Privileges & Limitations
of the Sport Pilot Certificate

Flying Without an FAA Medical Certificate

Is this a big deal? Shouldn’t you have to pass a medical exam to fly a plane? At first glance, a medical makes sense. Aviation medical standards were formally developed in the early days of World War Two, and soon became the standard by which intrepid airmen were perceived to be superior human beings.

The fact is, many of the WW II based standards, plus new standards that are now applied, have no statistical relevance to flight safety or pilot performance. These standards do, however, require one to give up medical privacy, and often prevent very healthy people from flying for purely technical or, potentially, legal reasons. Isn’t there a better way? Yes, and all states in the U.S. refer to it as a driver’s license.

The common, every day, driver’s license carries with it a bag full of laws that say you must be healthy, legal and safe to drive a car. After all, when driving, you are often only a split second away from disaster if a catastrophic health issue surfaces.

Given the simple and safe nature of the Light Sport Aircraft like the Aldera, it has been concluded that possession of a valid driver’s license is sufficient proof of medical competence. So here is how it will work:

• As a new pilot who has never taken flying lessons before, you have probably never had a medical examination administered by an FAA Aviation Medical Examiner (AME). Therefore, you have no positive or negative medical history with the FAA. Simply be healthy, stay healthy, and fly with a current driver’s license as proof of minimum medical competence.

• If you do undergo an FAA medical examination, and have your medical application rejected, you will NOT be able to exercise the privileges of a Sport Pilot with a driver’s license as proof of medical competence. If you have any concern about the FAA medical exam, simply select an AME (check at the local airport or with pilot friends for a recommendation) and make an appointment for a “consultation” prior to actually filling out medical paperwork. This will allow your medical professional to treat you as a patient first and an FAA medical applicant second.

• If you undergo an FAA medical examination and have a medical condition that requires additional testing and a “Special Authorization,” both the medical certificate and authorization must remain in good standing. You may not use a driver’s license to show medical competence if a Special Authorization is withdrawn.

• If you are already a certificated pilot and have some concern about a technical issues with your medical certificate, or simply wish to bypass the medical bueaucracy, just let your medical expire or do not renew it. You may now exercise the privileges of a Sport Pilot.

• In all cases, you have to meet the provisions of FAR 61.53, which basically says that you should not fly if you know of a medical situation that could render you unsafe to fly. In other words, do not fly unless you are in good health.

Most importantly, accept the responsibility to keep yourself healthy so that you and your passenger will be safe and secure. The Aldera will do its part; you need to do yours!

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