Manchin’s amendment made the following changes that were supported by Inhofe: In order to qualify for the new third class medical certification, every new pilot will be required to first obtain a medical evaluation in line with current FAA practices. Existing pilots will automatically qualify for the new certification process under most circumstances. This ensures all pilots have a baseline evaluation of their health and a verification of their existing medical records—a “one touch” medical assessment using the current FAA process.

In addition, pilots qualifying for the new policy will need to do the following:     Complete every two years a new online medical education course that includes information related to warning signs for serious medical conditions, mitigation strategies for medical conditions, and the impacts of over-the-counter and prescription medications and their interplay with an individual’s flight capabilities.

This course takes aviation safety further than any existing medical requirement for the general aviation community. Pilots will need to maintain a record of their online course certification in the logbooks. Have regular examinations, at least every four years, by a qualified physician and receive the appropriate care and treatment for any diagnosed medical condition—both at the outset and over the long term.

Should an individual fail to be under the care and treatment of a qualified physician, they would not be able to maintain the privilege of the new certification process. Pilots will need to maintain a record of their physician visits and a certification of any care and treatment as directed by a doctor in the logbooks. As part of their certification of any needed ongoing medical care, pilots will also certify their understanding of FAA’s existing prohibition on operating an aircraft in the event of a medical deficiency.

If a pilot who qualifies for the new third class medical certification is clinically diagnosed with a severe mental health disorder, a severe neurological disorder, or a severe cardiovascular condition, the pilot would be required to go through FAA’s special issuance process one time to receive medical clearance to fly again, ensuring FAA the opportunity to review the medical documentation, order additional tests as necessary, and make a determination on medical clearance. Once a pilot has received an initial medical clearance to fly from FAA, that individual would be able to once again exercise flying privileges under the new third class medical certification process.

Due to the unique nature of mental health and neurological disorders, individuals with severe mental health or neurological diagnoses, who have already successfully completed the special issuance process, will need to certify every two years that they remain under the care and treatment of their specialist. In addition, that individual will no longer qualify for the new third class medical certification if their medical specialist determines their condition has deteriorated to the point that they are no longer fit to fly. Lastly, if an individual’s driver’s license is revoked for any health related reason, the third class medical certification will be revoked.

The Manchin amendment also directs FAA to expand the number of medical conditions that are included in the “Conditional AMEs Can Issue” program to find ways to streamline the current process for obtaining a special issuance medical certificate. On Feb. 26, Inhofe introduced the Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2, legislation that would reform the third class medical certification for recreational pilots and broaden the protections provided in the original Pilot’s Bill of Rights authored by Inhofe and signed into law in 2012. At the time of this release, S.571 had 68 cosponsors, surpassing a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate. 

Statements of support for PBOR2 include: “On behalf of the 2,700-plus pilots represented by the NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots (NJASAP), I write today to express our support for your legislation, the Pilots Bill of Rights 2 (PBR2). As co-chairs of the Congressional Pilots Caucus, you continue to keep issues that affect professional and recreational pilots at the forefront of the Congressional consciousness. Your work on PBR2, which is highlighted by efforts to extend the due process rights of all certificate holders facing FAA investigation or enforcement action as well as enhancing the Notice to Airmen Improvement Program, is a perfect example of your proactive leadership on behalf of the pilot community,” said Pedro Leroux, president of the NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots (NJASAP).

“We sincerely appreciate Sen. Inhofe for his support of our nation’s professional pilots. Our career security is vulnerable to a wide range of factors frequently beyond our control. This bill would provide necessary balance to administrative proceedings and other venues in which pilots face potential certificate denial, suspension or revocation,” said Capt. Keith Wilson, president of the Allied Pilots Association.

“Time and again, Sen. Inhofe has served as a tireless advocate for professional pilots. He understands the unique challenges that pilots face, with S.571 providing yet another example of his thoughtful pragmatism. We urge Sen. Inhofe’s fellow lawmakers to approve this legislation promptly,” said Capt. Paul Jackson, president of the Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Association.

“General aviation has been losing an average of 6,000 pilots per year over the past 10 years. Manufacturing of new piston powered aircraft in the United States has fallen drastically, and this critically important amendment includes provisions that will help general aviation move in a positive direction and provides common sense safety protections to pilots,” said 17 aviation organizations in a letter to the Commerce Committee in support of the modifications.

“The introduction of the Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2 is great news for the general aviation community and we are grateful to Sen. Inhofe for putting forward this legislation that would do so much to help grow and support general aviation activity. Pilots have already waited too long for medical reform, so we’re particularly pleased to see it included in this important measure. We will actively work with Congress to build support for this legislation that is so vital to the future of GA and the 1.1 million jobs that depend on it,” said Mark Baker, president of Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA).

“Sen. Inhofe and the other bipartisan co-sponsors in the Senate and House understand the importance of providing for the fair and equitable treatment of all airmen by introducing the second Pilot’s Bill of Rights, and we appreciate their work to move these important measures forward. Aeromedical reform is an urgent need that is overwhelmingly supported by our members and other recreational pilots. We also strongly support the common-sense provisions ensuring due process for airmen in enforcement cases and liability protections for designees conducting important aviation safety activities once exclusively handled by the federal government,” said Jack Pelton, chairman of the board for the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA).