US AOPA/EAA Petition on Medicals

Over in the USA, US AOPA and the Experimental Aircraft Association have petitioned the FAA to allow pilots to fly without medical certificates. Naturally, there have been conditions imposed, some of which are:

• Aircraft to have no more than four seats
• Aircraft to have an single engine no larger than 180 HP
• Fixed gear
• Below 10000 ft or 2000 AGL
• Private flights only
• Only one passenger allowed
• Pilot to have completed a medical factors training course within the previous 24 months.

So what they’re saying is nothing larger than a C177, Archer, Super Musketeer or Tobago.

It sounds good, but why the passenger restriction? If the pilot can fly the plane they can fly it at MTOW, regardless of whether or not the load is living and breathing.

Currently the FAA has the petition out for comment, with a sunset date of July 2. If it gets up, could we one day see something similar in Australia? Tell us below what you think about this.