New Medical Option

[MikeB]

I've been looking at the new joint proposal by EAA and AOPA to push for the expansion of the driver's license 'medical' for those of us with private licenses which would allow us to fly day only, VFR, fixed gear, one passenger and 180 horse maximum. All I can say is 'it's about time'.
Basically, we 'self certify' every time we choose to fly and I'm not going to fly with a bad cold or some other dehabilitating illness. I suspect most of us take a regular physical anyway and there's really no guarantee that something won't spring up six months later. Holding us to flying 'light sport' really doesn't make much sense to me and while I love my taildragger, there are times when the wind is howling I'd rather have my old Cherokee 140 back.

I hope this doesn't get dragged out too long as it can only expand the useful pilot base.

Discussion????

MikeB

[Paul Agaliotis]

Mike,
I think the idea is great, but, with EAA involved they will push for their organization to administer this option. All of this will be at a cost. These guys are desperate to take on the regulatory role of anything. I just don't trust them.
Paul

[MikeB]

Paul,
Might be... but I don't think it would be any different than the Light Sport medical (driver's license) and EAA is not involved in that, other than the fact that they helped work it through the FAA process.
What I have read about the new option is that there would be some kind of online self medical evaluation. Of course when all is said and done the devil will be in the details but I hope it goes through in a reasonable form (and not too long as I'm not getting any younger).

MikeB

[Red(neck) Barron]

Not only would it be a positive step forward to aid in the resurrection of General Aviation but it might help improve the FAA’s image as a prehistoric bureaucracy who still believe flying is done by PFM (pure f****** magic) and pilots need to be Supermen.

The down side to this potential change will be in the value of our aircraft. The LSA rule caused the price of all 1320 pound airplanes to over inflate. With this change that price bubble will move up the airplane scale to all the planes that would now qualify and would soften the price for the current LSA qualified planes.

From my perspective, I probably would consider selling my Champ in favor of a Citabria but unless timing was right, the Champ would drop a few thousand and something like a Citabria would likewise increase. Just market forces at work but it could work against some of us. I could hedge my bet and sell the Champ now in anticipation of the change but knowing how slowly the aforementioned dinosaurs move I could be spending a lot of time looking upward instead of downward. Probably a poor choice. Of course if I were of greater wealth I could find a Citabria now and wait it out. If things looked like they were proceeding I could sell the Champ. HA! Like that’s going to happen. For the time being, I will enjoy my great little Champ and what ever happens will happen. Still, I’m hopeful for the rule change.

[MikeB]

I'd most likely keep my L16 and/or my Champ as I have my heart and soul in them. It would be nice though to partner with someone who has a Cherokee or 172 for an occasional longer trip when the winds are most than I want to fly my Champ in.

It will certainly raise the prices of the 150/152 Cessnas, etc. but there's absolutely no reason I can think of why they shouldn't fall under the new regs anyway. My opinion is they should have been included under light sport at the beginning. (and) another note: very few folks that I hang around with are going to go out and cough up $125,000 for one of the new light sport toys that are presently on the market......most, if not all, with the expection of the new Champ are built overseas .

MikeB

[joea]

Would love to see it but not sure its going to happen.

Friend of mine is an AME who is "pretty well connected" in the FAA world. I mentioned this to him recently and he said that it would never happen. Hope he is not correct but he very well may be correct.

One thing is that the LSA data in the past years show that there is no problem with "Self certification" but just not sure that the FAA or EAA are going to let this go.

[WWhunter]

I have my fingers crossed on this but I have my suspicions that Joe's AME friend may be right. I really can't see where any gov'ment agency will relinguish its "authority". They are all a bunch of power hungry jack botted thugs as far as I am concerned. Once an entity has 'the power' it is highly unlikely they will ever give it up. In the long run this might cause one of them to lose their job since they can't go out and pester some poor person just trying to live his/her dream. Okay, I'll quit ranting and raving.

[Dennis]

WWHunter

Well said and agree completely.

Dennis

[brink]

Hello Aviators:
I think alot of us are looking at the wrong end: The aero medical branch that do flight physicals, they were against the LSA program from the start. hurt there lobby flow for doing medicals. My ME told me his business was cut big time when the LSA program started. he did twice as many class 2 and 3 's compared to the class 1 medicals. and I live in the American corporate area. I spent alot of money building my L-5 observer, 190 HP, Story of my life. Now I am redoing a 7DC, But I look at Barnstormers and see the adds, so many claiming to be LSA, and there not due to the weight. I think maybe for once in my life I just may be on the right track at 65, if it's to windy I just go the other way! or don't go at all. For some of you I hope it will go thru, The Lobby boys at work, I remember when I was a PFE, and watched as the 60 to 65 rule was bated and debated for years and years, and finally passed. I will just keep working on my Champ and view all this from the cheap seats. A Fellow Aviator Sunny

