Congress has all but given up trying to pass a highway spending bill before starting its long summer break this weekend, quashing hopes of third-class medical reform coming up for a vote before the fall.
Even then, lawmakers who support expanding medical self-assessments from the Sport pilot ranks to most private pilots will face an uphill battle getting the provision approved given the mountain of work Congress must address by the end of the year and sweeping changes some want to see within the FAA.
