Letter Sent To Secretary Anthony Foxx Regarding Third Class Medical Issue

Seven GA groups have sent a letter to US DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx urging him to complete the review of the FAA’s NPRM regarding third-class medical certification reform within the next 30 days and then open it to public comment.

In the letter dated August 15, the GA consortium said that the “general aviation community is enthusiastic to see this long overdue reform move ahead.” The letter also noted that the GA community has waited more than two and a half years for a response to the third-class medical certification exemption request made by EAA and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) in March 2012.

“As we stated publicly and to the FAA administrator just two weeks ago at Oshkosh, the aviation community has been waiting for action on this measure – no other issue comes close in importance to GA pilots,” EAA Chairman Jack Pelton said. “EAA will continue to push for this important reform that will bring common sense to medical certification and break down barriers that are holding back aviation. We join the other GA groups urging Secretary Foxx to move quickly and allow the public have its say in this rulemaking process.”

EAA has also worked with AOPA in Congress to encourage introduction of legislation – the General Aviation Pilot Protection Act (GAPPA) – that would mandate third-class medical certification reform. Measures were introduced in both the House and Senate within the past nine months that address medical certification.

Along with EAA and AOPA, organizations signing the letter to Secretary Foxx included the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, Helicopter Association International, National Agricultural Aviation Association, National Air Transportation Association, and National Business Aviation Association.

FMI: Full Letter