Is there a strategy yet to remove the Sport Pilot Denied Medical Clause?

Ben, I agree with you one hundred %.

Eugene Doscher

The only thing big agencies understand is money.  Well, if a lack of flying because of stupid regulations like a 3rd class physical which is not needed if one has a drivers license continues, then reduce the FAA budget to the FAA.

Ralph

P.S. No physical needed unless one is a Commercial pilot doing commercial flying, period.

I had a mild heart attack and triple bypass surgery in 1998 . Have had several stress tests and heart function is normal for a healthy 74 year old. However comma I am reluctant to apply for a third class medical for fear of being denied and hence losing my LSA privileges . Dont see how being denied an FAA medical is reason to lose LSA status . I have over 4000  hours of flying time so consider myself experienced .

Anybody we can turn to to over ride this ridiculous requirement ????

Allen R Lewis

I agree that the catch 22 is intimidating and shold be droped. I also think the pilots with private, commercial or ATP certificates should be allowed to fly (AT LEAST ) a two place general aviation without restrictions to gross weight limits and you are not flying for hire. SO EAA and AOPA you talk about wanting to see general aviation take off again - how about getting on the band wagon and push for this. It will stimulate the economy as well. I would like to hear from others on their feeling about this. I have 5500 hours csmel & cfi.

Garey

I also think the 3rd class medical should be done away with for not for hire flying. Seems we have a good track record with the Sport Pilot data that shows you can fly safely without 3rd class medical. What does it take to get this passed. Are we a follower or leaders in the world of aviation?

Garey

Allen,

I had angioplasty in 1993.  I wasn't flying at the time so I let my medical certificate expire.  In 1996 I bought a Cessna 172 and applied for renewal of my medical certificate. It took almost three years of going through FAA hoops to get my application for medical certificate approved but I finally got it under Special Issuance.  Every year I have to take a treadmill stress test.  Every year the test shows that my cardiovascular system is healthy.  Every year I wonder if I should do this because if renewal is denied, I will no longer be able to fly my Cessna 172 or the Cessna 150 I just purchased.  I have given serious consideration of going 'Light Sport" but the choice of aircraft available to me in the light sport category is limited (Cost!)  I think the rules should be changed so the AME you go to for your FAA medical should be the person who says you are or are not healthy enough to fly.  He is in a much better position to make that determinaton than someone in Oklahoma City.

Allen, the rules and regs are one thing, but first of all you want to know that you are healthy.  If you can pass the treadmill test and your blood chemistry is OK you can go for a Special Issuance third class medical certificate. This will be daunting the first time you go through the hoops, then, each year, it becomes more or less routine.(As long as you are healthy). If you feel this is too much to go through it would probably be better for you to fly Light Sport.

Good luck.

Stan

i agree with you Ben, but you don't go far enough.  There is no reason to continue the 3rd class medical at all.  If you can voluntarily drop the medical and fly, who needs it.   And while I'm on this soap box,  what's wrong with allowing the Cessna 100 series into the LS category?  My 150 qualifies in all respects, but it's 280 pounds over gross.  The 140's and 120's are less than 100 pounds over the 1320 gross for LSA's.  The original intent was to get their thumb on the ultralight outlaws and they never in the world thought anyone could manufacture a plane that would out perform the C-150 and remain in that weight class.  

The LSA manufacturers and the drivers license requirement has made a monkey out of the medical restrictions of the past.  It's time to admit it and open up the sport to all comers.  Not just to those with medicals and $100,000 in their pockets.

Considering replies I have received from both the AOPA and EAA, it appears to me neither organization has an interest in pursuing a change to the Sport Pilot Denial Medical Clause.  It is going to take a concentrated, dedicated effort by pilots of our status to get them to move, and I have written my second letter to the AOPA re the subject--I sent an E-mail to the EAA earlier. The first response was from the AOPA Medical Certification Director telling me I should essentially comply with the FAA directive to recover my medical.  The EAA Rep just expressed condolences. 

But something needs to be done for those of us in this "no man's land" who are really not a safety threat when flying.  If the Class III Medical can be eliminated, that is the ultimate solution.

George

Pretty much totally agree with all of the above! I am an ATP, Double-I, A&P, Flight Engineer and abunch of other stuff, but I cant go out and fly an LSA because of a denied medical. My neighbor, on the other hand has a valid Driv er's License, 3 DUI's, totally no color vision whatsoever, a prosthetic foot, two angioplasties and triple bypass surgery. So, he's good to go after 20 hours in a Cub. My 7,000+ hours in over 60 types counts for nothing! Nobody within the FAA or outside has ever been able to defend or explain this!

