Does the 162 require a Medical?

[Murdoughnut]

Sounds like the type of question the Google machine should be able to answer pretty easily, but I can't seem to find it.

I don't have a medical and will be DQ'd from one as long as I'm on my current medication. A couple local schools rent Cessna 162s - I know they're classified as LSA, but I wasn't sure if that meant you only needed a driver's license, and what restrictions that placed on your flying.

Thanks.

 

[mshunter]

Is it an LSA, yes. Do LSA's require a medical, no.

But....your current medication most likely still disqualifies you from flying.

 

[Shiftace]

Once upon a time I looked at getting my Sport pilot license. Yes, 162 Skycatcher is a LSA.

If you have never been denied a medical, then yes you can use your current PPL as a sport pilot. No valid medical needed - as long as you have not been denied. You'll need a drivers license. No night flying and one passenger only as far as I can remember.

Here is what a quick google search led me to...

http://www.aopa.org/Advocacy/Regula.../Frequently-Asked-Questions-About-Sport-Pilot

 

[drunkenbeagle]

Is it an LSA, yes. Do LSA's require a medical, no.

But....your current medication most likely still disqualifies you from flying.

Not necessarily,

(2) A person using a U.S. driver's license to meet the requirements of this paragraph must—

(i) Comply with each restriction and limitation imposed by that person's U.S. driver's license and any judicial or administrative order applying to the operation of a motor vehicle;

(ii) Have been found eligible for the issuance of at least a third-class airman medical certificate at the time of his or her most recent application (if the person has applied for a medical certificate);

(iii) Not have had his or her most recently issued medical certificate (if the person has held a medical certificate) suspended or revoked or most recent Authorization for a Special Issuance of a Medical Certificate withdrawn; and

(iv) Not know or have reason to know of any medical condition that would make that person unable to operate a light-sport aircraft in a safe manner.

Of course, is there a list of medical conditions that would make a person unable to operate a light sport aircraft? I've never seen one. So I would think asking your doctor if he thinks it is safe, and self-assessing the impact is probably sufficient. Insurance company may well disagree.

Wouldn't hurt to talk to an AME either.

If all else fails, I can be self loading ballast with a medical if you feel like flying.

 

[drunkenbeagle]

Also, gliders - including motor gliders - don't require a medical. Lots of them are barely distinguishable from airplanes.

 

[Deleted member 27505]

Sounds like the type of question the Google machine should be able to answer pretty easily, but I can't seem to find it.

I don't have a medical and will be DQ'd from one as long as I'm on my current medication. A couple local schools rent Cessna 162s - I know they're classified as LSA, but I wasn't sure if that meant you only needed a driver's license, and what restrictions that placed on your flying.

Thanks.

It would qualify with a sport pilot license and a class 3 medical. However, if you had a 3rd class and had it invalidated on the basis of your current meds, the 3rd class is no longer valid with the DL. Bummer. If in doubt, don't shout it out... or something like that.

 

[mshunter]

Not necessarily,



Of course, is there a list of medical conditions that would make a person unable to operate a light sport aircraft? I've never seen one. So I would think asking your doctor if he thinks it is safe, and self-assessing the impact is probably sufficient. Insurance company may well disagree.

Wouldn't hurt to talk to an AME either.

If all else fails, I can be self loading ballast with a medical if you feel like flying.

Hence the preface of "most likely." I can't see the FAA letting someone fly an LSA with a condition that would disqualify them from having a 3rd classe medical. There may be exceptions though, again the "most likely" thing.

 

[drunkenbeagle]

Hence the preface of "most likely." I can't see the FAA letting someone fly an LSA with a condition that would disqualify them from having a 3rd classe medical. There may be exceptions though, again the "most likely" thing.

Well, if the FAA intended the sport pilot requirements to be the same as a third class medical, wouldn't they have just required the third class medical? But they did not do that.

The FAA says "get the opinion of your own doctor."

