Comment period on medical exemption for ALL pilots

[jrenwick]

please post link to comment site re 3rd class medical


Joel
N3437D

Here it is: http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComm ... -0350-0001

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

Posting just to bump this thread. The comment period ends July 2nd. That is tomorrow night. If you have not left your comment it is time to do it.

Thanks.

[Green Bean]

Comment period extended to Sept 14, 2012:

More than 14,000 pilots told the FAA their views on a request that would ease the burden of the third class medical. Now, those who missed the July 2 deadline will have a fresh chance to voice their support.

The first comment period ended July 2 for a request by AOPA and the Experimental Aircraft Association to allow pilots to fly many common aircraft by completing a medical awareness online course, carrying a driver's license in lieu of a medical certificate, and observing certain limitations. The FAA granted, at the request of both organizations, a new comment period that will give pilots until Sept. 14 to comment on the request.

AOPA and EAA had requested a 70-day extension to give more pilots a chance to weigh in on how the request would help keep pilots flying and contribute to the health of general aviation. AOPA and EAA estimate that the petition for an exemption from the third class medical would likely affect more than 39,000 pilots annually and between 86,664 and 114,333 single-engine piston airplanes.

The requested exemption would allow many pilots to fly fixed-gear aircraft of 180 horsepower or less, with four seats or fewer and up to one passenger, without a medical certificate; they would be limited to day-VFR recreational operations, would be required to complete a free online course about medical conditions and assessing their fitness for flight, something every pilot must do prior to flight, and would carry their driver’s license in place of a third class medical.

[jrenwick]

I sent in a comment a couple of weeks ago, but I'm going to do it again. That's because I didn't understand fully what AOPA and EAA are asking us to do. This is from the AOPA web site at http://www.aopa.org/advocacy/articles/2 ... ition.html

Comments in support of the request should describe how pilots evaluate their fitness for flight between medical exams, and how an educational online course would enhance their ability to do so; and explain how reducing the burden of a third class medical certificate would help keep more pilots flying. Find more tips for filing comments here: http://www.aopa.org/advocacy/120329tips ... dical.html.

The requirement for training in medical self-certification is a very good idea, IMHO. I've heard light-sport instructors commenting that the job of screening students for medical problems (especially no-no prescription drugs) has fallen to them because there's no AME in the process any more.

[bagarre]

Doesn't the instructor have the job of screening students now?

They may not be checking their blood pressure but they should be sizing the person up for their ability to fly the airplane that day. Passing a medical last year doesn't mean I am fit to fly today.

[marathonrunner]

This is great news that it is extended and if you know of any other user groups or are associated with them, it would behoove you to let them know about this as well. This is long overdue and in the long run is just another way to make general aviation flying a bit more affordable. I mean a free course as opposed to scheduling a medical taking the time to do it and then maybe other tests if something is amiss that particular day outside of their standards.

Mary Decker Slaney was stripped of her silver medal and banned from racing but later reinstated because of a high level of a potential flawed androgen test which they then accuse her of doping. Mnay of our tests are flawed and we have different thngs occur with us day to day which can raise or lower our blood pressures flaw EKG's etc.

Again in the 60's if you had a heart bypass you wer banned form flying. Many pilots who needed the operation did not get it because of losing their medicals. Talk about Catch 22.

Lets make this happen.