Hello Friends,

It is time to get the FAA out of the non-commercial flying medicals!! The EAA and AOPA has petitioned the FAA several times, over 10 years, with NO SUCCESS. Now Congress has initiated Two Bills, one in each chamber to require the FAA to change the Third Class Medical to a drivers license- self certify program like Glider, Ultra Light and now for 10 years Light Sport Pilots, NO Medical Required program. All of these programs have operated successfully for decades now with NO THREAT to PUBLIC or AVIATION SAFETY!!

These bills would only require a Third Class Medical for IFR flight, flying aircraft over 6 people, over 6000 pounds and over 14,000 feet. Note, I seriously question the IFR issue, but let's not complicate the process now.

The FAA has refused to ACT...typical for their behavior in all regulated activities. GA is failing right now....we need to reinvigorate General Aviation and get people back flying....and it will boost our economy with jobs and taxes....very quickly.

Please join me in writing to your Congressman and Senators...you may modify my letter and fire it out.....Congress needs a push to get this moving, both bills are in Committee and could simply die there unless we push them. I have worded my letter to be a real cherry for everyone at election time....it is time to strike...NOW while they need votes.

I sent my letters out yesterday to arrive while Congress is in Session. I bought special ivory cotton bond paper with matching envelops and I have sent it to my Congressman and two Senators, copied ALL 9 Other WA State, Congresspersons and John Boehner, Speaker and Harry Reid Senate majority leader (??) asking them all to drive the bill....and improve safety and stimulate General Aviation and get votes for themselves by endearing pilots....HA carrots might work, EH?? Along with heavy sponsors- AOPA Pres. Mark Baker and EAA Chairman Jack Pelton (former Cessna CEO).

Please WRITE YOUR LETTERS TODAY, and pass this on to all of your Flying friends and put the pressure on the FAA to make Private Flying fun,safe and more affordable & less hassle!!

