Sport Pilot Schools that Require a Medical - Help Stop This

[drseti]

Their website states:

GCA is the only flight school in the region that offers a Light Sport Aircraft for rental

If that's true, then they can set pretty much any policy they want, without fear of losing students or renters to the competition.

They also say:

We train using the state-of-the-art, scenario-based training program that is exclusively available only to Cessna Pilot Centers.

Exclusively available? They are suggesting that nobody but a CPC has a state-of-the-art scenario based curriculum. I don't think so.

[TravelerMSY]

New member here. Sorry for bumping an old thread.

I'm in the New Orleans area. The school mentioned I guess can get away with it because they're the only one in the area (maybe the state?) with a LSA to train in. I am interested in LSA training but am at a standstill due to this policy. Sure, I could travel somewhere else for a multi-week intensive program, but I still wouldn't be able to rent anything from my home base. I guess that leaves buying a plane.

GCA's rental rates are pretty high too, compared to other schools. I guess they have to pay for the fancy Skycatcher somehow

I could likely pass a 3rd class medical with a special issuance (vision in one-eye), but I'm not convinced it's worth the trouble, and the resulting issues if I get denied.

They are pretty convenient to me out of KNEW. I may do a discovery flight with them and get to the bottom of this. Will report back.

[MovingOn]

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[drseti]

I checked out a Private Pilot who was blind in one eye in a Cherokee 180.

Only blind out of one eye in a Cherokee 180? So, he could see out of both eyes in a Cessna?

[MovingOn]

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[drseti]

I knew someone would react to that.

Yep, you just can't win.

[CTLSi]

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[designrs]

Requiring a medical of a Sport Pilot is absolutely baseless. The real problem is that it sets a very, very nasty precedent. Boycott flight school and their insurance company! Speak loudly to AOPA, the press and anyone that might listen.

Can you imagine if the Pilot Protection Act goes through but insurance companies still required a medical to rent planes? BULLSHINE!!

In fact, it should be a provision of the Pilot Protection Act that no insurance company (or any entity) can require a medical beyond what is required by the FAA.
(This would be a very good thing to state during the comment period!)

[MovingOn]

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[designrs]

I can see both sides of this issue. As pilots, we would want to be able to rent and fly airplanes without a medical. As FBO owners or leaseback owners, we might have a higher standard to rent our airplanes. Seems to me if I had an LSA on leaseback with the local FBO, I could require 1000 hours PIC to rent my airplane.

Yes, but the "higher standard" of a medical is baseless.
One could even argue that it is also in violation of the American Disability Act (ADA).

[MovingOn]

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[designrs]

You might also feel that you would only want to rent to male pilots. Is there any basis for that? Think you would get hammered by the media & lawsuits?

[designrs]

Maybe I would require a drug test.

That's an interesting argument.

[MovingOn]

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[designrs]

OK. Post edited and toned down.
It's a worthwhile discussion.