Medical & Gross Weight Limits - Really about Safety?
Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2010 3:29 am
It would appear that the purpose for a pilot medical is safety for the pilot and passengers. Clearly a medical is appropriate for those taking responsibility for many lives (eg. commercial pilots).
So enter the LSA proposition with a self-medical assessment, driver's license medical and a gross weight limit, which seems to be working just fine. Pilots are not falling out of the sky because they don't have medicals. From what I have read there have been no medical related LSA crashes and most LSA "incidents" are attributed to private pilots transitioning down to LSA who underestimate the sensitivity of these "simple little planes".
Meanwhile LSA manufacturers are doing a tap dance (along with some very good design) trying to stay under LSA legal gross weight and max cruise limits.
One can't help but wonder...
Does it make sense to still require a medical for private pilots not carrying more than 1 passenger?
Would a Mooney or Cirrus SR22 pilot flying solo with no medical, no passengers, and higher gross weight pose any bigger safety hazard to himself or the pubic?
Would it make sense to waive the private pilot medical completely if the plane is under 3,000 pounds and not carrying more than one passenger?
So enter the LSA proposition with a self-medical assessment, driver's license medical and a gross weight limit, which seems to be working just fine. Pilots are not falling out of the sky because they don't have medicals. From what I have read there have been no medical related LSA crashes and most LSA "incidents" are attributed to private pilots transitioning down to LSA who underestimate the sensitivity of these "simple little planes".
Meanwhile LSA manufacturers are doing a tap dance (along with some very good design) trying to stay under LSA legal gross weight and max cruise limits.
One can't help but wonder...
Does it make sense to still require a medical for private pilots not carrying more than 1 passenger?
Would a Mooney or Cirrus SR22 pilot flying solo with no medical, no passengers, and higher gross weight pose any bigger safety hazard to himself or the pubic?
Would it make sense to waive the private pilot medical completely if the plane is under 3,000 pounds and not carrying more than one passenger?