Third Class Reform

Third class medical reform has been on the agenda for quite a while. There has been numerous attempts to reform the issue, however now one attempt is finally gaining traction, sort of. On this attempt according to Elizabeth Tennyson of AOPA says, “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 past 10 years from the date the legislation is enacted will never again need to visit an aviation medical examiner. If you’ve never held a third class medical certificate, you will need to get an FAA medical certificate from an ame one time only (Tennyson, 2015).” From my understanding they are essentially trying to make it easier for private pilots to have their medical done, and then let it not expire. Other things in the article that Tennyson listed was, that you have to visit your personal physician at least 1 time every four years, and discuss certain things that would be provided by the FAA.  A pilot would also have to take online training every two years in order to keep their certificate (Tennyson, 2015). This seems like a very good deal, seeming pilots who hold third class medicals are not for the airline pilots, these are usually for the pilots who like to fly for fun.

The current attempt of reform is in the process of becoming a bill. It was first introduced by Senator from Oklahoma James Inhofe on February 25, 2015. The bill became known as S.571: Pilot’s bill of rights 2.  On December 9, 2015 the bill was reported out by a special committee, and it should be looked at further by both chambers of congress. On December 15, 2015 the bill was passed by the Senate and is now on to the House of Representatives, before finally reaching the President to be signed into law (Pilots Bill of Rights). Therefore for the first time the reform for third class medicals is the closest it has been to be approved. The bill is now just waiting to be voted in the House, and should be up to vote soon. Getting the bill to this point shows that the bill does have great support by the members of congress, because I can just imagine how many bills they turn down every day, if they even make it them to vote.

When it comes to third class medical reform there are lots of different opinions out there, but the consensus looks to be for supporting the measure.  Something I do question against is not having to be ever be tested by an ame again. I think that is very interesting part of the bill, I think that any pilot should really be tested by a professional in the field or who understands what it means to have the medical license. When you are visiting just a family doctor how clued in are they, about what the health state of a pilot should be. However on the other side a point to make for the reform is that you still have to visit doctor once every four years, which most people do anyways. So if they come up with form that is detailed enough that a normal family doctor can understand and diagnosis properly I think that it would be a good point. Therefore so really these pilots are still visiting a medical professional just not as often as it is now. So if something was truly wrong with the pilots it wouldn’t go unnoticed and that’s what is the most important.

I am overall unbiased with aspect with of third class medicals. However I think that the medical form is mostly necessary because it seems like it would make life so much easier for the small fraction of pilots that hold type of medical license. Generally the private pilots that hold these licensees are not doing crazy flying, and are most doing it for their own pleasure. The medical reform would make it easier on these pilots to have not visit an ame every again, after the initial visit. Therefore I do not really see any harm in allowing these pilots to stop following the current practices. Overall the new reform would simply require less visits to the doctor and allow these pilots to operate aircraft as long as the aircraft falls between the qualifications.

References

Pilot's Bill of Rights 2 (S. 571). (2015). Retrieved from, https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/s571

Tennyson, E. (2015, December 9). Third class medical reform FAQs. Retrieved form, http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2015/December/09/Third-class-medical-FAQs