Pilots Bill of Rights

[Jetwrench]

So let me get this straight... My medical is dated in August...

If this goes through Congress and El Presidente signs off, I will not have to go for a class 3 medical ever again???

As long as you do not fall into a small group of problems needing an SI (mental illness, heart problems, etc), then you are correct.

 

[fiveoboy01]

Where does SI fit into all of this?

And are ALL SI conditions an exception, or only certain ones?

 

[Jetwrench]

The way I read the bill, if you have an existing SI, you will never need a medical again.

There are a list of items in the bill such as heart problems, neurological issues, mental health issues that would require a one time SI after they are discovered.

See subsection (e) in the link below. Correct me if I am wrong.

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/s571/text

 

[dans2992]

If you are denied a class 1 or class 2, does that make you then in-eligible to exercise PPL ops until you pass a class 3.

 

[dans2992]

If you are denied a class 1 or class 2, does that make you then in-eligible to exercise PPL ops until you pass a class 3.

Never mind, appears the answer is "yes" similar to the sport pilot catch 22.

 

[dans2992]

So, if this passed by "unanimous voice consent", this seems to indicate to me that AOPA and others did not push hard enough to get more. If they had, there would at least have been some dissenters...?

 

[bnt83]

I grew up with chronic low platelet disorder called ITP, that can lead to severe bleeding.

6 years ago I almost died from pneumonia (unrelated to the ITP) and the ITP has been gone since. My blood has never been normal until that catastrophic event. I'm now 32 and still stuck under a 2-year SI just for a history of low platelets...

 

[acrophile]

So, if this passed by "unanimous voice consent", this seems to indicate to me that AOPA and others did not push hard enough to get more. If they had, there would at least have been some dissenters...?

With what leverage could AOPA have pushed harder? Hardly anyone is a pilot.

 

[Jay Honeck]

Just reupped my (pointless, costly, silly) 3rd class medical yesterday -- good for another two years. (And I'm still not color blind, even though they said I was in 2011....)

Anyone taking bets or setting odds on whether I will need another medical in 2017? lol

 

[LuisO]

Prevent stalling by the FAA. If it was a common provision, our country would be run much more effectively than it is now.

And yet, our country is the most effectively run country in the world.

I know it's not perfect, but it is THE best.

Trust me, I know. I wasn't born here and have plenty of first hand experience from both first and third world countries.

Sorry for my ranty soapbox JB, nothing personal with you....I just came from an awesome night cross country yesterday, aided by our fine ATC controllers, and kept thinking to myself "Only in this fine country that is now mine also...ONLY here"

 

[JeffDG]

So, if this passed by "unanimous voice consent", this seems to indicate to me that AOPA and others did not push hard enough to get more. If they had, there would at least have been some dissenters...?

You might want to look at Senate procedure and history a bit closer. One dissenting vote can effectively kill a bill. Once one Senator objects, then it needs to work it's way to the top of the Majority Leader's list of priorities for a cloture vote, which would have happened sometime in 20 or so years.

 

[Neil Rubin]

Never mind, appears the answer is "yes" similar to the sport pilot catch 22.

Where do you see that in the bill? As I read it, denial of a medical isn't a problem (as long as you had a medical that was valid sometime since 2005 or 2006--depending on when this is signed by the president). If you have your medical revoked, suspended, or withdrawn, then you are grounded until you get a new medical. But, denial isn't a problem.

 

[wrbix]

So let me get this straight... My medical is dated in August...

If this goes through Congress and El Presidente signs off, I will not have to go for a class 3 medical ever again???

Uh wait a sec, I am under the impression that we must await the FAA rule making process, for which they've been given a year.

 

[mkosmo]

Uh wait a sec, I am under the impression that we must await the FAA rule making process, for which they've been given a year.

As long as your current medical is good for another year or two if you intend to fly for now, or was issued up to 8-9 years ago if not. The clock should start when the president signs the bill.

 

[dans2992]

Where do you see that in the bill? As I read it, denial of a medical isn't a problem (as long as you had a medical that was valid sometime since 2005 or 2006--depending on when this is signed by the president). If you have your medical revoked, suspended, or withdrawn, then you are grounded until you get a new medical. But, denial isn't a problem.

Section 2-a-4 of the link above...

 

[Neil Rubin]

Section 2-a-4 of the link above...

You are absolutely right. It looks like that language got added sometime between the November committee hearing and the December committee hearing. That stinks.

I guess there will be some question about what it means for an application to be "completed and denied." If you hand the form to the AME (or do the electronic equivalent), but stop the exam partway, is the application "completed"? I suspect the answer will be yes.

I think another open question is whether the FAA will interpret this to permit people to (1) act as CFI or (2) apply for a new rating without a current third-class medical. I suspect that the answer is yes, because neither activity is "for compensation or hire," under current FAA interpretations of that phrase, so the bill would seem to require that the FAA permit these activities. But, we shall see.

 

[aanderson81]

Now I am fairly sure I know what the answer is, but I wanted to clarify section e for someone who currently does not have a medical.

I assume that your first medical is subject to the full special issuance process, then following that you are only subject to the defined SI categories here. This does not alter the special issuance process for the first medical of someone seeking a new medical?

 

[LT4247]

Now that congress is done with their spending binge this week, where does the PBR2 stand now? Is it ready to come up after the Christmas break? Can anyone here take an educated guess as to the possibility of it actually passing and when?

 

[beestforwardspeed]

And yet, our country is the most effectively run country in the world.

I know it's not perfect, but it is THE best.

Trust me, I know. I wasn't born here and have plenty of first hand experience from both first and third world countries.

Sorry for my ranty soapbox JB, nothing personal with you....I just came from an awesome night cross country yesterday, aided by our fine ATC controllers, and kept thinking to myself "Only in this fine country that is now mine also...ONLY here"

Which is why it makes my blood boil when so many think that user fees would somehow be a better system