glider pilot medicals

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?

Regardless of the specific wording of FAA rules, you cannot self-certify to be in good health for aviation purposes if you have failed a medical!

Mike

Originally Posted by Mike the Strike

Regardless of the specific wording of FAA rules, you cannot self-certify to be in good health for aviation purposes if you have failed a medical!

Mike

I'm not so sure this is always the case. Let's say a pilot fails an FAA medical because his blood pressure was too high. He receives treatment, including a blood pressure medication that is permitted by the FAA, and his blood pressure is brought under control and well within the standards set by the FAA.

Is that pilot now required to take and pass a subsequent FAA medical in order to be able to self-certify that he is in good health for aviation purposes? I don't see why a subsequent medical exam would be necessary for glider operations.

Jordan

On May 2, 3:16*pm, jherzog wrote:
Mike the Strike;814194 Wrote:

Regardless of the specific wording of FAA rules, you cannot self-certify
to be in good health for aviation purposes if you have failed a medical!

Mike

I'm not so sure this is always the case. *Let's say a pilot fails an FAA
medical because his blood pressure was too high. *He receives treatment,
including a blood pressure medication that is permitted by the FAA, and
his blood pressure is brought under control and well within the
standards set by the FAA.

Is that pilot now required to take and pass a subsequent FAA medical in
order to be able to self-certify that he is in good health for aviation
purposes? *I don't see why a subsequent medical exam would be necessary
for glider operations.

Jordan

--
jherzog

I am a senior AME and glider and power pilot. I can tell you with
certainty that as long as you are in good health when you fly, that
failing a FAA medical does not disqualify you for glider and/or
balloon flight.

Rich

On Friday, May 11, 2012 1:20:54 PM UTC-6, thing73 wrote:
On May 2, 3:16*pm, jherzog wrote:
Mike the Strike;814194 Wrote:

Regardless of the specific wording of FAA rules, you cannot self-certify
to be in good health for aviation purposes if you have failed a medical!

Mike

I'm not so sure this is always the case. *Let's say a pilot fails an FAA
medical because his blood pressure was too high. *He receives treatment,
including a blood pressure medication that is permitted by the FAA, and
his blood pressure is brought under control and well within the
standards set by the FAA.

Is that pilot now required to take and pass a subsequent FAA medical in
order to be able to self-certify that he is in good health for aviation
purposes? *I don't see why a subsequent medical exam would be necessary
for glider operations.

Jordan

--
jherzog

I am a senior AME and glider and power pilot. I can tell you with
certainty that as long as you are in good health when you fly, that
failing a FAA medical does not disqualify you for glider and/or
balloon flight.

Rich

http://www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=16962

On Wednesday, May 2, 2012 2:01:15 PM UTC-5, Mike the Strike wrote:
Regardless of the specific wording of FAA rules, you cannot self-certify to be in good health for aviation purposes if you have failed a medical!

Mike

what if the condition that caused you to fail the medical has been resolved?

At 19:27 02 May 2012, Tony wrote:
On Wednesday, May 2, 2012 2:01:15 PM UTC-5, Mike the Strike
wrote:
Regardless of the specific wording of FAA rules, you cannot
self-certify
to be in good health for aviation purposes if you have failed a
medical!

Mike

what if the condition that caused you to fail the medical has been
resolved?


The FARs are clear that different medical rules apply to glider
pilots. A glider pilot indeed does not need to hold any medical
certificate, and the FARs do not require that he has not failed a
medical certificate. He is only required to be able to honestly
believe he is fit to fly on the specific day he wants to fly.

I'm not sure why the FAA made these rules. My guess is, as an
extreme example, an illness that will cause death in one or two
years would mean that a 3rd class FAA medical can't be obtained,
even though the pilot may still be perfectly ok to fly that day, and
for many months to come. The FARs are written to allow a glider
pilot to use that time to legally fly, on all days when he honestly
believes he is fit to fly. Like all pilots, holding a medical certificate
or not, glider pilots are expected to ground themselves on any
days when they are not fit to fly.