AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 30

PILOT BRIEFING
NEW BILL WOULD EXPAND
DRIVER'S LICENSE MEDICAL

TEST PILOT

| BY BARRY SCHIFF

1. Cessna Aircraft has used the prefix Sky in naming eight
models of its aircraft. Can you name them?
2. During a hard landing, the wings of an airplane tend to
flex downward. At such a time, a G-meter in the airplane
indicates
a. more than +1 G.
b. between 0 and +1 G.
c. between 0 and -1 G.
d. more than -1 G.
3. What is the difference between a hazard and a risk?
4. An airplane with a groundspeed of 238 knots passes
over Point A at 1315 UTC while en route to Point B, which
is 800 nm distant. At the same time, an aircraft with a
groundspeed of 162 knots passes over Point B en route to
Point A. At what time will the aircraft pass one another?
(Solving this problem does not require a computer.)
5. What is the only airplane in which additional cruise
speed results in decreased fuel consumption?
6. What is the difference between a cowling and a nacelle?
7. From reader Jerry Griggs: Which of the following
require(s) a pilot to immediately report such events to the
FAA by the most expeditious means available?
a. flight-control system malfunction or failure
b. in-flight fire
c. aircraft collision in flight
d. total engine failure
e. None of the above
8. True or false? A batted baseball travels farther in humid
air than in dry air.

30 | AOPA PILOT February 2014

The General Aviation Pilot Protection
Act would allow pilots to use the
driver's license medical standard for
many noncommercial VFR flights.
The General Aviation Pilot Protection Act would allow
pilots to use the driver's license medical standard for noncommercial VFR flights in aircraft weighing up to 6,000
pounds with no more than six seats. That includes virtually
all single-engine airplanes with six or fewer seats, including Beech Bonanzas, as well as many light twins. By way
of comparison, most large SUVs on the roads today weigh
more than 6,000 pounds and can carry six to seven passengers, making them larger than the aircraft that could
be operated under this new bill. Pilots would be allowed to
carry up to five passengers, fly at altitudes below 14,000 feet
msl, and fly no faster than 250 knots. The act also would
require the FAA to report on the safety consequences of the
new rule after five years.
The legislative action comes after the FAA repeatedly
declined to rule on a March 2012 petition filed by AOPA
and EAA. That petition asked the FAA to expand the driver's license medical standard already used by sport pilots.
Under the petition, pilots would be able to operate noncommercial VFR flights in single-engine aircraft with 180
horsepower or less, four or fewer seats, fixed gear, and a
maximum of one passenger. To participate, pilots would
need a valid driver's license and would be required to take
recurrent safety training to help them accurately assess
their fitness to fly.

ILLUSTRATION: RICARDO GALVAO

ANSWERS on page 40

AFTER NEARLY TWO YEARS of FAA inaction on the AOPA/
EAA third class medical petition, Congress has taken matters into its own hands, offering up legislation that would
expand the number of pilots who could fly without going
through the expensive and time-consuming third class
medical certification process. Reps. Todd Rokita (R-Ind.),
a member of the House General Aviation Caucus, and
GA Caucus Co-Chair Sam Graves (R-Mo.) introduced
the General Aviation Pilot Protection Act. The legislation
would dramatically expand the parameters for flying under
the driver's license medical standard.
"We have waited far too long for the FAA to expand the
third class medical exemption to more pilots and more aircraft," said AOPA President Mark Baker. "Congressmen
Rokita and Graves stepped forward to take decisive action
in the best interests of general aviation when the FAA
refused to act."

AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014