Sport Pilot Talk

Nomore767 wrote: Under the new PBOR2 if you have a medical issued within last 10 years you don't need a new medical/SI and will just have to visit with your physician every 4 years, log it in your flying records, and complete the on-line review of medical issues every 2 years.



Someone earlier in this thread stated that there is a difference between an LSA and being a sport pilot. A PPL can fly a light sport to the extent that its properly equipped e.g.. lights for night VFR. It isn't equipped for IMC as is, presumably, your Liberty XL2.
So If you wish to continue flying where you can occasionally 'break through a layer' of IMC stay where you are. If you don't want to take advantage of the new PBOR 2 changes, you can fly an LSA as a sport pilot. You simply can't fly through a layer under IMC.

Two thing that I think are worth correcting.

1. It is not when your medical was issued, but rather when it expired that determines compliance that way PBOR2 is proposed. So if it went into law today as long as your medical had not expired on 10/31/2005 or before you would be OK. If a person was under 40 when their last medical was issued, it could have been issued as far back as November 2002.

2. LSA cuts a broad swath, it covers standard, primary, experimental AB, experimental LSA, and SLSA. Only SLSA built after a certain date in 2010 are prohibited from flying in IMC. SLSA prior to this could be flown in IMC if it was not prohibited by the manufacturer, and they had all the required equipment and test. All other LSA simply must meet the requirements of CFR 91.205.

3Dreaming wrote:

Nomore767 wrote: Under the new PBOR2 if you have a medical issued within last 10 years you don't need a new medical/SI and will just have to visit with your physician every 4 years, log it in your flying records, and complete the on-line review of medical issues every 2 years.



Someone earlier in this thread stated that there is a difference between an LSA and being a sport pilot. A PPL can fly a light sport to the extent that its properly equipped e.g.. lights for night VFR. It isn't equipped for IMC as is, presumably, your Liberty XL2.
So If you wish to continue flying where you can occasionally 'break through a layer' of IMC stay where you are. If you don't want to take advantage of the new PBOR 2 changes, you can fly an LSA as a sport pilot. You simply can't fly through a layer under IMC.

Two thing that I think are worth correcting.

1. It is not when your medical was issued, but rather when it expired that determines compliance that way PBOR2 is proposed. So if it went into law today as long as your medical had not expired on 10/31/2005 or before you would be OK. If a person was under 40 when their last medical was issued, it could have been issued as far back as November 2002.

2. LSA cuts a broad swath, it covers standard, primary, experimental AB, experimental LSA, and SLSA. Only SLSA built after a certain date in 2010 are prohibited from flying in IMC. SLSA prior to this could be flown in IMC if it was not prohibited by the manufacturer, and they had all the required equipment and test. All other LSA simply must meet the requirements of CFR 91.205.

Good points!

However, even if the LSA can fly under IMC the sport pilot couldn't unless he was a PPL with an IR. In this example the poster says he already has an XL2 which is similar, though heavier, than an LSA, is certified to fly IMC and so is he…and the upcoming PBOR 2 changes would be more relaxed for someone like him so why would he need to change?

If he develops a serious medical condition he's likely not going to able to fly anything, perhaps not even an LSA. If he applied and was denied/revoked then sport pilot option is removed. Plus even if the LSA is IMC capable he wouldn't be legal as a sport pilot.

Sounds like he is saying that if he develops a medical condition that prevents him from flying PPL/IR then he would like to drop into sport flying and fly IMC. I don't see how this is possible.

Nomore767 wrote:
Under the new PBOR2 if you have a medical issued within last 10 years you don't need a new medical/SI...

Is it based on the date issued, or the date it was last valid, ie "held"?

I thought it was the latter.

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SportPilot wrote:

FastEddieB wrote:

Nomore767 wrote:
Under the new PBOR2 if you have a medical issued within last 10 years you don't need a new medical/SI...

Is it based on the date issued, or the date it was last valid, ie "held"?

I thought it was the latter.

Based on the current wording of the bill, it is based on the last day you held an active medical, not when it was issued. My last medical was dated 5/25/2004. It expired at midnight 5/31/2006. I am good through 5/31/2016.

If President Obama signs the bill into law on 5/31/2016 or sooner, I am covered. If he signs it into law 6/1/2016 or later, it's LSA for me.

I have to ask the obvious question ... what difference does it make?

If you can't pass a Medical, are you legal to fly an LSA? Not "can you fly one", but are you "legal to fly one".

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Nomore767 wrote:

3Dreaming wrote:

Nomore767 wrote: Under the new PBOR2 if you have a medical issued within last 10 years you don't need a new medical/SI and will just have to visit with your physician every 4 years, log it in your flying records, and complete the on-line review of medical issues every 2 years.



