Aircraft Owners and Pilots

[Paradigm]

Mariner, as I understand it, if you have a Valid Medical Certificate and permanently transition to Light Sport you are "good to go" with Light Sport as long as you have a valid Driver's License. You never have to take another FAA Medical Examination. If you are Rejected during a routine medical examination, then you are Not Eligible to transition to Light Sport. To get to Light Sport you would need to get that FAA Medical back.

Therefore, if a pilot has any concern about Light Sport Eligibility and passing the standard FAA Medical check then they need to think long and hard about the consequences.

Closer to home, I do not have all the answers but have followed this topic by reading various materials and talking to other pilots also considering this aviation option. Personally speaking, I am in physical and mental shape to pass the medical. However, all facets of issues associated with Medical Certificates, FAA general & specific flight regulations, and Light Sport are significant topics. Bottom line, is that if the FAA takes the Medical Certificate then the pilot becomes a Kiwi. Aviation Legend Bob Hoover has had his medical revoked and then reinstated, thoroughly reported in the press, and it took the FAA Administrator to over-rule the FAA Bureaucracy for Bob to get that medical back.

As for the fellow without a 1) medical, 2) license, and 3) instrument rating [which he was likely not current] he should not be flying. This pilot going into Class B O'Hare with an emergency fuel situation sounds like a situation where high-octane fuel is put onto the FAA fire. This is definitely not in the same category as the May 2005 event with the Cessna 150 over Washington, DC but this situation draws unnecessary attention to the pilot and General Aviation.

Most Class B airspace and airports are a place that Private Pilots would like to avoid if possible. Such things as procedures, high costs, and big iron are not necessarily friendly. Just speaking for myself, if I had to go into and out of a Class B airport it would definitely be on an IFR Flight Plan. I'm a VFR pilot only in places that I'm comfortable with. Operating IFR, even in CAVU conditions, reduces your probability of having to deal with FAA Interaction and paperwork that no pilot wants to deal with.

Fly Safe