Well Heck!
That's just too cool! I had seen a few sites with people with disabilities
flying, but I was unaware they could get commercial ratings! I think that is
great! Unluckily my condition would not allow the commercial or even a PPL ,
but it is really cool that amputees can and do fly commercial.
SSDI says they can work part time, just will be a matter of lying on one
medical or the other. I have no doubt that some at least were trying to
scam. I do agree with you playing it both ways seems somewhat unethical,
even downright unethical in a few of them I would imagine.

Patrick

"Sylvain" wrote in message
...
W P Dixon wrote:

Being disabled does not mean you can not fly, but if you are disabled
I do not see how you can fly for hire. Amputees fly airplanes , can they
get a commercial cert?

yes. I am paraplegic and hold a valid class-II (and have a commercial
ASEL and AMEL) and have been flying for hire (not as much as I'd like
though -- hey, any one needs to ferry something somwhere? :-), and
I am not alone (google International Wheelchair Aviators for more
details -- some of us hold class-I and are ATP); I don't get (nor
have I ever applied for) disability benefits (I don't think I'd
qualify) and do work for a living though. And I do find it somewhat
unethical to be playing both ways, but then again I don't know these
guys circumstances.

--Sylvain

ps technical details: I did have to do two 'medical flight tests'
with a FAA inspector, one when I got my class-III and another
one when I upgraded to class-II (and I'll have to do it again
when/if I upgrade to class-I); not really a check ride, just
enough to conving the inspector that I was safe; first one was
made in an ASEL and the second one in an AMEL (not required, but
the inspector said he'd be curious to see me fly one if I didn't
mind, and I never mind flying a twin :-)