Graves demands medical policy delay

Days after AOPA joined a coalition of general aviation groups and airline pilot unions seeking to stay implementation of an FAA medical certification policy change that stands to result in medical certificate denials—rather than deferrals—if the FAA deems an application incomplete, Graves wrote a letter on December 18 to outgoing FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker and made it more an order than a request.

"By delaying the policy's effective date, the FAA can collaboratively engage with these associations to address concerns related to confusion for applicants and unintended consequences of the policy," Graves wrote, noting that pilots have not been given adequate time to understand the policy, or its implications. "Thus, the FAA must delay the effective date of this policy change, solicit feedback from industry, and make such modifications as may be necessary to the policy to ensure that the goals of the policy change may be achieved without such unintended consequences."

Graves, who leads the House committee that oversees the FAA and other agencies, took issue with the FAA's interpretation of the agency's 2024 reauthorization, specifically Section 801.

"Furthermore, the FAA's proposed change to medical applications has falsely been attributed to section 801 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, a provision that does nothing more than strengthen pilot rights afforded to airmen under the Pilot's Bill of Rights (P.L. 112-153)," Graves wrote. "Section 801 was not intended to affect medical certificates any differently from how they were prior to enactment when an airman is subjected to a flight re-examination. This proposed FAA policy change should not be predicated on that section."

Graves will continue in his role as chairman when the next Congress convenes on January 3.