FAA Medical

[goinggolfn]

I was wondering, I have conflicting stories regarding an FAA Medical to fly a LSA. The plane will be under 1000lbs. I was told by a couple of people that you have to have a sport pilot license to fly a light sport aircraft, and I was told you did not have to have one. I have looked around and cannot be 100% sure who is right or wrong. I have been flying for the last couple of weeks in a Cessna 172, but others tell me I should train in a LSA. Please shed some light and truth to this.

Thank you

Lloyd

[3Dreaming]

You can fly a LSA with any pilot certificate, though a student certificate also requires an endorsement. For sport pilot your state drivers' license will serves as you medical. For all other aircraft ratings you will need a medical, except glider and balloon. For sport pilot training you can do some in the C172, but you will need to finish and do the check ride in a LSA.

[drseti]

Lloyd, the 172 handles very differently from an LSA, so if your mission is satisfied by an LSA, and that's the type of aircraft you're planning to fly, it is to your advantage to do your training (or as much of it as you can) in an LSA. Also, unless you have a current FAA Medical Certificate, you won't be able to fly the 172 solo, while the LSA can be soloed on a driver's license (plus, of course, a student pilot certificate and appropriate logbook endorsements). And just because a given aircraft weighs 1000 pounds doesn't automatically make it an LSA -- there are other considerations (cruise speed, stall speed, type of landing gear, engine, and prop, number of seats, etc.) Of course, the quad city challenger will probably be an LSA, and can be registered as either an ELSA or an E-AB (unless, of course, it's factory built, in which case it might be registered as an SLSA).

[zaitcev]

I was told by a couple of people that you have to have a sport pilot license to fly a light sport aircraft, and I was told you did not have to have one.

I am sure you realize that Medical certificate and Pilot's certificate are two distinct documents, and that a medical certificate is not necessary to operate an SP-compatible aircraft (such as an LSA). So, the confusion is about the possibility to fly a 172 while in possession of a Student certificate, but not a Medical certificate. I am not comfortable disagreeing with Dr. Shuch on this, but it was my understanding that it is not permitted. A student has to have a medical to operate a 172 solo, even with all appropriate endorsements, and that is the main hurdle for people who want to get Sport certificate by flying a GA trainer.

If I understand the regulations correctly, you have a couple of avenues to work around this problem.

First way, you can buy your own LSA (either S-LSA or E-LSA) or an SP-compatible EX-AB. Nothing prevents you from buying an airplane that you cannot legally fly. Many rich people buy jets and hire pilots to fly them. Once you have the airplane, complete your training in it, pass your checkride, and be happy. This practice used to be more common. I think I met someone who bought a Comanche before he even soloed in the 80s, and he still flies it today.

Second way, overcome your distaste for federal bureaucracy, obtain 3rd class Medical (it's not hard at all), complete your training in 172, then let the Medical lapse, and voila. It's how most people get into LSAs nowadays. Dr. Shuch cautioned against doing that while being very fresh by mentioning "the 172 handles very differently from an LSA". He's got a point, but you can hire a local instructor to fly with you for a few hours while you get familiar with your new airplane.

[3Dreaming]

Of course, the quad city challenger will probably be an LSA, and can be registered as either an ELSA or an E-AB (unless, of course, it's factory built, in which case it might be registered as an SLSA).

The only ELSA Challengers are the ones that received a airworthiness certificate during the transition period that ended January 31, 2008.
They don't offer a SLSA version.

[3Dreaming]

I was told by a couple of people that you have to have a sport pilot license to fly a light sport aircraft, and I was told you did not have to have one.

I am sure you realize that Medical certificate and Pilot's certificate are two distinct documents, and that a medical certificate is not necessary to operate an SP-compatible aircraft (such as an LSA). So, the confusion is about the possibility to fly a 172 while in possession of a Student certificate, but not a Medical certificate. I am not comfortable disagreeing with Dr. Shuch on this, but it was my understanding that it is not permitted. A student has to have a medical to operate a 172 solo, even with all appropriate endorsements, and that is the main hurdle for people who want to get Sport certificate by flying a GA trainer.

If I understand the regulations correctly, you have a couple of avenues to work around this problem.

First way, you can buy your own LSA (either S-LSA or E-LSA) or an SP-compatible EX-AB. Nothing prevents you from buying an airplane that you cannot legally fly. Many rich people buy jets and hire pilots to fly them. Once you have the airplane, complete your training in it, pass your checkride, and be happy. This practice used to be more common. I think I met someone who bought a Comanche before he even soloed in the 80s, and he still flies it today.

Second way, overcome your distaste for federal bureaucracy, obtain 3rd class Medical (it's not hard at all), complete your training in 172, then let the Medical lapse, and voila. It's how most people get into LSAs nowadays. Dr. Shuch cautioned against doing that while being very fresh by mentioning "the 172 handles very differently from an LSA". He's got a point, but you can hire a local instructor to fly with you for a few hours while you get familiar with your new airplane.

I don't think you are disagreeing with Paul. What he said is that he can not solo the 172 without a medical certificate.

What makes a aircraft a LSA is the fact that it meets the CFR 1.1 definition of a LSA, and not what kind of airworthiness certificate it holds.
For example a EAB that meets the CFR 1.1 definition of a LSA, is a LSA because it met the definition. SLSA and ELSA are called that because of the rules under which their airworthiness certificates are issued, not that they are LSA. That being said the must be a LSA to have the airworthiness certificate issued under those rules.

[drseti]

. A student has to have a medical to operate a 172 solo, even with all appropriate endorsements, and that is the main hurdle for people who want to get Sport certificate by flying a GA trainer.

That's entirely correct, Pete.