G.A Medical Reform

The bill proposes that GA pilots who possess or have possessed a medical certificate within the last 10 years doesn't have to renew it upon expiration, but simply visit their personal physician every 4 years while making note of it in their logbooks. According to AOPA "Pilots flying under the new rules will be allowed to operate aircraft that weight up to 6,000 pounds and have up to five passenger seats plus the pilot in command, at altitude below 18,000 feet, and speeds up to 250 knots" (Tennyson 2015).


Finding information regarding the third class medical reform status was difficult because the articles out there are several months old. According to AOPA the pilot's bill of rights 2 is currently a proposal and they are looking for more senators to support it, "Inhofe said that the senate bill is till shy of the magic number of 60 co-sponsors needed to bring legislation to a vote and action from AOPA members could swing the numbers enough to keep the bill on the table" (Tulis 2015).

One aspect of the medical reform that would benefit the aviation community is that it will allow pilots that have lost their medical certificate to legally fly again, which means an increase in demand for small airplanes and that means more business for flight schools and other FBOs. On the other hand allowing pilots who are currently seen as unfit to fly is not a great idea, especially during the summer when the volume of air traffic increases drastically. The more pilots flying the higher the chances of an accident occurring especially if they are limited physically in any way. 


I don't think that a reform is necessary, especial when you consider the fact that a first class medical doesn't expire for 60 calendar months if the holder is under forty years old, even If the holder is over forty then he has 24 calendar month until it expires, which is still a lot of time honestly. A few articles that I read kept mentioning that if the bill is passed it would save GA pilots and the aviation industry millions of dollars. Which is maybe true but as a pilot the last expense i worry about is the renewal of my medical certificate, flying is a very expensive hobby and if people can't afford to keep a current medical then they shouldn't be flying at all. 

Tennyson, E. (2015, November 18). Closer than ever. Retrieved November 30, 2015, from http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2015/November/18/Closer-than-ever

Tulis, D. (2015, July 24). Urgent action needed to support medical reform; ALPA actively opposed. Retrieved November 30, 2015, from http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2015/July/24/Urgent-action-needed-on-medical-reform-legislation