National Aeronca Association Bulletin Board

Spin doctors can make numbers say anything. The FAA in posting accident records should differentate between purely trained Sport Pilots and Certificated Pilots flying light sport without a current medical using their drivers license. As long as Cessna is building a $100,000+ light sport SkyCatcher aircraft, the 1320# rule will never be eliminated for the C150 or other aircraft. Deep pockets.

Doug

In my simplistic perception of life, the Sport Pilot certificate allows the holder to fly without a medical, as long as the pilot considers himself healthy enough to fly and has a valid driver's license.
This allows people like epileptics or diabetics on medication who can legally drive, and would have never qualify for a FAA medical, to fly as Sport Pilots. If a private, commercial or ATP allows his medical expire (not lost for medical reasons), he can continue to fly as Sport Pilot (with its legal limitations), for as long as he wants, as long as he has a valid driver's license,
EVEN if he later develops conditions that by written regulations would disqualify him for a FAA 3rd class medical (examples: angina, depression, malignancies, etc.), unless his regular physician (not an AME) prohibits him from flying or driving. Example: the epileptic on medication that after many years free of seizure , has a seizure.

Insurance companys have nothing legal to say about this. Remember: when you buy insurance, it is a bet between you and the insurance company: You bet them $600 that you are going to have an accident in one year. They bet you $25,000 that you are not going to have an accident. If you do not have an accident they keep your $600. If you do have an accidente they pay you $25,000. The usual rules of the bet are to be within the established FAR, annual, BFR, etc.
But also, the insurance company might decide not to bet (sell you insurance) with you, unless
you meet certain conditions: fly with an instructor, have a medical exam every six months, etc. etc. That can prevent you to buy insurance from that company, but will not prevent you to fly -uninsured- if you want to do so.

Pablo

I must add something to that: For a Class 2 medical the distance vision requirements are 20/20 in both eyes. For a Class 3 you need only 20/40 both eyes - for both, that can be with or without glasses/contacts.

I know, because I don't have a single health issue that would prevent me from getting a Class 1 medical, except my left eye won't correct to better than 20/40. For somebody who never wanted to be anything other than a pilot, that really, really sucks....

I have really enjoyed the responses to this thread. For those who are holding Special Issuance medical certificates, you may have noticed that you are now required to keep a copy of the FAA authorization letter in your possession while exercising your privileges. Anyone want to claim "best answer"? Doc

I'm not a big fan of these " I know something you don't know" threads. If there is information that needs to be spread it should be brought out into the open. And it's always good to have a SODA around.
Paul