Fri, Dec 20, 2013
Agency To Gather Stakeholder Input
EAA Aeromedical Advisory Council chairman Dr. Stephen Leonard learned from the FAA Thursday that the agency will delay implementation of its new sleep apnea policy planned for next month in order to gather additional input from the aviation and medical community.
The new policy, which would mandate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) testing and evaluation for pilots with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 and above, was scheduled to go into effect in January. EAA and its aeromedical council objected strenuously to the policy, saying such testing was not FAA's role, was of questionable medical use relating to pilot fitness, would cause additional financial burdens to pilots, and would overburden an already taxed special issuance system for medical certificates.
The FAA is now planning a meeting as early as next month with aviation and medical stakeholders, including general aviation organizations and aviation medical examiners (AMEs).
"We are pleased to see that the FAA will organize a meeting mid- to late January, get all concerned together, and try to hash out a compromise that will address FAA's concerns about sleep apnea with all of our concerns about cost, intrusiveness, and adverse effect on the industry," said Sean Elliott, EAA's vice president of safety and advocacy. "EAA stands ready to assist and represent the aviation community in any way possible."
Congress had also entered the debate, as a bill introduced in the House of Representatives earlier this month would have prevented the FAA from implementing the policy without a full rulemaking and public comment process. That bill has yet to be approved by the House.
More News
Chaff Thin, narrow metallic reflectors of various lengths and frequency responses, used to reflect radar energy. These reflectors, when dropped from aircraft and allowed to drift d>[...]
“Today, XB-1 took flight in the same hallowed airspace where the Bell X-1 first broke the sound barrier in 1947. I’ve been looking forward to this flight since founding>[...]
“Teaming up with the EAA and Berlin Express for this event in Cincinnati will give warbird fans a unique opportunity to see the aircraft that helped defend freedom and gave t>[...]
Hazardous Weather Information Summary of significant meteorological information (SIGMET/WS), convective significant meteorological information (convective SIGMET/WST), urgent pilot>[...]
Aero Linx: The Nebraska Aeronautics Commission The Nebraska Aeronautics Commission was created by the 1935 Legislature to oversee the development of aviation in the state. The Comm>[...]