Question about eligibility

J

Jethro1

New Member
I learned today that I don’t qualify for a 3rd class medical because I’m diabetic and take Wellbutrin and seroquel. Can I still get a sport pilots license? I have not applied for a medical yet and have a valid drivers license. The regs read as if you can’t get a sport license if you applied for a 3rd class and got denied, but I never applied for a medical at all. Any help would be appreciated. Here’s how it’s stated:


  • 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);
  • 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medical certificate) suspended or revoked or most recent Authorization for a Special Issuance of a Medical Certificate withdrawn; and
  • 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.
 
Do you self certify as meeting the medical standard you just found out that you didn't meet?
 
From what I can understand of the legal jargon the FAA has posted, I’m qualified to fly a LSA as long as my health issues are treated, my Dr thinks it’s okay and I can drive a car with my drivers license.
 
Jethro1 said:
From what I can understand of the legal jargon the FAA has posted, I’m qualified to fly a LSA as long as my health issues are treated, my Dr thinks it’s okay and I can drive a car with my drivers license.
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But you know that you have a medical condition that would make you unable to fly, which is why you don't qualify for a Third Class Medical.

Light Sport let's you self-certify without going to a Doctor, but it doesn't let you ignore disqualifying health issues.
 
I called AOPA earlier today and told the guy I talked to the same thing that I said above (about my medical issues). He’s the one that told me that I could do a sport pilots license. I came home to research about it and became confused by the wording. I also think the FAA is a bunch of crap with disallowing people that are healthy when being properly treated from flying. I could do more damage in a 4000lb SUV on the road than I could with a 1000lb plane in the air. Sometimes people know what’s best for them and not the bureaucrats.
 
Jethro1 said:
I called AOPA earlier today and told the guy I talked to the same thing that I said above (about my medical issues). He’s the one that told me that I could do a sport pilots license. I came home to research about it and became confused by the wording. I also think the FAA is a bunch of crap with disallowing people that are healthy when being properly treated from flying. I could do more damage in a 4000lb SUV on the road than I could with a 1000lb plane in the air. Sometimes people know what’s best for them and not the bureaucrats.
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If you are healthy under treatment, then maybe it's time to push the FAA to change the medical standards. I know they changed the rules to allow some anti-depressants a few years ago, so maybe there's hope for the stronger anti-depressants and anti-psychotics...
 
You so bring up a good point. I’m not exactly a boyscout but I’m heavily considering getting off the two meds, onto the FAA approved ones and then getting my sport license. I don’t consider the diabetes a disallower because I could potentially get a special issuance if I were to apply for a medical. But I’m still curious as it hasn’t necessarily been answered except by the AOPA guy, can I technically still get a sport license as long as I haven’t been denied a medical?
 
Were it just the diabetes, then that would be a perfect example of that a Light Sport certificate is for. Because for that, you can self certify as meeting the standard, rather than going through the lengthy and potentially onerous Special Issuance process.

You have to self certify that you meet the medical standard, which you have stated that you do not. If this is something you want to do, then discuss with your doctor the possibility of changing medication to an FAA approved one under their supervision.
 
You may have found yourself in a circular question about diabetes and sport pilot. A special issuance 3rd class is possible, depending on those medications. I have have a friend that held a special issuance 3rd for Type 1 diabetes with an insulin pump.

You’ll want to call Dr. Bruce in IL.
 
NickH said:
You have to self certify that you meet the medical standard, which you have stated that you do not.
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The point AOPA probably made is that a sport pilot does not have to self-certify that he or she meets the medical standards for a third class medical certificate or any Part 67 medical standard.

Here's the language in 61.53(a) that applies to self-certification for those who do need a current FAA first, second or third class medical certificate.

Knows or has reason to know of any medical condition that would make the person unable to meet the requirements for the medical certificate necessary for the pilot operation(a)

Here's the very different self-certification language for sport pilots in 61.23. It substantively the same as the language in in 61.53(b) applicable to any pilot who is not required to hold an FAA medical certificate, including glider pilots.

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.

