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News

February Contact
You can now download the electronic version of the February Contact.

Back issues, member? Check our archives!

• FAA Medical Forms Going Electronic
• Self-Certification Medical Request on Track
• Pilots’ Bill of Rights

Sport Aviation Articles

• Two Lifetime Experiences
• Flying From Your Couch

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FAA Medical Forms Going Electronic

Effective immediately, the FAA form 8500-8 is available to be completed electronically online at the FAA website, www.faa.gov. This will expedite the process for obtaining your new or updated medical certificate (either pilot or student pilot). Effective 10/1/2012, this form will ONLY be available electronically, and will no longer be accepted on paper, so you may want to become familiar with the process. You will need to establish an online account, complete the first part of the form and then take the printed form and confirmation number with you to your AME when you go for your appointment.

Self-Certification Medical Request on Track

According to the AOPA website (www.aopa.org), the joint effort by EAA and AOPA to allow for self-certification for medical fitness to fly is on track for consideration by the FAA. According to an article by Sarah Brown (2/2/2012) your driver’s license would serve as your medical, and there would be certain restrictions such as “…operations would be limited to day-VFR flights in single-engine aircraft with 180 horsepower or less, four seats or fewer, fixed gear, and one passenger, among other limitations.” Government advocacy liaisons of both agencies will be moving this proposal forward as conditions allow.

Pilots’ Bill of Rights

Introduced in 2011 by Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), this bill would, in his words, “…ensure(s) that pilots are treated in a fair and equitable manner.” This bill puts in place several safeguards for pilots, such as a review of the medical certification and FAA appeals processes, a guarantee that a pilot will be provided all evidence against them 30 days prior to a hearing, and improvement of the NOTAM program. A companion to this bill was introduced in the Senate by Sam Graves (R-MO) and Dan Lipinski (D-IL).