate on a private, non-commercial flight under certain conditions. It would have eliminated the requirement if the pilot 1) possesses a valid state driver’s license, 2) complies with applicable medical requirements associated with that license, 3) is transporting five or fewer passengers, and 4) is operating an aircraft of not more than six seats and with a maximum takeoff weight of no more than 6000 pounds. The flight also would have to be in U.S. airspace, at or below 14,000 feet msl and not exceed 250 KIAS.