www.PSFmagazine.com | July-August 2016 | 7 6 | July-August 2016 | Powered Sport Flying Press Pass President Signs FAA Funding Bill That Includes Aeromedical Reform Language The Experimental Aircraft Association was happy to announce that a huge number of eaa members and other aviators will now be free from many of the expenses and hassles of the current faa medical certification system under legislation signed by the president on July 15th that reforms that system. The provision was included in an faa funding extension that replaces a short-term funding measure that expired the same day. “It ’s important to celebrate this moment, which has been a long time coming and resulted from an incredible amount of work over the past five years,” said Jack J. Pelton, eaa ceo/ Chairman. “eaa was a leader in getting this done because it was the right thing to do for members, working in cooperation with fellow aviation organizations, congressional leaders, and others to persistently pursue this path against many challenges. This win is for everyone who loves recreational flight.” The aeromedical reform was indicated as a top advocacy priority for eaa members for a number of years, and led to eaa and aopa initially petitioning the faa for changes in the third-class medical certification process. The goal was to reduce the unnecessary regulatory and expense barriers that pushed aviators out of recreational flying and kept potential pilots from engaging in aviation. This new law, which will fully take effect within the next 12 months, surpasses the initial petition request by including more pilots and aircraft. Who will benefit from this reform? Anyone who flies with a third-class medical certificate can benefit from this reform. In fact, almost anyone who has held a regular or special issuance third-class medical certificate within the 10 years preceding the date the legislation is enacted will never again need to visit an aviation medical examiner (ame). If you’ve never held a third-class medical certificate, you will need to get a medical certificate one-time only. If your regular or special issuance medical certificate lapsed more than 10 years before the legislation is enacted, you will need to get a medical certificate one time only. And if you develop certain cardiac, neurological, or psychological conditions, you will need a one-time only special issuance medical. What’s in the bill? You will need to visit your personal physician at least once every four years and provide an faa-developed checklist of issues to be discussed during the visit. Both you and your physician will need to sign the checklist saying that you discussed the items on it. You will then need to make a note of the visit and include the checklist in your logbook. You do not need to report the outcome of the visit or file any paperwork with the faa unless you are specifically requested to do so. You also will need to take online training in aeromedical factors every two years. The training will be offered free of charge. Pilots flying under the new rules will be allowed to operate aircraft that weigh up to 6,000 pounds, carry up to five passengers plus the pilot in command, fly at altitudes below 18,000 feet, and at speeds of up to 250 knots. Pilots, if appropriately rated, can fly vfr or ifr in qualified aircraft. When will these new rules go into effect? Now that the legislation has been signed into law, the faa will begin a rulemaking process to make the regulatory changes required by the legislation. To ensure that pilots don’t have to wait indefinitely, there is a provision in the legislation that says if the faa has not produced a final rule by July 2017 pilots can operate within the parameters of the legislation without fear of enforcement action. To ensure that pilots don’t have to wait indefinitely, there is a provision in the legislation that says if the faa has not produced a final rule within one year of the legislation becoming law pilots can operate within the parameters of the legislation without fear of enforcement action. In other words, once the legislation has been enacted, pilots will be able to fly under its provisions within one year. Less if the rulemaking is completed more quickly. Do I have to go to an ame for the general medical exam required every four years? How does the faa know that I complied with that rule? No, you can go to any primary care physician for your exam and you do not need to visit an ame. To demonstrate compliance, just enter the visit in your logbook. There’s nothing to report to the faa unless specifically requested.
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