Med requirements for Sport Pilot?

StraightnLevel

StraightnLevel

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Am I reading it correctly that Sport Pilot does not require anything beyond a drivers' license?

If so, does that mean that someone can train, solo, and get a SP certification without ever seeing a doctor?
 
That is correct... provided that you haven't previously applied for a medical and been denied.
 
StraightnLevel said:
Am I reading it correctly that Sport Pilot does not require anything beyond a drivers' license?

If so, does that mean that someone can train, solo, and get a SP certification without ever seeing a doctor?
Click to expand...
That's basically why the Sport Pilot concept was invented. We already had a handicapped version of the PPL (Recreational Pilot) but that one requires a medical.
 
StraightnLevel said:
Am I reading it correctly that Sport Pilot does not require anything beyond a drivers' license?

If so, does that mean that someone can train, solo, and get a SP certification without ever seeing a doctor?
Click to expand...

Yes. I did exactly that, then got Private after flying as a Sport Pilot for a couple of years.

Also, anyone with a pilot’s certificate can let the medical expire and limit his flying to Sport Pilot privileges, and many have done just that.
 
The only medical requirement is, when flying, the pilot does “Not know or have reason to know of any medical condition that would make that person unable to operate an aircraft meeting the performance limits and design requirements of §61.316 in a safe manner.”
 
midlifeflyer said:
The only medical requirement is, when flying, the pilot does “Not know or have reason to know of any medical condition that would make that person unable to operate an aircraft meeting the performance limits and design requirements of §61.316 in a safe manner.”
Click to expand...
I'll add to this that this comes from 14 CFR §61.53(b). You cannot act as pilot-in-command of an aircraft while you know or have reason to know of any medical condition that would prevent you from operating an aircraft in a safe manner.

Now...caveat...

If your most recent application for a medical certificate was completed and denied, OR your most recently issued medical certificate was suspended or revoked, OR your most recent Special Issuance Authorization was withdrawn, you MUST resolve this by obtaining a one time medical certificate before you are eligible to fly on your driver license under Sport Pilot privileges. However, if you have never applied for or been issued a medical certificate, OR your most recently issued medical certificate is expired (or if you have one that is still valid), then you are already eligible.

Your limitations without a medical certificate are day VFR, single passenger, no higher than 10,000 ft MSL, no faster than 250 KIAS, single engine, and aircraft meeting the requirements of §61.316. With a medical certificate, and with the appropriate night flying endorsement from a CFI, you can fly at night.
 
IIRC, it's no higher than 10,000 ft MSL or 2,000 ft AGL, whichever is higher.
 
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