Note that one of the features of Sport Pilot, medical certification, is not as liberal as many may think. It seems during final certification, the self medical gray areas were addressed a little more clear. Sport Pilots can "self certify" medically with a U.S. drivers license. BUT, if the pilot has held or applied for a Third Class or higher medical certificate AND that certificate was denied, revoked or suspended, the self-certification rule does not apply. For instance, if I had a heart attack today and tried to renew my certificate without success, I could NOT fly as PIC in a Sport Pilot-class airplane with my drivers license as a "medical" qualification. There are still a couple more issues prevalent in the doc ralated to what is disqualifying. Under sport pilot self certification, and also 3rd. class, if one is aware of a condition which would make for an unsafe operation one must deem himself unfit for operation. One can go to 61.53 and find reference to "a condition which would preclude one from obtaining a 3rd. class medical". This sentence is still contained in the doc as a definition of de-certifying conditions. It certainly appears the mere existance of a drivers license was a sticking point with the FAA and they tightened up the determining factors from the original doc. After spending some time reading the document I am more firmly convinced the sport pilot license was an attempt to bring the ultralights under FAA control and expand the commercial building market for aircraft under 1320 gross and 120 kt. max. They made it clear though, if you have been denied a medical you cannot self certify yourself.
See www.faa.gov/avr/arm/rulemaking/SportPilotRule7_19.doc Page 151: "The FAA has reconsidered the circumstances in which a current and valid U.S. driver's license should be allowed in lieu of a valid airman medical certificate and has made substantive revisions to the medical provisions in the final rule. These revisions are based on the FAA's concern that pilots whose airman medical certificates have been denied, suspended, or revoked or whose Authorization for Special Issuance of a Medical Certificate (Authorization) has been withdrawn would be allowed to operate light-sport aircraft other than gliders and balloons under the proposed rule. Therefore, possession of a current and valid U.S. driver's license alone is not enough to dispel this concern. For this reason, this final rule permits using a current and valid U.S. driver's license as evidence of medical qualification based on certain conditions. If a person has applied for an airman medical certificate, that person must have been found eligible for the issuance of at least a third-class airman medical certificate. If a person has held an airman medical certificate, that person's most recently issued airman medical certificate must not have been revoked or suspended. If a person has been granted an Authorization, that Authorization must not have been withdrawn." Dana Overall 1999 & 2000 National KR Gathering host Richmond, KY i39 RV-7 slider, Imron black, "Black Magic" Finish kit 13B Rotary. Hangar flying my Dynon. http://rvflying.tripod.com/aero1.jpg http://rvflying.tripod.com/aero3.jpg http://rvflying.tripod.com/blackrudder.jpg do not archive
