Could Sport Pilots Use More Positive PR?

[designrs]

This would be a good topic for Sebring!

Could Sport Pilots Use More Positive PR?

1) At Airports: I know of one airport that was extremely anti-LSA in every way. They didn't like the airplane, the technology, the glass panel, the training, or the driver's license medical. It made me feel like a "second rate pilot" which is not right.
2) Crossing Borders: Does the US require a medical certificate to re-enter the country? If so it's ludicrous... because you didn't need one flying IN the country when you left!
3) International Acceptance: Our neighbors with whom we cooperate on many levels should accept our pilot certificates and driver's license medical. If it's good enough for the USA with our stringent national security and liability fearing legal system, it should be good enough for our friendly neighbors.
4) Insurance Companies: Those that demand a medical, or that don't provide proper terminology in the policies that they issue using terms like "pilot must have medical" and "standard airworthy certificate" even if they do actuallyl accept your documents and credentials.

[drseti]

3) International Acceptance: Our neighbors with whom we cooperate on many levels should accept our pilot certificates and driver's license medical. If it's good enough for the USA with our stringent national security and liability fearing legal system, it should be good enough for our friendly neighbors.

Let me address that one. Reciprocity policies between ICAO participating nations depend upon common standards. Those countries that have no equivalent to Sport Pilot licenses themselves just can't grant reciprocal privileges, since none of their own pilot can exercise similar privileges at home. When equivalency exists, reciprocity follows. So, the answer is to help other countries establish Sport Licenses of their own -- chiefly through the positive example of our success with this experiment.

[CTLSi]

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[SportPilot]

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[designrs]

I'm not unhappy with the restrictions. I'm not trying to fly jets or ask for additional privileges beyond the rating. It just would be nice to see Sport Pilots have a little more respect and accurate understanding in the GA community and pilot privileges that are uniformly accepted internationally by our immediate neighbors. Basically I think Sport Pilots could use more positive PR.

[SportPilot]

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[designrs]

I just changed the title of this thread... less bellyaching and more pro-active.

[designrs]

I think a better and easier solution is elimination of the 3rd class medical for Privates and higher rated pilots exercising Private Pilot privileges. Then, Sport Pilots who want more privileges can upgrade to Private.

I'd upgrade... and the whole Private Pilot GA fleet can thank the Sport Pilots for setting the safety president upon which that third-class medical exemption would be based.

[SportPilot]

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[FastEddieB]

I'm not unhappy with the restrictions.

Me neither, and this is coming from someone on the tail end of a flying career.

I'm just thrilled that just when medicals were becoming a real headache there was an easy path to stay in the air - one that had never been there before.

Only small gripe is that skill sets are not grandfathered. As I've said before, the day I allowed my medical to lapse, I did not suddenly lose the skill to fly "without visual reference to the surface", over 10,000', at night, etc. etc. I can still safely do all of the above, though I have to admit at age 65 my night vision is not what it once was, and I think my days of long night flights is behind me regardless.

But overall I'm just thrilled.

Oh, and in my little, backwater part of the world, there's really no prejudice against Light Sport that I can pick up on. With a generally aging pilot population, most pilots can relate to wanting to keep flying as long as they can, and Light Sport is just the ticket for that.

General acceptance will come in time, and the best thing we can do individually is to play by the rules and stay safe!

[CTLSi]

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[drseti]

can be flown by guys that cannot now pass a 3rd class medical.

I've said it before, and I'll keep saying it until you hear me: there's a big difference between "cannot pass a medical" and "choose not to renew a medical." And, there are lots of good reasons for a person in perfect health to choose not to renew a medical!

[CTLSi]

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[3Dreaming]

I know of several people who can get a medical that choose not to. For example someone who has had a heart attack, bypass surgery, or even just a stint put in will have to get a special issue medical the first few times after the incident. After a while it goes back to the normal issue process. The cost of the testing if it has to be paid out of pocket can be quite expensive. Some choose not to go through the process because of the expense. In one case I know of a pilot who had a angioplasty that his cardiologist said he didn't need, because the stress test showed one artery closed up .5mm more than the FAA would allow. The angioplasty and stint that followed will require an other waiting period and stress test to satisfy the FAA.
It is things like this that cause people who could get a FAA medical to choose not to get one.

[SportPilot]

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