Medical Dereg Redux

In February’s issue, I used this space to discuss efforts to deregulate FAA requirements for some pilots to hold a medical certificate while serving as pilot in command. After the FAA failed to act on a 2012 petition from AOPA and EAA, the two organizations began working with interested members of Congress to develop appropriate legislation. That bill, H.R. 3708, was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in December, and presently enjoys 93 cosponsors. On March 11, 2014, companion bill S. 2103, was introduced in the U.S. Senate. It has nine cosponsors.

Editorial Staff

Tuesday, April 15, 2014 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Pilot organizations AOPA and EAA have been actively pursuing the deregulation of FAA medical certificate requirements for private pilots, initially through a 2012 petition and subsequently by introducing Congressional bills (H.R. 3708 and S. 2103).
The FAA, after years of inaction on the popular petition, only announced a rulemaking process in 2014 due to mounting Congressional pressure, which the author views as a deliberate delaying tactic.
The article urges Congress to disregard the FAA's perceived stall tactics and pass the proposed legislation, which would expand "driver's license medical" privileges beyond the original petition.

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Thanks to an outpouring of interest, the original 2012 petition garnered some 16,000 comments at the FAA, the vast majority of which were favorable. That petition basically would have extended so-called “driver’s license medical” privileges—similar to those enjoyed by sport pilots—to private pilots of slightly larger aircraft. After collecting comments, the FAA halted its public efforts.