My friends, in all this astute discussion (a few weeks ago), one matter seems to be overlooked: the large number of paychecks issued in OK City for the maintenance of our absurd Aeromedical System (and it's hideous backlog). Ya reckon this humoungus infrastructure is going to back off, giving up chubby jobs, into just checking 1st Class (and 2nd Class) meds passively? (Money is of course no object to our Congress, especially when the FAA screaming, "SAFETY!!".) The stats are all there, US (Sport Pilot, glider, balloon) and UK Private since about 2001 (i.e negligible med. related accidents). This surely is our biggest obstacle to having a license like they have in the UK, or dropping the 3rd from Rec. or *eek!* Private. When did anyone need to be capable of running a marathon or bench pressing a Continental engine to fly normally or even in an emergency?? I passed my flight review recently without a problem (with significant simulated emergencies) and I have a driver's license medical. I was cranked after two hours of review, but felt fine (perspiration 1/2 way to my belt). Dropping the 3rd Class Med. is a nasty job threat, and that is the core of the problem. SP has been fine since '05 and in the UK a similar program has been fine for 7 years.
Shall we write our Congressmen (i.e. Representatives and Senators)? Our Congressmen have capabilities if they get the input. Shall we put in?
