AOPA Petitions FAA to Ease Medical Restrictions

[Jimbob]

AOPA is petitioning the FAA to fix the sport pilot "Catch 22" and to
allow recreational pilots to fly with a "driver's license medical."

"That would mean that even if you've lost your medical, you could
still fly something as large as a Cessna 172 if you're healthy enough
for a driver's license and don't have any medical conditions that
could incapacitate you," said AOPA President Phil Boyer.


Sounds like smart thinking. Thus, it must die horribly in committee.



http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2006/060608sport.html

[Skylune]

From your lips to the committee's ear, hopefully. As the Destroyer (and
his acolytes) well know, there is no medical for driver's licenses, just
an eye test. Its pure self certification. How many people that show up
in the DMV for a license will volunteer that they have a medical
condition, say epilepsy, that prevents them from getting the license for
which they are applying???

In practice, the driver's license will get pulled AFTER you crash due to
an epileptic episode, for example.

If this proposal to change the rules makes it to the Federal Register, I
know many people who will comment, opposing it on the grounds of "public
interest."

[Orval Fairbairn]

In article
utaviation.com>,
"Skylune" > wet the bed, smoked some dope,
howled at the moon and scribbled:

> From your lips to the committee's ear, hopefully. As the Destroyer (and
> his acolytes) well know, there is no medical for driver's licenses, just
> an eye test. Its pure self certification. How many people that show up
> in the DMV for a license will volunteer that they have a medical
> condition, say epilepsy, that prevents them from getting the license for
> which they are applying???
>
> In practice, the driver's license will get pulled AFTER you crash due to
> an epileptic episode, for example.
>
> If this proposal to change the rules makes it to the Federal Register, I
> know many people who will comment, opposing it on the grounds of "public
> interest."

I suggest that "Skyloon" abstain from driving on psychological grounds.

[Gary Drescher]

"Jimbob" > wrote in message
...
> AOPA is petitioning the FAA to fix the sport pilot "Catch 22" and to
> allow recreational pilots to fly with a "driver's license medical."
>
> "That would mean that even if you've lost your medical, you could
> still fly something as large as a Cessna 172 if you're healthy enough
> for a driver's license and don't have any medical conditions that
> could incapacitate you," said AOPA President Phil Boyer.

I wish they'd also petition to have the driver's license medical work for
night and IFR flying too. If a pilot becomes incapacitated, it doesn't make
much difference how visible the ground is.

I also wish AOPA wouldn't misuse "catch 22" as a verbose synonym for
"catch". :)

--Gary

[Montblack]

("De Loon, De Loon wrote)
> If this proposal to change the rules makes it to the Federal Register, I
> know many people who will comment, opposing it on the grounds of "public
> interest."


3rd Class Medicals are not doing the taxpayers any service. As taxpayers,
let's trade them in for a DOT level drug test once per year. Now small
airplane pilots will be on a par with school bus ...pilots.


Montblack

[Jose]

> As taxpayers, let's trade them in for a DOT level drug test once per year.

I don't see why I should have to prove my innocence.

Jose
--
The price of freedom is... well... freedom.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

[Montblack]

("Jose" wrote)
> I don't see why I should have to prove my innocence.


As opposed to proving your fitnessness?


Montblack

[Stubby]

Montblack wrote:
> ("De Loon, De Loon wrote)
>> If this proposal to change the rules makes it to the Federal Register,
>> I know many people who will comment, opposing it on the grounds of
>> "public interest."
>
>
> 3rd Class Medicals are not doing the taxpayers any service. As
> taxpayers, let's trade them in for a DOT level drug test once per year.
> Now small airplane pilots will be on a par with school bus ...pilots.

Does anyone have the numbers on glider and balloon pilots? How many
fatalities have been caused by them having medical issues while flying?
Then compare that with airplane and helo pilots.

About 10 years ago I seem to remember someone saying that the glider
pilots were safer than airplane pilots even though the former is
self-certifying in the medical area.

[Jimbob]

Baby Steps.


On Fri, 9 Jun 2006 18:42:03 -0400, "Gary Drescher"
> wrote:

>"Jimbob" > wrote in message
...
>> AOPA is petitioning the FAA to fix the sport pilot "Catch 22" and to
>> allow recreational pilots to fly with a "driver's license medical."
>>
>> "That would mean that even if you've lost your medical, you could
>> still fly something as large as a Cessna 172 if you're healthy enough
>> for a driver's license and don't have any medical conditions that
>> could incapacitate you," said AOPA President Phil Boyer.
>
>I wish they'd also petition to have the driver's license medical work for
>night and IFR flying too. If a pilot becomes incapacitated, it doesn't make
>much difference how visible the ground is.
>
>I also wish AOPA wouldn't misuse "catch 22" as a verbose synonym for
>"catch". :)
>
>--Gary
>

[Jose]

>> I don't see why I should have to prove my innocence.
>
> As opposed to proving your fitnessness?

"fitnessness"?

I don't see why I should have to prove my fitness either. I've already
proven my fitness by passing a flight review. I will be proving my
fitness again by passing another flight review. I participate in Wings,
which while it doesn't =prove= my fitness, it tends to make me more fit.

Papers please.

Jose
--
The price of freedom is... well... freedom.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.