In a related note to yesterday’s post on possible changes to the 3rd class medical requirement for Private Pilots, FAA proposes new wording re the “auto-feathering” description for LSA powered gliders. *** The official description simply removes the word “auto” from the term “autofeathering.” It’s more of a semantic rather than practical change, updated to reflect actual hardware modes already out there. *** In effect, the amendment embraces both manual and autofeathering operations for powered LSA gliders. *** Anyone who wants to comment can go to the link above until Feb. 2, 2011. The final rule becomes official on March 4, 2011.
Archives for January 2011
FAA Medical To Go Bye-Bye?
There’ve been some rumblings recently that the FAA is unofficially taking a look at the private medical requirement for pilot licensing. *** Janice Wood, writing for General Aviation News, cites the efforts of an airport owner/operator, David Wartofsky, to petition the Secretary of Transportation to replace the FAA’s 3rd class medical with a driver’s license for private aircraft weighing under 6,000 lbs. *** Mr. Wartofsky makes some salient points, and calls the eventual loss of 3rd class medicals that all pilots face as “the greatest threat to aircraft ownership”. *** I’ve never thought there’d be a snowball’s chance in a blast furnace of the medical being removed, but there are compelling reasons to do just that — or amend the current rule to conform with the lesser medical requirement of a state driver’s license, such as requiring vision-corrective glasses when flying. How many drivers in 4,000 pound cars who barely passed their driver’s license requirements whizz by you head-on at a closing speed of 120 mph?