If Hearing That The Senate Is Voting On Medical Reform Sounds Like Déjà Vu...It Is!

Those pilots who meet their medical certification requirement by holding a third class medical certificate have been hoping for some sort of reform that recognizes the kind of flying they do does not require the repetitive hassle of obtaining a third class medical. We’ve heard a lot about third class medical reform being part of legislative action in progress, yet now we're told it has started again.

The medical reform that we are referring to has actually been presented to Congress in two forms. The first time it hit the Senate floor it was legislation that stood on its own and did not include any other issues; this passed the Senate and is still in the House. The form that we have heard the most about is that which is included in legislation commonly referred to as the Pilots Bill of Rights-2 (PBOR2).

PBOR2 is frequently confused with the standalone medical reform bill, but it is actually a bill that addresses several important issues, of which one of those is third class medical reform. In April, PBOR2 passed through the Senate as an attachment to the FAA Reauthorization Bill. After all, it was thought, FAA reauthorization is critically important and should sail right through the House approval process and then head to the White House.

Well, it didn’t work out that way as the FAA Reauthorization Bill seems to have stalled out in the House over the issue of ATC privatization. To counter this delay in the house, the Senate has now attached PBOR2 to the National Defense Authorization Act. The concept here is that there may be a better chance for PBOR2 to go through on the back of the Defense Act.

An article on AOPA’s website quoted Jim Coon, AOPA senior vice president of government affairs as saying, “We believe medical reform is a vital step toward growing the general aviation community and revitalizing this uniquely American industry. We are committed to doing everything we can to see these reforms signed into law.” Coon added, “We know how important medical reform is to our members, and while there have been roadblocks and holdups, we’re determined to keep pushing until we get it done,”

FMI: www.aopa.org