Its been more than six years since the FAA established the sport pilot certificate. Along with the rules on what a sport pilot can and cannot do, there was something noticeably missing: Any requirement for a sport pilot to obtain or hold an FAA medical certificate, as long as he or she has a U.S. drivers license (and 288
Do We Really Need The Third-Class Medical?
Its been more than six years since the FAA established the sport pilot certificate. Along with the rules on what a sport pilot can and cannot do, there was something noticeably missing: Any requirement for a sport pilot to obtain or hold an FAA medical certificate, as long as he or she has a U.S. drivers license (and had not been denied a medical). At the same time, the new rules allowed anyone with a higher certificate to fly a light sport aircraft without a current medical but with a current drivers license.
Key Takeaways:
- The FAA's sport pilot certificate, established over six years ago, allows pilots to fly using only a U.S. driver's license (without a separate medical certificate) and has experienced zero documented accidents due to pilot medical incapacitation.
- The article concludes that a driver's license is a good, inexpensive indicator of pilot fitness, and that a medical certificate alone does not guarantee against in-flight incapacitation.
- Based on the success of the sport pilot medical exemption, a formal petition is currently before the FAA to eliminate the third-class medical requirement for pilots operating general aviation aircraft up to 6000 pounds.
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