
Home Sport Pilot Shop Eligibility Requirements for Sport Pilot Medical Requirements for Sport Pilot Sport Pilot Privileges and Limitations Light Sport Aircraft Definition of LSA S-LSA / E-LSA Categories, Classes, and Sets Vintage Aircraft and Sport Pilots Production LSA Find a Sport Pilot Flight Instructor Links Training Materials	Medical Requirements for Sport Pilots A lot of people mistakenly believe that the FAA doesn't have any medical requirements for sport pilots. This isn't true. FAR 61.53 forbids a sport pilot from exercising his or her privileges "while that person knows or has reason to know of any medical condition that would make the person unable to operate the aircraft in a safe manner." In other words, like any other pilot, a sport pilot must self-ground during periods of known medical incapacitation. Where the Sport Pilot Rule differs is in two regards: 1. The "Driver's License Medical" Sport pilots (other than pilots who fly only gliders or free balloons, for which no medical certificate is required in any case) may satisfy the medical requirement in either of two ways: They must hold a currently valid Airman Medical Certificate issued by an Aviation Medical Examiner, or They must hold a currently valid U.S. driver's license. A pilot who uses a driver's license to meet the medical requirement must comply with any restrictions on his or her driver's license, such as the use of corrective lenses. Unacceptable Driver's Licenses Because all restrictions placed on a person's driver's license also apply to that person's use of the license to exercise Sport Pilot privileges, certain kinds of driver's licenses are unsuitable to satisfy the medical requirements of the Sport Pilot Rule. For example, "Junior Driver's Licenses" issued to people under the age of 18 may require that an adult be present while driving, or that the license only be used to drive to and from school or work. If conditions like these apply to your license, then you will have to obtain an Airman Medical Certificate before you solo. In addition, "farm driving licenses" issued by some states to youngsters who work on family farms cannot be used to satisfy Sport Pilot medical requirements because farm licenses typically limit driving privileges to farm vehicles or farm-related chores. Exceptions to the Driver's License Medical Individuals who previously held an Airman Medical Certificate or an Authorization for Special Issuance that has been denied, suspended, withdrawn, or revoked; or whose most recent application for an Airman Medical Certificate did not result in their being found qualified for at least a third-class Airman Medical Certificate cannot exercise Sport Pilot privileges. Pilots who fall into these categories should apply for an Authorization for Special Issuance in accordance with FAR 67.401. (Individuals whose Airman Medical Certificates have merely expired may use their driver's licenses to satisfy Sport Pilot medical requirements, provided they can meet the self-certification requirements of FAR 61.53.) 2. Effect of Chronic Medical Conditions There are certain medical conditions that automatically disqualify a person from obtaining an Airman Medical Certificate, but may not necessarily disqualify a person from exercising Sport Pilot privileges. Individuals suffering from certain conditions must go through a lengthy (and often expensive) process to request a Special Issuance from the FAA if they wish to obtain an Airman Medical Certificate. Most of these requests eventually are granted, but the process can be quite long. The disqualifying conditions include: Coronary heart disease Angina Myocardial infarction Heart replacement Cardiac valve replacement Permanent cardiac pacemakers Diabetes Psychosis Bipolar disorder Severe personality disorder Substance dependence or abuse Epilepsy Disturbance of consciousness Transient loss of nervous system function Special Provision for Sport Pilots Even though the above conditions (along with some others) normally disqualify a person from obtaining an Airman Medical Certificate, individuals suffering from these conditions may be able to exercise Sport Pilot privileges -- provided that their conditions are under control and that they have discussed the matter of flying with their personal physicians. In a nutshell, the FAA's position on this question seems to be that an individual who suffers from a chronic medical condition may exercise Sport Pilot privileges provided that all of the following conditions are met: The pilot is in "good health;" The pilot has discussed his or her health as it relates to flying with his or her personal physician; The pilot's personal physician has not informed the pilot that he or she has a medical deficiency that would interfere with the safe performance of sport piloting duties (or alternatively, that any such condition is sufficiently controlled so as not to interfere with the safe performance of sport piloting duties); The pilot is adhering to any and all medical treatment prescribed by his or her doctor; and, The pilot is able to conscientiously self-certify in accordance with FAR 61.53. What does "good health" mean? The FAA's stated position doesn't precisely define it. But a common-sense look at the Federal Air Surgeon's opinion and the text of FAR 61.53 suggest that "good health," for the purpose of exercising Sport Pilot privileges, consists of the absence of any current "medical condition that would make the person unable to operate the aircraft in a safe manner." Summary The Sport Pilot Rule allows individual airmen to exercise considerable discretion, after consultation with their physicians, in determining their fitness to fly. But this investment of trust is not a license to be reckless. Self-certification is a responsibility that must be taken seriously and exercised conscientiously.