Much fuzzier, much looser, and specifically not tied to Part 67 standards. Even looser than BasicMed, where there are specific medical conditions which require FAA review.

I have known pilots who have taken sport pilot too lightly. That's wrong. Even if not specifically required, for illnesses which are capable of causing incapacity, for example, one should include their physician in the decision-making process. And yes, there is potentially a self-fulfilling, perhaps self-delusional aspect to it, where someone obviously incapable convinces themselves that they are. That's an obvious potential problem without much data to support the idea it is an actual problem.

I'm not a doctor so I have no thoughts on how any form of diabetes under or not under control affects the ability to fly anything safely. But aside from that, If there has been no medical certificate application in the works, there's nothing technically preventing going the sport pilot route.
 
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The diabetes isn't an issue, as that could just be a special issuance away anyway. It's the multiple anti-depressents and anti-psychotics that are not approved even for SI.
 
NickH said:
The diabetes isn't an issue, as that could just be a special issuance away anyway. It's the multiple anti-depressents and anti-psychotics that are not approved even for SI.
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Correct, but that doesn't change the self-certification standard for sport pilots. It is "safely operate" not "meet the standards for the issuance of an FAA medical certificate," with or without an SI.

I'm just answering his question about the rules, not making his decision about whether he can comply.
 
@Jethro1, one piece of real advice. Remember that the FAA is even concerned with over-the-counter cold and allergy medication like first generation benadryl and sudafed. And it may not just be about changing medication. The real point is, don't make a decision like this alone. Ultimately, when you fly, you affect others. Not just those potentially injured in an accident, but friends and close family.

Whether a limitation is physical, chemical, or psychological, unless it's something as simple as "can I push the ruder pedals or climb onto the step of a 172 to check the fuel after my broken leg heals?" it's a decision to be made in consultation with your treating physicians. Think of it as a "back to work" letter after an injury.
 
Just did a search for: Drug Interactions between Seroquel and Wellbutrin.....

Might be a good idea to see if you can live without those two guys before flying airplanes.

Perhaps talk to some homeopathic physicians or other health professionals who don't prescribe such drugs.
 
I understand your concern, but most drug interactions and side affects are when taking a new drug. I believe I’ve been on this combo for 8 years or more. I am completely acclimated to them and function as any other human that doesn’t take psych meds. It’s like anyone else that normalizes from a long term medicine. Sure it was rough the first few days when I was first prescribed them, and I wouldn’t have even drove a car, nonetheless fly an airplane but that phase has been long gone for years. The FAA really needs to go by a case by case basis for the thousands of folks such as myself.
 
QXDX said:
I made the assumption that there is some sort of documentation one must sign to self-certify as being fit to fly.
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Nope. We use the term "self-certify" but that's just a shorthand phrase we commonly use. The regulation is actually written in the negative, even for those with FAA medical certificates. Basically it's a prohibition on flight during times of medical deficiency, not at affirmative certification, even for pilots with medical certificates.

The sport pilot wording is:

A person using a U.S. driver's license to meet the requirements of paragraph (c) while exercising sport pilot privileges must...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.

For holders of first, second and third class medicals, it's:

no person who holds a medical certificate issued under part 67 of this chapter may act as pilot in command, or in any other capacity as a required pilot flight crewmember, while that person Knows or has reason to know of any medical condition that would make the person unable to meet the requirements for the medical certificate necessary for the pilot operation;

It's one of the drawbacks to paraphrasing the regulations. We end up making up rules based on the paraphrase which don't really exist. For example, I've learned a lot of pilots think that when they have a medical problem they are required to report it to the FAA or their AME.
 
QXDX said:
What is the spirit of the regulation here? As far as I am concerned I have no medical condition that makes me unable to operate a light sport aircraft, but it's documented that I don't qualify for an FAA medical. So, am I able to get a light sport pilot certificate?
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Theoretically, yes. The spirit is that things that disqualify you from a transport jet don't necessarily disqualify you from something that requires less. We're talking here about aircraft with limited performance and pilots with more restrictions on what, where, and when.
 
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