Dereg The Medical

Sport pilots don’t have to have an FAA medical certificate to serve as pilot in command (PIC) of a machine meeting the light sport aircraft (LSA) definition. Instead, they must only carry a valid driver’s license. Since the sport pilot and LSA rules went into effect in 2004—10 years ago—the affected aircraft have not been falling out of the sky because their operators aren’t physically fit. We call that a success.

Key Takeaways:

• The article highlights the success of sport pilots using a driver's license instead of an FAA medical certificate for Light Sport Aircraft (LSA), noting no attributable medical-related accidents in 10 years.
• AOPA and EAA have actively campaigned to extend this privilege, first through a widely supported 2012 petition and later by backing H.R. 3708, the General Aviation Pilot Protection Act of 2013.
• H.R. 3708 proposes allowing pilots to use a driver's license for non-commercial VFR flights in aircraft up to six seats and 6000 lbs, based on the principle of "equivalent safety" demonstrated by LSA operations.
• The author strongly advocates for this deregulation, arguing it would benefit general aviation and aging pilots without impacting safety, while deeming the current medical certificate requirement unnecessary.

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