THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2014
cal certification. In other words, the bills would expand to pilots of many other personal airplanes the same medical certification standard—a driver’s license—applying to pilots operating a light-sport aircraft. Carrot, meet stick. But what form will the FAA’s “rulemaking project” take, and when will it be in place? Answers may come today,
when FAA Administrator Michael P. Huerta visits EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2014. Among other items on his schedule, he will participate in the traditional “Meet the Administrator” forum. That will be held in Honda Aircraft Forum Pavilion 7, beginning at 11:30 a.m. All AirVenture attendees with an interest in this and other FAA-related topics are urged to attend.
Speculation that Huerta will have an announcement regarding the EAA/AOPA petitions or a rulemaking to deregulate third-class medical requirements has been growing throughout this week. But unless that announcement lays out a defined road map toward quick relief from existing FAA regulations, it’s likely ongoing industry efforts supporting the
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General Aviation Pilot Protection Act will continue. “EAA’s decades-long efforts on this issue, on its own and in association with organizations such as AOPA, are beginning to pay off,” EAA Chairman of the Board Jack J. Pelton said earlier this year in response to the FAA’s “rulemaking project” announcement. “EAA will support this rulemaking initiative as well as legislative solutions to expand the freedom of flight for our members and all aviators,” he added. “We are eager to see what the FAA’s proposed rulemaking offers the GA community,” Sean Elliott, EAA vice president of advocacy and safety, also commented in April. “That said, we are leaving open all options for bringing needed reform to aeromedical certification, and we will diligently pursue all possible avenues for change until we have an acceptable end result.” Reminder: Be sure to attend this year’s “Meet the Administrator” session, beginning at 11:30 a.m. today, in Forums Building 7, to hear the FAA’s possible announcement.