Third-class medical reform legislation didn't make it out of a Senate committee Wednesday, but the Pilot's Bill of Rights 2 remained intact as far as its key components, including exemptions for private pilots with current third-class medicals. During the markup session of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, two amendments proposed by ranking member Bill Nelson, D-Fla., were voted down, including one that would have required creating a "checklist" of medical conditions for physicians to complete when examining pilots. The session ended in a deferral of S. 571 mid-vote, when the panel realized it did not have a quorum and adjourned for the day.AOPA President Mark Baker told AVweb that despite the delay, he feels good about where the legislation stands. Third-class exemptions stand to save pilots money in medical exams and special issuance expenses, "about a quarter billion dollars over the next 10 years," he said."We do think there are thousands and thousands and thousands, tens of thousands of pilots,that willget back into the game. This will be good for FBOs, it will be good for people pumping gas and selling airplanes," he said.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.avweb.com/news/medical-reform-bill-stays-in-committee