“There were no twists or turns” in the new medical rule issued by the FAA this week, EAA Chairman Jack Pelton told AVweb this week, since the new rule is basically a cut-and-paste from the language that was mandated last year by Congress. “I’d like to tell everyone, just relax,” he added. It will take some time for pilots and their doctors to get used to the system, he said, and he’s hopeful that it will turn out to be an improvement over the current option. Even if pilots do run into problems of any kind with their doctors filling out the paperwork, he said, at least they will have four years now instead of two before they have to deal with it again. Pilots with special issuances will have a much easier time, he said.
Doctors do have to sign the FAA form and essentially certify that the applicant is fit to fly, Pelton said. “The only way this would have gotten across the finish line was if that was part of it,” he said. Whether or not doctors in general practice, without aviation experience, will balk at that just depends, he said. Some may, but many won’t. “There’s going to be an education process,” Pelton said. “We’ve got to work through that. The language itself is subject to interpretation.” Pelton also said that CFIs will be eligible to choose the BasicMed option, as long as they’re teaching in the class and category of aircraft covered under the new regulation. More from AVweb’s interview with Jack Pelton is available in our podcast feature.
