On Wednesday, March 12, 2014 11:14:53 AM UTC-5, son_of_flubber wrote:
From AOPA:

"In December, AOPA members Rep. Todd Rokita (R-Indiana), a member of the House General Aviation Caucus, and GA Caucus Co-Chair Sam Graves (R-Missouri) introduced the General Aviation Pilot Protection Act or (GAPPA).



Under GAPPA, pilots who make noncommercial VFR flights in aircraft weighing up to 6,000 pounds with no more than six seats would be exempt from the third-class medical certification process."



The conversation is over if you think that all government regulation of 'freedom' is bad. But otherwise, would the elimination of the medical certificate for some power pilots be good or bad for Soaring?



What is the perspective of people who moved to soaring in part because of the medical exemption?



Other perspectives?



My (rather limited) thoughts:



The medical certificate exemption for glider pilots is one reason that some power pilots take up soaring. So the change might mean fewer add-ons. Would I rather see those pilots in a power plane above cloud base, or in a glider below cloud base? Would the slackening of demand hurt the resale value of gliders?



Elimination of the medical exemption would mean that a few more pilots would delay retirement, continue to fly power, and give anemic airports (and airplane prices) a shot in the arm.

The impact on soaring would be mainly in keeping experienced tow pilots available for us all. I've known very few power pilots switching to gliding because of medical issues.
I'd be more concerned about insurance companies increasing the premiums because of older non-medical pilots in power planes. Wonder how they take age into account anyway.
Herb