The Bill…General Aviation Pilot Protection Act of 2013

December 11, 2013
Mr. Rokita (for himself, Mr. Graves of Missouri, Mr. Flores, Mr. Peterson, Mr. Hanna, andMr. Pompeo) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
A BILL
To direct the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to issue or revise regulations with respect to the medical certification of certain small aircraft pilots, and for other purposes.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

This Act may be cited as the General Aviation Pilot Protection Act of 2013

SECTION 2. MEDICAL CERTIFICATION OF CERTAIN SMALL AIRCRAFT PILOTS

(a) In General

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall issue or revise medical certification regulations to ensure that an individual may operate as pilot in command of a covered aircraft without regard to any medical certification or proof of health requirement otherwise applicable under Federal law if—

• the individual possesses a valid State driver’s license and complies with any medical requirement associated with that license;
• the individual is transporting not more than 5 passengers;
• the individual is operating under visual flight rules; and
• the relevant flight, including each portion thereof, is not carried out—
  • for compensation, including that no passenger or property on the flight is being carried for compensation;
  • at an altitude that is more than 14,000 feet above mean sea level;
  • outside the United States, unless authorized by the country in which the flight is conducted; or
  • at a speed exceeding 250 knots.

(b) Covered Aircraft Defined

In this section, the term covered aircraft means an aircraft that—

• is not authorized under Federal law to carry more than 6 occupants; and
• has a maximum certificated takeoff weight of not more than 6000 pounds.

SECTION 3. REPORT

Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall submit to Congress a report that describes the impact that the regulations issued or revised under section 2 have had, including statistics with respect to changes in small aircraft activity and safety incidents.