If youve been paying attention to the GA industrys efforts to deregulate the FAA medical certificate, you may know theyre proceeding along multiple paths. Progress is being made, but its slow and often not easily identified. Such is the nature of political thrust and drag.As you may recall, eliminating the need for an FAA medical certificate has been proposed for non-commercial operations of airplanes weighing 6000 pounds or less. Its based in part on the success of the sport pilot certificate and the 10-plus years of experience weve had with pilots using a state-issued drivers license to demonstrate their medical fitness.
The general aviation (GA) industry is pursuing multiple, slow-moving paths to deregulate FAA medical certificates, aiming for non-commercial pilots of aircraft under 6000 pounds to use a state driver's license for medical fitness.
Progress is stalled at the FAA, which acknowledges slow movement on a petition for rulemaking, while legislative efforts like Senator Inhofe's Pilot's Bill of Rights II in the Senate have failed to pass due to being attached to larger, controversial bills.
Little progress is being made in the House, which is focused on controversial ATC privatization, prompting the article to urge GA advocates to contact their elected officials during the August recess to push for medical certificate deregulation.
If you’ve been paying attention to the GA industry’s efforts to deregulate the FAA medical certificate, you may know they’re proceeding along multiple paths. Progress is being made, but it’s slow and often not easily identified. Such is the nature of political thrust and drag.
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