It Literally Takes An Act Of Congress To Make FAA Do Something Beneficial For General Aviation

Commentary By Gene Yarbrough: Resident ANN Political Analyst/Conspiracy Theorist

Bless their hearts, they’ve finally done it! After many years, even decades, those enduring politicians along with the alphabet aviation groups and throngs of public protesters have finally accomplished what seemed a herculean task, they rammed REAL MEANINGFUL THIRD CLASS MEDICAL REFORM LEGISLATION through congress, and it was signed into law by President Obama (I wonder if he fully understood what he was signing given his demonstrated loathing of GA). What a fight they put up, what stamina they displayed, many kudos and “at-a-boys” should be heaped upon our warriors in congress. This law, known by many as the “Pilot Bill of Rights II” (PBORII) was incorporated and enacted as part of the FAA Reauthorization bill signed into law by President Obama on June 15th 2016.

Although not everything we hoped for, eliminating the third class medical and substituting a state issued driver’s license and adding pertinent aero-medical education, it is a legitimate, respectful, and workable compromise that will give many tens of thousands of persons, if not everyone, the ability to fly again. And although the law does not completely eliminate the third class medical it shifts the decision as to whether one is fit to fly from the lab coats at FAA Oklahoma City to YOUR PERSONAL DOCTOR, the one who is in the best position to determine your health, your ability to operate a motor vehicle including an airplane, and your risk of sudden or subtle incapacitation pursuing such activities. Furthermore, the ACT only requires a ONE-TIME issuance of a third class medical within the last ten years, even for nearly all special issuance conditions. Therefore, for the vast majority of persons, even those that have lost their medical for whatever reason, or allowed it to lapse, a one-time visit to an AME along with any medical testing necessary to vet your health status gets you into the air again. After that your personal physician can sign you off every 4 years, and you have to pass the medical knowledge exam every 2 years, and you are good to go. Additionally, persons holding a third class medical, or better, within the last 10 years will only need their personal doctors sign off and the medical knowledge exam, except for certain special issuance conditions, to resume flying.

THIS IS A HUGE SHIFT FROM THE CURRENTLY ASININE CERTIFICATION PROCEDURES. This law substantially removes the repeated and often prohibitively expensive cost of keeping and maintaining a third class medical certificate. One-time medical testing is still potentially very costly, but if it is only required one time then perhaps it makes sense to incur the expense if one can be reassured that no further repeated testing is required. This relief alone is sure to put many thousands of pilots back in the air, and entice many thousands more into entering the world of personal aviation, just what this dead industry needs!

A bumper sticker once said:
 “If you don’t like the problems we make, wait till you see the solutions.  – US Government”

FAA reaction to congressional mandate must be watched closely. FAA has historically thrown a wrench into every machination intended to benefit general aviation, and we should expect no less now. Will Huerta’s FAA simply “Go into that good night” and do as commanded, or will they obfuscate the law, drag their feet, stonewall, or outright fail to do as directed? Only time will tell, but we the people must be ever vigilant, willing and ready to call upon our representatives and industry groups to enforce the new law of the land. Perhaps the “New Sheriff” coming to town in November will “encourage” FAA to toe the line.

Viva Vox Populi

FMI: www.faa.gov