AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2015 - 27

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Third class victory
Medical reform legislation introduced in House and Senate
BY ELIZABETH A. TENNYSON

"Third class medical reform is our
top legislative priority and we will
actively work with Congress to build
support for this legislation that is so
vital to the future of general aviation."

A GROUP OF POWERFUL SENATORS AND CONGRESSMEN have introduced new legislation in both houses of Congress that would allow
thousands of pilots to fly without going through the costly and
time-consuming third class medical process. It also would offer
new protections for general aviation pilots.
Under Pilot's Bill of Rights 2 (PBR2), pilots flying recreationally
in a wide range of aircraft would no longer need to obtain a third
class medical certificate. The new bill would allow private pilots to
-AOPA President Mark Baker
make noncommercial VFR and IFR flights in aircraft weighing up
to 6,000 pounds with up to six seats. Pilots also would be allowed
to carry up to five passengers, fly at altitudes below 14,000 feet msl, notice to airman (notam) program by establishing a rating system
and fly no faster than 250 knots. PRB2 also includes a provision to to prioritize notams, including TFRs in the program, and creatensure that pilots can fly under the new rules even if the FAA fails ing a repository to maintain the information in a way that makes
to comply with the bill's provisions 180 days after enactment.
it accessible to the public. That system would be considered the
"The introduction of the Pilot's Bill of Rights 2 is great news for sole source location for pilots to check for notams. The legislation
the GA community and we are grateful to Sens. Inhofe and Manchin, also would protect pilots from enforcement action if a notam is
and Reps. Graves and Lipinski, and all their bipartisan colleagues not included in the repository and prohibit enforcement of notam
for putting forward this legislation that would do so much to help violations if the FAA hasn't finished the system within six months
grow and support GA activity," said AOPA President Mark Baker. of PBR2 being enacted, while providing an exception for national
"Pilots have already waited too long for medical reform, so we're security. PBR2 would ensure that data collected by contract towparticularly pleased to see it included in this important measure."
ers and other outsourced FAA programs is subject to the same
In addition to third class medical reform, PBR2-which was Freedom of Information Act requirements as data from the FAA
introduced in both the House (H.R.1062) and the Senate (S.571) itself. The exception would be aviation safety action reports, which
late in February-would protect GA pilots from liability on chari- are designed to prevent accidents by encouraging voluntary reporttable flights, extend legal protections to FAA representatives, and ing of safety concerns by employees of FAA contractors.
The measure also includes liability protections for representarequire FAA contractors to provide information under Freedom of
Information Act requests.
tives of the FAA working on behalf of the agency, such as aviation
"The Pilot's Bill of Rights being signed into law in 2012 was a medical examiners, as well as nonprofit volunteer pilot organizamajor victory for the aviation community, but I promised we would tions and volunteer pilots who fly for public benefit. The bill would
not stop there," said Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Oklahoma). "I am keep- also protect pilot certificates by preventing the FAA from requiring
ing that promise by introducing the Pilot's Bill of Rights 2, which a reexamination of a covered certificate holder without clear eviexpands upon necessary reforms and continues to cut red tape dence of wrongdoing or unsafe behavior.
hampering the GA community. The legislation expands the FAA's
AOPA and other GA organizations wrote letters of support
existing third class medical exemption for Light Sport aircraft to for PBR2 to the lawmakers who introduced the legislation in the
cover most recreational airmen. This will protect the rights of thou- Senate and the House. The letters emphasized the importance
of the legislation to the GA industry and
sands of qualified airmen who would
otherwise be grounded due to excesthanked the legislators for leading the way
CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES
sive medical regulation technicalities."
on important reforms.
In addition to AOPA's Baker, the letters
The language in PBR2 regarding
IS YOUR Congressional representative
third class medical reform is identical
were signed by the leaders of EAA, Flying
a sponsor or supporter of the Pilot's
Bill of Rights 2? To find out, visit the
to that in a new General Aviation Pilot
Physicians Association, GAMA, Helicopter
website (www.aopa.org/PBR2). Your
Protection Act (GAPPA) bill also introAssociation International, National
association encourages you to reach
duced in February in the House (H.R.
Agricultural Aviation Association, National
out to your elected represenatives and
1086) and Senate (S.573).
Air Transportation Association, and NBAA.
encourage them to read and support
In addition to medical reform, PBR2
PBR2.
includes provisions to improve the
EMAIL elizabeth.tennyson@aopa.org

www.aopa.org/pilot AOPA PILOT | 27
http://www.aopa.org/PBR2 http://www.aopa.org/pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2015

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