FAA relaxes medical requirement for Sport Pilot Examiners
Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 9:57 pm
Six years into the LSA/SP rule, the FAA has finally corrected an oversight in the rules. Even though pilots operating an LSA (including flight instructors) can do so with the driver's license in lieu of a medical certificate, FAR 61.23(c) required all Designated Pilot Examiners (even those doing only SP checkrides in LSAs) to have a valid 3rd Class or higher medical certificate. That requirement was relaxed, effective today!
FAR 61.23(c) now reads:
"(c) Operations requiring either a medical certificate or a U.S. driver’s license.
(1) A person must hold and possess either a medical certificate issued under part 67 of this chapter or a U.S. driver’s license when-
(i) Exercising the privileges of a student pilot certificate while seeking sport pilot privileges in a light-sport aircraft other than a glider or balloon;
(ii) Exercising the privileges of a sport pilot certificate in a light-sport aircraft other than a glider or balloon;
(iii) Exercising the privileges of a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating while acting as pilot in command or serving as a required flight crewmember of a light-sport aircraft other than a glider or balloon; or
(iv) Serving as an Examiner and administering a practical test for the issuance of a sport pilot certificate in a light-sport aircraft other than a glider or balloon."
FAR 61.23(c) now reads:
"(c) Operations requiring either a medical certificate or a U.S. driver’s license.
(1) A person must hold and possess either a medical certificate issued under part 67 of this chapter or a U.S. driver’s license when-
(i) Exercising the privileges of a student pilot certificate while seeking sport pilot privileges in a light-sport aircraft other than a glider or balloon;
(ii) Exercising the privileges of a sport pilot certificate in a light-sport aircraft other than a glider or balloon;
(iii) Exercising the privileges of a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating while acting as pilot in command or serving as a required flight crewmember of a light-sport aircraft other than a glider or balloon; or
(iv) Serving as an Examiner and administering a practical test for the issuance of a sport pilot certificate in a light-sport aircraft other than a glider or balloon."
