AOPA, EAA Continue Push for Driver’s License Medicals

Stephen Pope

Thursday, March 01, 2012 at 10:09 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The FAA has rejected a proposal to expand the use of driver's license medicals to pilots flying aircraft weighing 6,000 pounds or less, citing safety concerns and the complexity of amending existing standards.
AOPA and EAA, strong proponents of the expansion, are preparing a new, more narrowly defined petition despite the FAA's denial.
Their updated proposal will seek to allow recreational pilots operating small, single-engine aircraft (under 180 horsepower, four seats or fewer, fixed gear, one passenger maximum) under day VFR conditions to use a driver's license, coupled with online self-certification, as a medical.

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The FAA has shot down a proposal that sought to expand driver’s license medicals to all pilots flying aircraft weighing 6,000 pounds or less – but that hasn’t stopped AOPA and EAA from continuing to push for the change.

The agency denied a 2009 petition calling for the switch that received more than 1,000 supportive comments. AOPA was among the strong backers of the rule rewrite, telling the FAA that it supported the “expansion of the eligible population and kinds of operations that can use a driver’s license medical or self-certification as is requested in this petition.” Currently, Sport Pilots can fly with a driver’s license in lieu of a medical certificate.