OK, let me see if I can clear the air on this.

Just because there is no requirement for glider pilots to have a Medical
Certificate doesn't mean there are no medical requirements for glider pilots
(there are, they are in 61.53).

61.23 says that glider pilots don't need a Medical Certificate. The
Certificate, in FAA terms, is an examination performed to a certain
standard, recorded on FAA Form 8500-8, and reviewed by AMCD in accordance
with standards. We don't need one of those.

61.53 says (as has been debated here and elsewhere for a long time) that we
glider pilots should restrict ourselves from flying when we "know or have
reason to know" that we can't fly safely. This is pretty vague: what does
"reason to know" mean? How to define "safe" in this context? Thus the
debate. If it were clear and unambiguous there would be no debate.

By the way, I think 61.53b applies to ultralight guys now, and sport pilot
guys, if that ever gets approved. The heading is something like: "For
operations which do not require a medical certificate." That's where U/L and
sport pilots will fall: no FAA medical certificate required, thus it applies
to them.

Bottom line. YES: there are medical requirements for us. NO: no medical
certificate needed for glider operations.

Bullwinkle

On 6/13/04 9:39 PM, in article , "ADP"
wrote:

Because you are not required to have a medical to fly gliders.
If the shoe does not fit you can not convict.

Allan


"Paul Lynch" wrote in message
news:7M7zc.900$Jk5.689@lakeread02...
It is simpler than that. If the FAA defines some 15 or 16 disqualifying
conditions that they do not waive for pilots requiring a medical than how
can you argue you have the incredible wisdom and insight that you are safe
to fly if you have one of those conditions?? By your logic anyone can
self-certify no matter what their condition simply because they believe
they
are safe to fly.