Analyzing PBOR2

As long-time readers know, weve been following developments on industry attempts to deregulate the FAAs airman medical certification process. Happily, on December 15, 2015, the full U.S. Senate passed its version of the underlying measure, the Pilots Bill of Rights 2 (PBOR2), by unanimous voice vote. The bill, S. 571, now goes to the U.S. House of Representatives, where its immediate future is uncertain at this writing. The Senates vote to pass PBOR2 comes on the heels of literally years of work by industry organizations, individuals and Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), the bills sponsor, to deregulate, or reform if you prefer, circumstances under which an FAA medical certificate is required for pilots commanding personal aircraft. The PBOR2 legislation builds on more than 10 years of experience with the FAAs sport pilot certification, which merely requires a state-issued drivers license as proof of fitness to fly. The Senate-passed version may actually require pilots to spend more time with their personal physician, reviewing their fitness to fly than before. The sidebar on the opposite page summarizes the bills provisions.

Editorial Staff

Wednesday, January 20, 2016 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The Pilot's Bill of Rights 2 (PBOR2), aimed at reforming FAA airman medical certification for personal aircraft pilots, passed the U.S. Senate unanimously and now faces an uncertain future in the House of Representatives.
The bill does not eliminate medical requirements entirely; it mandates pilots to have a comprehensive medical examination with their personal physician every four years and complete an online airman medical education course every two years.
The exemption applies to flights below 18,000 feet and 250 KIAS, in aircraft carrying up to six occupants, not for compensation or hire, provided the pilot holds a valid state driver's license and has previously held an FAA medical certificate.
Passage in the House is complicated by potential political linkage to the FAA's multiyear reauthorization and a controversial proposal to privatize the U.S. air traffic control system.

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As long-time readers know, we’ve been following developments on industry attempts to deregulate the FAA’s airman medical certification process. Happily, on December 15, 2015, the full U.S. Senate passed its version of the underlying measure, the Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2 (PBOR2), by unanimous voice vote. The bill, S. 571, now goes to the U.S. House of Representatives, where its immediate future is uncertain at this writing.

The Senate’s vote to pass PBOR2 comes on the heels of literally years of work by industry organizations, individuals and Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), the bill’s sponsor, to deregulate, or reform if you prefer, circumstances under which an FAA medical certificate is required for pilots commanding personal aircraft. The PBOR2 legislation builds on more than 10 years of experience with the FAA’s sport pilot certification, which merely requires a state-issued drivers license as proof of fitness to fly. The Senate-passed version may actually require pilots to spend more time with their personal physician, reviewing their fitness to fly than before. The sidebar on the opposite page summarizes the bill’s provisions.