[MikeB]

For anyone who might be interested (I'll bet most of us are ) here's some FAQ from the EAA website
http://eaa.org/news/2011/Medical_certification_FAQ.pdf

As mentioned it may take a some time for the proposal to go through but in my mind certainly is a worthy effort and meets the 'common sense' clause. While I don't actually know any, I'm quite sure there are those who fly without a current medical anyway. It seems some kind of self certification (evaluation) would be better than none at all and who would have thought years ago that we could legally fly with auto fuel and Light Sport.
Remember none of us are getting younger.........
Mike

[rkittine]

I too am hoping for this change even though it will not allow me to fly other aircraft that I already own, that are over 180 HP. ZThe Market Value issue is something to really think about and I think that I might just go ahead and buy something under 180 HP now while the prices are still depressed. C-172 prices will get crazier again as other tri-gear aircraft.

[Doc]

Just to throw in a few comments. My AME business is down for 3rd class certificates. When I ask the pilots why they are not returning, they tell me the cost of flying has kept them on the ground...read...the economy in general, not the cost of the flight physical. On other issues...the Fort Worth Flight Surgeon's office did not have anything to offer when I queried them about the EAA/AOPA proposal for expanding Light Sport. They have not been asked for an opinion by their Medical FAA higher ups. Likewise, the San Antonio FSDO has not heard of the proposal...meaning...their higher ups have not discussed something they have not yet seen. My spam can usage is down and my taildragger time is up...why?...the economy...4.5 gph is so more palatable than 15.5 gph. The one thing I was able to glean from the FSDO conversation was that medical issues have not been a problem with the accidents they have investigated. Pilot judgment, and currency in make and model seem to be the big discriminators. Regarding the 3rd class, I have only had 2 third class special issuances denied...both for severe, unstable, advanced heart disease. These pilots should not be flying anything. The EAA/AOPA lobby is strong...this proposal might be accepted, although I am suspicious that the organizations will make money off of the "test' they will administer. I have already dropped mu AOPA membership due to dues and diminishing returns for my membership $$$. Best wishes to all. Doc

[MikeB]

Doc,
Thanks for the insight. In my case (age 72 1/2) I consider myself to be in pretty good shape. 5' 9" 160#, normal blood pressure about 125/70, exercise on a regular basis, etc. I take one half of a very light blood pressure medication (at my request) as it used to jump around some and made me, but not my doc, nervious. I'm thinking I could get along without it but as long as everything is working I'd just as soon leave well enough alone. The stuff is dirt cheap anyway. I get a regular physical every year with no problems other than the usual aches and pains that come for someone who has done a lot of physical work over the years.

Having said that, it's a bit of a hassle to find a DME, schedule an appointment (often big problem). I think the closest one now is about a hour driving time away so it's easier just to go with the LS as long as that's all I'm flying but it would be nice to have the option to fly something a little more stable when the winds are blowing. The $200 or so every other year doesn't bother me as much as the inconvenience. Should also mention I hold a commercial license and school bus which requires a medical every year above age 70 so with the regular physical, commercial/bus and 3rd class there were times I was taking three physicals every other year.

I'm hoping they go with a common sense approach to the 3rd class and ,yes I agree, part of the problem is the cost of flying (fuel for example) has risen to the point where one has to decide what to spend their 'liquid' funds on.

Mike Berg

[rkittine]

I too am more concerned about the medical certificate itself, rather than the cost of a medical exam. Most of my LSA friends are flying LSA NOT because they can not afford the $75 - $125 (Depending on Doctor or Class), but because if it is denied, they are grounded. I joinded the AOPA Medical assistance program and their people say that the medical situations I have are all OK on their own, but they do not know how the FAA will respond to them being at the same time.

I have a letter from both my Oncologist and my Primary Care Physician stating they they believe that I am in good health have no medical issues that would preclude me from flying. I fly with those in my possession.

I am a drug that disqualified me for a medical for 1 year in the 70s, but is now approved. I just do not want to give up flying and would like from time to time to be able to fly something that was a little faster and that would let me carry some more gear if not passengers.

Right now I am in the process of negotiating for a 7GCBC on Floats. The price right now is great. I will put it on Leaseback to the place where I give seaplane instruction in hope that the 180 HP rule will fly. Our local FSDO Manager knows of it and thinks it will make it.

Ciao Robert

[Flynlow]

I don't see where anyone mentioned it, but there's a big reason I don't think this will happen. The LSA industry is already fighting this proposal. They've spent millions of dollars designing airplanes that fit the LSA requirements and this would impact them greatly. The people who went to LSA because they either couldn't get a medical or were afraid they might be denied, would suddenly have another set of aircraft to look at.