Someone earlier in this thread stated that there is a difference between an LSA and being a sport pilot. A PPL can fly a light sport to the extent that its properly equipped e.g.. lights for night VFR. It isn't equipped for IMC as is, presumably, your Liberty XL2.
So If you wish to continue flying where you can occasionally 'break through a layer' of IMC stay where you are. If you don't want to take advantage of the new PBOR 2 changes, you can fly an LSA as a sport pilot. You simply can't fly through a layer under IMC.

Two thing that I think are worth correcting.

1. It is not when your medical was issued, but rather when it expired that determines compliance that way PBOR2 is proposed. So if it went into law today as long as your medical had not expired on 10/31/2005 or before you would be OK. If a person was under 40 when their last medical was issued, it could have been issued as far back as November 2002.

2. LSA cuts a broad swath, it covers standard, primary, experimental AB, experimental LSA, and SLSA. Only SLSA built after a certain date in 2010 are prohibited from flying in IMC. SLSA prior to this could be flown in IMC if it was not prohibited by the manufacturer, and they had all the required equipment and test. All other LSA simply must meet the requirements of CFR 91.205.

Good points!

However, even if the LSA can fly under IMC the sport pilot couldn't unless he was a PPL with an IR. In this example the poster says he already has an XL2 which is similar, though heavier, than an LSA, is certified to fly IMC and so is he…and the upcoming PBOR 2 changes would be more relaxed for someone like him so why would he need to change?

If he develops a serious medical condition he's likely not going to able to fly anything, perhaps not even an LSA. If he applied and was denied/revoked then sport pilot option is removed. Plus even if the LSA is IMC capable he wouldn't be legal as a sport pilot.

Sounds like he is saying that if he develops a medical condition that prevents him from flying PPL/IR then he would like to drop into sport flying and fly IMC. I don't see how this is possible.

What pilot certificate you must hold or what you do in a airplane is not defined by the airplane you are flying, but what you want to do in it.
What he said is he wished he had a LSA that he could fly IFR under private pilot privileges, and then switch to sport pilot privileges and no IFR if the need arose.

SportPilot wrote:

BrianL99 wrote:

SportPilot wrote:
If you can't pass a Medical, are you legal to fly an LSA? No "can you fly one", but are you "legal to fly one".

You don't need to be able to pass a Medical to be legal to fly an LSA. Read the requirements.

Can you give me an example of a condition that would disqualify you for a 3rd Class Medical, but wouldn't prevent you from exercising Sport Pilot privileges?

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BrianL99 wrote:Can you give me an example of a condition that would disqualify you for a 3rd Class Medical, but wouldn't prevent you from exercising Sport Pilot privileges?

Insulin-dependent diabetes. Generally, a special issuance medical will not be granted (so don't even try to apply!), but if well regulated, this condition would not prevent one from exercising Sport Pilot privileges. Of course, my insulin-dependent students and graduates are counseled to carry an injectable dose when flying, and granola bars or similar snacks in case their blood sugar plummets, and tend to self-monitor very closely. Consultation with one's personal physician is very important here.

BrianL99 wrote:Can you give me an example of a condition that would disqualify you for a 3rd Class Medical, but wouldn't prevent you from exercising Sport Pilot privileges?

Without getting into specifics, kidney stones below a certain size and in relatively benign locations.

The SI every year was an expensive PITA, and could lead to overtreatment, and a lot of anxiety waiting for the FAA to give its papal dispensation.

Now, my urologist telling me, "Should not be a problem" is sufficient. And if and when treatment is called for, the decision and timing are mine.

And, in consultation with my urologist, I'm intelligent and rational enough to ground myself if things ever looked "iffy". So far, the overall Light Sport experiment has shown that this level of self-appraisal does not seem to lead to increased risk of problems in flight.

Interesting, educational answers to the posed question.

Another dimension to this is the lessened down time from flying when recovering from a medical treatment. Seeing Eddie's post reminded me of his wife's joint replacement. Were she a PPL under this proposal, she could legally fly again as soon as her surgeon and/or GP and she felt she was capable of doing so safely. I'll wager a PPL with a 3rd class medical wouldn't be back in the cockpit so quickly.

BrianL99 wrote: Can you give me an example of a condition that would disqualify you for a 3rd Class Medical, but wouldn't prevent you from exercising Sport Pilot privileges?

The real answer is: "Any condition for which you have consulted with your personal physician(s), and both you and they agree that you can safely operate an LSA."

If you and your doctor both agree that you can safely fly an LSA, you are within the scope of the regulations. There is no set of disqualifying conditions for Light Sport privileges as there is for a third class medical. Instead it's left for the pilot to exercise reasonable judgment in consultation with his/her physician(s).

Now, if you are taking Vicodin, can't see fifty feet, and are prone to fainting spells, the FAA is going to have a field day with you when you crash. But then again, any doc agrees you are safe to fly under those circumstances needs a good slap.