Cheers,
470 EDDY

Here is my letter-
ADDRESS
Telephone Number
e-Mail address
Re: HB 3708/SB2103 General Aviation Pilot Protection Act
Date-
Dear Congressman Derek Kilmer, Senator Patty Murray, Senator Maria Cantwell,
First I would like to congratulate Derek Kilmer on your election to the US House of Representatives. I look forward to your strong commitment to us in Washington State after long representation at State level. I have great expectations.
I would like to draw your attention to the General Aviation Pilot Protection Act recently introduced to both the House and Senate in direct response to the FAA’s failure to respond to requests to make appropriate changes and upgrades to the FAR’s over Third Class Medical Certifications after repeated requests by AOPA and EAA over many years via appropriate channels.
It is proven after many, many decades that Glider Pilots and Ultralight Pilots have flown WITHOUT MEDICAL CERTIFICATION/LICENSING, and now we have 10 years of history of Light Sport Pilots flying without Medical Certification with no major issues or public safety issues. The present Third Class Medical Certificate requirements are onerous, threatening and expensive and do NOT provide a demonstrated benefit to aviation or public safety. It is onerous and threatening in that within the application forms you are threatened with $10,000 fines and imprisonment for errors , omissions or misrepresentations regarding health or history. Applicants are THREATENED to be denied Light Sport Pilot privileges if their medical certificate is denied under the provision of drivers licensing medical certification. At best, the FAA Medical Certification program can only be called invasive and bureaucratic, and further Physicians CANNOT evaluate patients/applicants without hands on evaluations which becomes the norm if Oklahoma City gets involved with any Medical Issue. FAA Docs often require extensive and expensive testing of applicants and then take months if not years to evaluate and make decisions or denials! This is inappropriate and ineffective for non-commercial pilot privileges. NO PROVEN BENEFITS. Let’s drop it.
Both of these bills are in Committee. I would like to ask each of you to join the sponsorship of each bill, and to rise to this occasion to do something very productive and effective for pilot constituents in our Country to stimulate our economy and reinvigorate aviation which is in serious jeopardy. What could be better than stimulating young people through parent and grand parent participation in this great sport, great transportation opportunity and outstanding professional career opportunity? We are also facing a commercial pilot shortage in this country, what better way to stimulate this profession than through active adults?
The way the FAA administers Medical Certificates, I submit, may cause pilots to avoid proper medical advice and care. It is so onerous that one tends to “avoid” rather than address medical issues for fear of losing their pilot privileges. Everyone has “fear of the Doc” and white coat high blood pressure for instance. Other maladies like a bout with kidney stones, Type II diabetes, etc. can be disqualifying. The fact is if you avoid, rather than properly treat, one might avoid reporting on the application…”if you don’t know, you can’t report” or alternatively get care, report and wind up with a mountain of ineffective and expensive medical testing and witch hunting without productive outcome….and a denial. This behavior might cause medical deficiencies…driven by the Certification Process!! I even know of a fellow pilot whose application process got “tainted” with the word Depression. He has NEVER been seen for, diagnosed, treated or taken Meds for this, yet his Third Class Medical is presently DENIED …for NO REASON OR DIAGNOSIS- yes by FAA Oklahoma City!! His local Doc says NO PROBLEM!! This has been going on for many months and getting close to a YEAR NOW!!
I have not held a Medical certificate for about 15 years now, Expired. Simply too busy to fly for sport and personal transport during my professional career, that said I hold a Commercial Pilot certificate with Instrument and float ratings, and Airline Flight Dispatcher certificate. Yes, I can fly LSA aircraft which is fun, however, I would like to fly larger and more challenging aircraft and add some ratings for fun and challenge…..even if I won’t use them!! I believe that I am in far better medical condition than I have ever been and fully under a great physicians care and medically healthy and stable in all aspects….because I HAVE NOT HAD THE FEAR OF FAA INTRUSION INTO MY MEDICAL STATUS!! That is where medical decisions should be maintained. I believe I could get a Third Class Medical Certificate, but I simply don’t want the FAA involved in my personal Medical status, without some positive outcome. I do NOT believe there would be any benefit, only possible significant hassle that I don’t wish to even start. It is time to take the FAA out of the non-commercial medical business. Let’s keep pilots HEALTHIER by keeping pilots medical issues within the Physician’s office. We will have safer skies without the fear of the FAA!! It will CUT FAA costs.
Mark Baker, new President of Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, states there are 300,000 Private Pilots requiring Third Class Medical Certificates. 100,000 could be freed from this licensing with the passage of one of these bills, i.e. those that are NOT flying planes over 6 passengers, over 6000 lbs., over 14,000feet, or in Instrument conditions. What he isn’t saying, there are 1,500,000 licensed pilots sitting on the sidelines without Medical Certificates that could be brought back into aviation with lifting of the Third Class Medical certification requirements…and I BELIEVE SAFELY! There is NO EVIDENCE to the CONTRARY. Can you imagine the stimulation to our sagging economy by bringing even half of these pilots back into the skies?? INCREDIBLE!! Jobs as instructors, mechanics, FBO personnel, BUILDING MORE AIRPLANES and equipment, etc. to support these people flying again!! WE NEED THIS NOW!
The present Congress has been tagged as the most ineffective and unmotivated bodies in our history with very poor constituent ratings. It is coming up on campaign time and fund raising season. Can you imagine the stimulation your campaigns might receive from this body of 300,000 Private Pilots and 1.5 Million pilots sitting on the sidelines if you show them your support and get one of these bills pushed through and passed QUICKLY? I would like to ask you to get this passed this summer and under the President’s signature BEFORE Fall …..use this stimulation in your campaigns. IT IS SIMPLY GOOD FOR OUR COUNTRY!! There is a 180 day FAA implementation schedule so we could start flying again WITHOUT FAA Medical HINDERANCE by SPRING 2015!!
I would like to ask each of you to join the other sponsors of these two bills, and then push them out of Committee for consideration and PASSAGE on the floor. Presently there is NO WASHINGTON State sponsorship of either of these bills. For each of the Congressmen who have asked me for financial contributions from OUTSIDE MY DISTRICT, if you co-sponsor the House Bill, I will CONTRIBUTE!!
General Aviation is one of the most valuable and challenging opportunities we enjoy in the United States. Let’s stimulate this industry. With the passage of one of these bills, I will dust off my certificates, get current immediately, and I will most likely pursue a Multi-engine rating and a Helicopter rating, just for fun and challenge, and EXPENSIVE, flowing lots of Dollars into the Economy, quickly. I might even pony up to buy another airplane along with its TAXES; GLADLY…..this supports lots of JOBS. Let’s get this Country going TOGETHER!!
I would like to have a personal response to my letter and your commitment to passage of one of these important bills for our Country, QUICKLY! Thank you for your support and consideration. This is near and dear to the Hearts of about 1.8 million active and inactive pilots in our Country. Let’s GO FLYING!!
Sincerely,
Name
CC: Speaker Congressman John Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Senator Harry Reid
All WA Congressmen- Reps. Ms. McMorris Rodgers, Ms. Herrera-Beutler, Mr. Reichert, Ms. Delbene, Mr. McDermott, Mr. Hastings, Mr. Heck, Mr. Larsen, Mr. Smith
Mark Baker President AOPA Jack Pelton Chairman, EAA

Good idea. I will join you with letters to my representatives in DC.

Tom