Interesting to note that this provision (and the gross weight at original certifcation Catch-22) were not in any of the versions of Sport Pilot that were submitted as NPRM's! That is to say, these were inserted after the comment period closed, and nobody was allowed to comment on them. Can anyone guess what the comments would have been?!?! Basically, major sections of the law were just dropped in at someone's whim and are essentially illegal, as there adoption into the final rule did not follow the law already in place in the FAR's.

Not only should these and a few other provisions be dropped, but somebody should end up stretching a rope for allowing this to happen!

Ben,

I agree that the denied Medical Clause is a bummer. One thing that I wish EAA and AOPA would push for is to go to a higher gross weight for Light Sport.  There is no reason at all that the Cessna 150, all Ercoupes and a whole bunch of other airplanes, even the Cessna 172 should not be considered Light Sport.  At the very least, the gross weight should be raised to 1600-1800 lbs. I agree that EAA and AOPA are sleeping on these issues.

Best regards,

Stan

Ben is spot on.

I doubt that EAA or AOPA will ever get much energy to support the Catch 22 category of pilots. AOPA gave advice of "Go buy a boat". Gliders and motorgliders are options.

What is really ridiculous about this is to see the line-up of people at the airport on AME physical night. Overweight, huffing and puffing coronaries about to happen but they can get a first class if nothing has happened YET. Others who have had a problem in the past, now eat right, exercise and trim down have to jump through hoops and pay a fortune to get a 3rd class.

Others that are on some meds that prevent problems, no history of problems for decades due to the miricles of science but must stop taking the meds for 2 years to qualify. That's safety???

Well, keep in mind that EAA and AOPA have no power, here.  It's the FAA's rule, and my understanding is that the FAA has flatly refused to reconsider that aspect of Sport Pilot.  If they won't listen, no amount of table-pounding is going to help.

If you want the change, we have to bring a wider spectrum of pressure on the FAA.  They don't have to listen to user's groups, but they DO have to listen to Congress.  Write to your Congresscritters and have THEM lean on the FAA.

But it was a Congresscritter that has caused the FAA counsel to rule the way they did. I beleive it was Oberstar that caused a lot of mayhem at FAA about medically unfit pilots...  That caused the FAA counsel to issue the rule.  Now we're stuck...

When a Federal agency alot of times wish to do something, they point accross the ocean and state its bring done there, etc, etc.

Go outside in a rural area and point up to the sky, and see how long it takes to see a general aviation aircraft  fly by your finger.   You may be there with your finger in the air for hours.

Now go to the interstate and point at the cars, non commercial going down the highway, and guess how many of the 40,000 auto dealths last year had a physical the last 2 years years or anytime  before they died in an auto accident.

My point is,  if there is a concern about dealths and accidents, then treat everyone in a fair and equal manner.   Physicals for auto drivers, boat drivers, and private pilots.  Do that and I will stop bitching about the FAA and their choking down the potential growth of aviation with stupid regulations.

I have never been denied a flight physical, 3rd, 2nd, or 1st class, but I will not take anymore of them, and take a chance of losing my LSA  flying.

Ralph

Just had a brain storm idea.  I will build an ultralite under 254 lbs, try landing it in 30 mph cross winds, and place a Vne of 150 knots on the placard.  Guess that will be safe, right?   But then again I am not sure, I did not have a physical!

Vne= never exceed speed.

Ralph

There can be a vast difference in the physical condition  of those driving cars, and thus those flying Sport Pilot, but i is rare for someone to have a lapse of ability to get the machine stopped(of down).  If I was concerned about my physical ability I would still not be so concerned as to stop driving, but I would be concerned about flying, and would thus ground myself.  In my case I can not pass the 3rd class, but work every day, mow grass, walk 2-3 miles, etc. with no problems and have no noticable problems.  keeping me on the ground is a loss to the aviation business/industry.

Dan Patton

I have spoken to EAA and AOPA until I am blue in the face about these issues.

I believe elimination of the 3rd class medical would have a huge positive impact on the active pilot population. 

Are the odds slim in getting things changed, yes.

It doesn't stand a chance without EAA or AOPA pushing the issue.

Both groups chose not to pursue changing any of this.

I have written to many FAA and DOT top officials and spoken to one. They have NO interest in changing this Catch-22 issue with the SP Denied Medical Clause. I am awaiting a reply from my US Senator in Washington DC with great interest.

EAA and AOPA have effectively given up on this issue altogether in my opinion.

I have flown ultralights, gliders, some light aircraft, many Air Force aircraft, and even did some banner towing, but the FAA says   I cannot legally fly a J-3 Cub around the pattern under the Sport Pilot Ruling.  How ridiculous is that!

Let's all get much more proactive in writing and even calling our elected US Representatives and Senators.

Our voices collectively could change this Catch-22 dilemma and allow many more certificated pilots back into the air.