General Aviation Pilot Protection Act of 2015

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. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the General Aviation Pilot Protection Act of 2015 2. Medical certification of certain small aircraft pilots (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the 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— (1) the individual possesses a valid State driver's license and complies with any medical requirement associated with that license; (2) the individual is transporting not more than 5 passengers; (3) the individual is operating under visual flight rules or instrument flight rules; and (4) the relevant flight, including each portion thereof, is not carried out— (A) for compensation, including that no passenger or property on the flight is being carried for compensation; (B) at an altitude that is more than 14,000 feet above mean sea level; (C) outside the United States, unless authorized by the country in which the flight is conducted; or (D) at an indicated air speed exceeding 250 knots. (b) Covered aircraft defined In this section, the term covered aircraft (1) is not authorized under Federal law to carry more than 6 occupants; and (2) has a maximum certificated takeoff weight of not more than 6,000 pounds. (c) Report required Not later than 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report that describes the effect of the regulations issued or revised under subsection (a) and includes statistics with respect to changes in small aircraft activity and safety incidents. (d) Prohibition on enforcement actions On and after the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator may not take an enforcement action for not holding a valid third-class medical certificate against a pilot of a covered aircraft for a flight if the pilot and the flight meet the applicable requirements under paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (a) unless the Administrator has published final regulations in the Federal Register under subsection (a).

Summary: General Aviation Pilot Protection Act of 2015 Directs the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to issue or revise FAA medical certification regulations to ensure that an individual may operate as a pilot of a covered aircraft without regard to any medical certification or proof of health requirement otherwise applicable under federal law if the flight meets certain criteria and the individual: (1) possesses a valid state driver's license, (2) complies with applicable medical requirements associated with that license, (3) is transporting five or fewer passengers, and (4) is operating under visual or instrument flight rules. Defines "covered aircraft" as an aircraft that: (1) is not authorized under federal law to carry more than six occupants, and (2) has a maximum certificated takeoff weight of no more than 6,000 pounds. Prohibits the Administrator from taking enforcement action against a pilot of a covered aircraft for not holding a valid third-class medical certificate if the pilot and the flight meets such requirements, unless the Administrator has published final regulations in the Federal Register.