If I suspect I have a significant medical condition, but have never had an FAA medical certificate denied, suspended, or revoked, can I exercise sport pilot privileges using my current and valid driver's license, if otherwise qualified?

Response by the Federal Air Surgeon
You should consult your private physician to determine whether you have a medical deficiency that would interfere with the safe performance of sport piloting duties. Certain medical information that may be helpful for pilots can be found in our Pilot Safety Brochures.
https://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/medical_certification/sportpilots/response4/

Provided I otherwise qualify and have never sought FAA medical certification, am I authorized to exercise sport pilot privileges on the basis of a current and valid driver's license if I have a chronic medical condition such as diabetes?

Response by the Federal Air Surgeon
You should consult your private physician to determine whether you have a medical deficiency that would interfere with the safe performance of sport piloting duties. You may exercise sport pilot privileges provided you are in good health, your medical condition is under control, you adhere to your physician's recommended treatment, and you feel satisfied that you are able to conduct safe flight operations.

 

[Murdoughnut]

It would qualify with a sport pilot license and a class 3 medical. However, if you had a 3rd class and had it invalidated on the basis of your current meds, the 3rd class is no longer valid with the DL. Bummer. If in doubt, don't shout it out... or something like that.

Well my third class is expired - I haven't gone in to get it and had it denied or anything. I just haven't gone in to get it done because I know my meds are on the black list.

I had my medical revoked once about 10 years ago for something entirely unrelated - was on a stomach pill for GI issues. My AME issued a medical and then had the FAA come back and send me a "send it back" letter.

Just wasn't sure how the whole LSA thing worked. It's not a huge deal, I may just go up and fly with @drunkenbeagle just to dust off the cobwebs, just wanted to see if I'd be qualified to take a 162 up since the local school has one.

 

[Murdoughnut]

It would qualify with a sport pilot license and a class 3 medical. However, if you had a 3rd class and had it invalidated on the basis of your current meds, the 3rd class is no longer valid with the DL. Bummer. If in doubt, don't shout it out... or something like that.

Forgot to mention, I have a PPL, not a sport license, if that matters at all.

 

[GolfChuck]

I started my training as a sport pilot, as it worked out I got a private pilot license anyway. All my LSA time is in a C162, probably close to 100 hours. A private pilot may exercise the privileges of a sport pilot. The requirements are you must operate a plane that qualifies as an LSA (1320lbs MTOW, 120 mph maximum level flight speed at sea level, 1 passenger, day VFR only). Your most recent medical must not have been revoked.

As for the 162, it is is a great little airplane, but it did not fit the LSA cookie cutter model all that well, so it failed. It has a better power to weight ratio than a C172R, but because its O-200 engine is 100lbs heavier than a Rotax 912 with the same bhp and fuel burn, all that does is take away from the useful load. Also due to the maximum speed requirement, it has a power/climb prop. It has a very short takeoff roll and climbs like a beast, even under hot and high conditions, but once you level off, don't expect to go faster than 90 kts or so. It is great for poking holes in the sky locally though. It is light on the controls and really fun and easy to fly. I would have gotten it certified under a standard airworthiness certificate and increased the gross weight if I were Cessna, but instead she bit the dust.

 

[CFI A&P]

Forgot to mention, I have a PPL, not a sport license, if that matters at all.

My understanding is that your medication may prevent you from being able to self certify. I'm not an AME and I didn't sleep at a holiday inn last night so I could be wrong. However my friend that Is an AME explained to me that if you know or having a reason to believe that a current condition would prevent you from obtaining a 3rd then that condition also eliminates you from LSA as PIC.


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[drunkenbeagle]

It has a very short takeoff roll and climbs like a beast, even under hot and high conditions, but once you level off, don't expect to go faster than 90 kts or so. It is great for poking holes in the sky locally though. It is light on the controls and really fun and easy to fly. I would have gotten it certified under a standard airworthiness certificate and increased the gross weight if I were Cessna, but instead she bit the dust.

They also managed to have prop strikes around here more than anything else. But yeah, given the gross weight, not practical for flying with any of my friends.

