WASHINGTON, DC—Pete Bunce, President and CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), issued the following statement today about the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) announcement that it will begin a rulemaking effort on third-class medical pilot certification:

“I want to applaud the FAA for undertaking this rulemaking effort, which may allow pilots to substitute a valid driver’s license in place of an FAA medical certificate in certain instances. If approved, this prudent rule will save both the government and pilots money in a time of tight budgets while ensuring a continued focus on safety. I also want to thank leaders in the U.S. Congress, including U.S. Congressmen Todd Rokita (R-IN) and Sam Graves (R-MO) and U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Jerry Moran (R-KS), and Pat Roberts (R-KS), for pushing this issue to the forefront. We look forward to contributing to the FAA’s effort and to seeing this rule move expeditiously.”