Recreational Pilots medical
Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2010 12:16 pm
I was wondering if AOPA is doing anything to extend self certification driver's license privileges to recreational pilots so that recreational pilots won't need a medical. I found an article on the AOPA website that talks about the proposal to do medical self certification for recreational pilots with a driver's license.
When I called AOPA, they say there has been no work or proposal on it. I wonder why? Why don't pilots support extending driver license medical privileges to recreational pilots? I believe if medical standards are relaxed, then maybe the pilot population will increase again.AOPA believes this rule will help many lapsed pilots return to flying and could have a positive effect on the cost of learning to fly, bringing new people into flying. AOPA said the agency should go even further and extend sport pilot privileges to recreational pilots. That would mean that recreational pilots could use a current driver's license to meet the medical requirements and that they could fly in Class B, C, and D airspace with the proper flight instructor endorsement. If adopted, AOPA's recommendations would effectively extend the benefits proposed in the sport pilot certificate to a much larger group of aircraft such as a Cessna 172 or a Piper Warrior.