glider pilot medicals

[Andrew Wood[_2_]]

re the letter in this months issue of Soaring regarding glider pilot
medicals: I think this letter confuses the medical requirements for
power planes, LSA and gliders. As I read the FARs (61.23, 61.53)
a US glider pilot does not need a FAA medical, or a drivers
license, to fly a glider, and I see no rule saying its not ok for a
glider pilot to have failed a FAA medical. I recall FAR 61.23 used
to say that for a LSA, one could not have failed a FAA medical, but
this seems to have disappeared from the latest version of 61.23.
Anyone know where that part of the rule went to?

[T[_2_]]

On May 1, 9:36*pm, Andrew Wood > wrote:
> re the letter in this months issue of Soaring regarding glider pilot
> medicals: I think this letter confuses the medical requirements for
> power planes, LSA and gliders. As I read the FARs (61.23, 61.53)
> a US glider pilot does not need a FAA medical, or a drivers
> license, to fly a glider, and I see no rule saying its not ok for a
> glider pilot to have failed a FAA medical. I recall FAR 61.23 used
> to say that for a LSA, one could not have failed a FAA medical, but
> this seems to have disappeared from the latest version of 61.23.
> Anyone know where that part of the rule went to?

Addressing LSA,
61.303(b)(3) cannot have failed a previous FAA Medical or had an SI
withdrawn ..
and 61.303(b)(4) does not know of have reason to know if you have a
medical issue ..

Private or higher Glider rating 61.53(b) Not known to have a
deficiency.. if you have failed a FAA Class medical, then you have
reason to know you have a deficiency.

After that it's up to the lawyers to interpret.

T