 

[drunkenbeagle]

However my friend that Is an AME explained to me that if you know or having a reason to believe that a current condition would prevent you from obtaining a 3rd then that condition also eliminates you from LSA as PIC.

That's not the opinion of the Federal Air Surgeon, but to be fair, it is murky and there is little specific guidance from the Feds.

 

[Murdoughnut]

My understanding is that your medication may prevent you from being able to self certify. I'm not an AME and I didn't sleep at a holiday inn last night so I could be wrong. However my friend that Is an AME explained to me that if you know or having a reason to believe that a current condition would prevent you from obtaining a 3rd then that condition also eliminates you from LSA as PIC.


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Interesting - looks like I should ask an AME to clarify, or renew my AOPA membership.

 

[GolfChuck]

My understanding is that your medication may prevent you from being able to self certify. I'm not an AME and I didn't sleep at a holiday inn last night so I could be wrong. However my friend that Is an AME explained to me that if you know or having a reason to believe that a current condition would prevent you from obtaining a 3rd then that condition also eliminates you from LSA as PIC.


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I second this, even with a medical certificate, a pilot is supposed to evaluate every flight. I wouldn't go flying the morning after taking a dose of NyQuil either. I believe AOPA has a list.

 

[CFI A&P]

That's not the opinion of the Federal Air Surgeon, but to be fair, it is murky and there is little specific guidance from the Feds.

I don't disagree with you, it is a gray area, for now. The discussion I was having with my AME friend was about another friend that was acting as PIC post prostate cancer but before renewing/ obtaining a medical. As it was explained to me, once he was diagnosed the medical he had was no longer valid because he was not in the same medical state as he was the day he was examined for that medical. If that medical condition would disqualify you during a FAA medical exam, then the existing medical was null and void. The cancer diagnosis (or knowledge or a condition) trumpfs the issuance.


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[mshunter]

Well, if the FAA intended the sport pilot requirements to be the same as a third class medical, wouldn't they have just required the third class medical? But they did not do that.

The FAA says "get the opinion of your own doctor."

Are you just arguing for the sake of arguing? Or trolling?

P.S. If you're going to quote it, quote the whole thing.

Long-standing FAA regulation, § 61.53, prohibits all pilots — those who are required to hold airman medical certificates and those who are not--from exercising privileges during periods of medical deficiency. The FAA revised § 61.53 to include under this prohibition sport pilots who use a current and valid U.S. driver's license as medical qualification. The prohibition is also added under §§ 61.23 (c) (2) (iv) and 61.303 (b) (2) (4) for sport pilot operations.

So.....61.53 is pretty clear on having a deficiency, whether you need a medical or not. So, like I said, the medication being taken, if it would disqualify you from a 3rd class, still most likely would disqualify you from acting as PIC of any aircraft. Think about it like this. If you lose your medical or it is suspended, you now can't operate as a sport pilot and use your drivers license.

 

[drunkenbeagle]

Are you just arguing for the sake of arguing? Or trolling?

P.S. If you're going to quote it, quote the whole thing.

Quoted the the two relevant responses from the Federal Air Surgeon above. Both of them stated to consult your own private physician to determine if you have a medical deficiency that would interfere with piloting duties.

And there is a big difference here - how do you know that something would disqualify you from a 3rd class medical? How do you know that the FAA would not grant a special issuance? The only way to find out would be trying to get a 3rd class medical / special issuance. Which is not what the FAA's website says to do.

I don't think this system makes a ton of sense. And I think that the rules should be more clear. If the position of the FAA is that private doctors are on the hook for making the call, they should be publishing clear guidelines as well, which is not the case right now. Though my experience is purely anecdotal, nearly everyone flying under the rules that permit not needing a 3rd class medical is doing so because either they fear they wouldn't pass one, or don't want to pay the costs involved with a special issuance. That is at least the reality I see.

 

[CFIscare]

Alright, who else here completely forgot the Cessna 162 even existed?