AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 12

AOPA ACTION
TOP STOR IES /
BasicMed limitation lifted
AOPA supported final rule extending eligibility to act as required crewmember
P I L OTS F LY ING UNDER BasicMed may
take on safety pilot duties as a required
crewmember thanks to the FAA's adoption
of a change supported by AOPA
The change is among the amendments
to a final rule that brings significant
change to the relatively small commercial
balloon industry, establishing a medical
certification requirement for the first time.
The BasicMed provisions enable about
50,000 pilots to fly as a safety pilot without
also acting as pilot in command for the
flight, as well as enabling pilots to act as
pilot in command during a special medical
flight test authorized under FAR Part
67 without holding a medical certificate.
Most of the rule's 71 pages detail
the requirement for balloon pilots to
hold a second class medical certificate
when conducting commercial operations.
The FAA estimates that just less
than 9 percent of the 4,869 certificated
commercial balloon pilots have already
been required to obtain a second class
medical by their insurance carriers,
requirements implemented following
a fatal accident that prompted the creation
of the final rule.
When the FAA issued its notice of
proposed rulemaking on the matter in
2021, AOPA focused its comments on the
" miscellaneous amendments " that affect
about 50,000 pilots who fly powered
aircraft under BasicMed, the alternative
medical process enabled by a law
in 2016.
House votes to strike
LODA requirement
A NAT IONAL DEFENSE authorization bill passed by
the U.S. House of Representatives includes language
reflecting the advocacy work of AOPA that will eliminate
an FAA policy change made in July 2021 that
requires pilots-and their flight instructors-to obtain
a letter of deviation authority (LODA) to give or
receive flight training in experimental aircraft.
AOPA and other aviation associations argued
that the 2021 policy was a paperwork exercise that
did nothing to enhance safety-and in fact achieved
quite the opposite. Former FAA Administrator Steve
Dickson called the LODA a " four-letter word. "
AOPA championed an effort to reverse the FAA
directive. With the strong support from Reps. Sam
Graves (R-Missouri), Rick Larsen (D-Washington),
and Kai Kahele (D-Hawaii) and Sens. Jim Inhofe
(R-Oklahoma) and Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), a
provision to eliminate the LODA requirement was
included in the final defense authorization bill.
aopa.org/pilot/loda
12
AOPA PILOT / February 2023
More than 75,000 pilots have completed
the requirements of the BasicMed
program since its inception, and an
estimated 50,000 pilots are currently exercising
these privileges.
" AOPA appreciates the FAA's amendment
to allow persons who operate under
BasicMed to serve as a required pilot flightcrewmember
when not acting as PIC, " said
AOPA Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs
Christopher Cooper.
" This change will allow for increased
access and opportunities for training, proficiency,
and experience for the entire pilot
community, " Cooper said. " We also appreciate
the FAA's continued support for and
expansion of BasicMed. "
aopa.org/pilot/basicmedchanges
FAA extends registration period
A IRCRAFT OWNERS WIL L have more time to renew their aircraft registration
now that the FAA has issued a new rule to extend the duration of certificates
from three to seven years. Advocates have been urging the FAA to address the
extension for the past four years, as many aircraft owners have experienced
long and frustrating delays due to agency backlog, which currently stands at
more than 180 days.
According to the FAA, delays are often due to owners failing to update
their addresses with the FAA-something that will need to be continually
addressed once the new rule is in effect.
" This action will help alleviate the enormous backlog and streamline the
process for all aircraft owners and pilots, " said AOPA President Mark Baker.
" Rep. Sam Graves spearheaded this effort, and we are obviously pleased that
it is finally done. Sam is a GA pilot and understands the frustrations as a result
of the delays with the FAA's registry. "
Prior to 2010, aircraft registrations did not expire as long as the aircraft
remained in service, but that regulation led to many inaccurate and ghost registrations.
The three-year limit for re-registration was enacted in 2010, though
AOPA and other groups argued it was too onerous for private operators.
The registration extension takes effect January 23 following a 30-day
comment period, and will apply to all aircraft currently registered under
existing FAA regulations.
aopa.org/pilot/aircraftregistration
http://www.aopa.org/pilot/basicmedchanges http://www.aopa.org/pilot/loda http://www.aopa.org/pilot/aircraftregistration
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023
