Light-Sport Aircraft Yahoo group Re: I need help

In line with that, just an interesting anecdote:

 

About 7 years ago I was out at the airport at/near Hemet California (a real hotspot for  gliders – awesome thermals) taking preliminary training in a glider.

 

My instructor as we took off pointed out an older looking guy by the side who was working on a soar plane.

He mentioned that he was their FBO's head mechanic, 95 years old, still flying gliders, and "he's probably forgotten more about soaring and gliding the the rest of us instructors all put together currently know."

 

As a glider pilot he was flying without a medical.

 

Marc, in line with the point you're making:

Flying gliders in in many ways more difficult and in some cases more physically challenging than powered aircraft:

You have to make your landing on first try every time. No go arounds.

With their light weight very vulnerable to cross winds.

And by their very nature (with pilots preferring to go up when there are robust thermals) often flown in turbulence.

 

Yet the FAA in its wisdom thinks it's OK for them to fly with no medicals.

And, by the way, unlike sport pilots, glider can fly at any altitude with no medicals. Go figure. <g>

 

Oh, the training requirements for a private pilot glider certification are even less than sport pilot (at least on paper):

Are at least 16 years of age; and

Have logged at least 10 hours of flight time in a glider and that flight time must include at least 20 total glider flights, and

Have 2 hours of solo flight time in a glider, and

Have passed the FAA written examination; and

Have passed the flight exam with a FAA Examiner

 

Alex

 

Posted by: "Marc" averys_98550@comcast.net babygreatlakes

Tue May 1, 2012 10:54 am (PDT)

I'd like to point out another segment of aviation in this country with no medical certificate requirements. Does anyone have any idea how many millions of hours glider pilots have racked up with no requirement to hold a medical certificate, in deed even to the point that you can solo at the ripe old age of 14. I also believe the training requirements are about the same or less than LSA, but I can't confirm that right now. I'd say this is quiet an argument for relaxing or doing away with the class III medical as we know it.

 

 

 

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