[robertpaulsen]

"If you agree that Congress has the power to "regulate" the private pilot, then you can only be agreeing that they have the power to regulate him at will, for any reason."

Not at all. Congress may regulate the pilot's intrastate activity only if it has a substantial effect on Congress' interstate regulatory efforts.

Private pilots are, by and large, unregulated. Only when their flying affects interstate flights does the FAA get involved.

[tacticalogic]

Not at all. Congress may regulate the pilot's intrastate activity only if it has a substantial effect on Congress' interstate regulatory efforts.

You seem quite fond of that particular innovation.