British and American Parliamentarians write to the CAA, FAA and EASA asking for a “new bilateral agreement” on medical standards for Private pilots.
In a letter to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) and the European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA), lawmakers from the UK APPG on General Aviation and the Congressional General Aviation Caucus, have called for a bilateral agreement to provide recognition and acknowledgement for new medical standards.
In the letter, MP's, Senators and Congressman argue that new alternative medical standards recently adopted by both governments have made the "process ... unnecessarily cumbersome and costly, whilst doing little to improve safety." Currently, separate medical certificates are required for pilots to be able to fly in the UK and the USA. It is a shared belief that equal recognition of medical certificates "will allow for increased general aviation activity in each country."
The joint letter also goes onto encourage the CAA, FAA and EASA to "further expand and explore ways to issue pilots licenses on the basis of a foreign pilot's licenses". Chair of the over 170-strong all-party parliamentary group, The Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP, said: "Improving cooperation between regulatory authorities over medical standards will make it much easier and significantly cheaper for pilots from both countries to fly in foreign countries. Members of the APPG warmly welcome this letter calling for mutual recognition as it will lead to an increase in general aviation in the UK and the USA."
U.S. Congressman Sam Graves (R-MO-06), Chairman of the General Aviation Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives said "3rd class medical reform in the U.S. was a landmark win for general aviation and we want to be sure that it is recognized when American pilots fly in the United Kingdom and Europe. We expect the FAA would grant similar recognition for U.K pilots flying in the U.S."
"I greatly enjoyed the opportunity to meet with our counterparts in the U.K. Parliament, led by the Rt Hon Grant Shapps of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on General Aviation, and discuss our shared goals for a prosperous general aviation community."
"The APPG hopes that cooperation on this issue will lead to greater cooperation between the various aviation regulatory bodies making it easier for pilots to fly in both the UK, Europe and the USA"