Light Sport Aircraft

Medical Requirements for Sport Pilots

A lot of people mistakenly believe that the FAA doesn't have any medical requirements for sport pilots. This isn't true.

FAR 61.53 forbids a sport pilot from exercising his or her privileges "while that person knows or has reason to know of any medical condition that would make the person unable to operate the aircraft in a safe manner." In other words, like any other pilot, a sport pilot must self-ground during periods of known medical incapacitation.

Where the Sport Pilot Rule differs is in two regards:

1. The "Driver's License Medical"

Sport pilots (other than pilots who fly only gliders or free balloons, for which no medical certificate is required in any case) may satisfy the medical requirement in either of two ways:

They must hold a currently valid Airman Medical Certificate issued by an Aviation Medical Examiner, or
They must hold a currently valid U.S. driver's license.

A pilot who uses a driver's license to meet the medical requirement must comply with any restrictions on his or her driver's license, such as the use of corrective lenses.

Unacceptable Driver's Licenses

Because all restrictions placed on a person's driver's license also apply to that person's use of the license to exercise Sport Pilot privileges, certain kinds of driver's licenses are unsuitable to satisfy the medical requirements of the Sport Pilot Rule.

For example, "Junior Driver's Licenses" issued to people under the age of 18 may require that an adult be present while driving, or that the license only be used to drive to and from school or work. If conditions like these apply to your license, then you will have to obtain an Airman Medical Certificate before you solo.

In addition, "farm driving licenses" issued by some states to youngsters who work on family farms cannot be used to satisfy Sport Pilot medical requirements because farm licenses typically limit driving privileges to farm vehicles or farm-related chores.

Exceptions to the Driver's License Medical

Individuals who previously held an Airman Medical Certificate or an Authorization for Special Issuance that has been denied, suspended, withdrawn, or revoked; or whose most recent application for an Airman Medical Certificate did not result in their being found qualified for at least a third-class Airman Medical Certificate cannot exercise Sport Pilot privileges.

Pilots who fall into these categories should apply for an Authorization for Special Issuance in accordance with FAR 67.401.

(Individuals whose Airman Medical Certificates have merely expired may use their driver's licenses to satisfy Sport Pilot medical requirements, provided they can meet the self-certification requirements of FAR 61.53.)

2. Effect of Chronic Medical Conditions

There are certain medical conditions that automatically disqualify a person from obtaining an Airman Medical Certificate, but may not necessarily disqualify a person from exercising Sport Pilot privileges.

Individuals suffering from certain conditions must go through a lengthy (and often expensive) process to request a Special Issuance from the FAA if they wish to obtain an Airman Medical Certificate. Most of these requests eventually are granted, but the process can be quite long. The disqualifying conditions include:

Coronary heart disease
Angina
Myocardial infarction
Heart replacement
Cardiac valve replacement
Permanent cardiac pacemakers
Diabetes
Psychosis
Bipolar disorder
Severe personality disorder
Substance dependence or abuse
Epilepsy
Disturbance of consciousness
Transient loss of nervous system function

Special Provision for Sport Pilots

Even though the above conditions (along with some others) normally disqualify a person from obtaining an Airman Medical Certificate, individuals suffering from these conditions may be able to exercise Sport Pilot privileges -- provided that their conditions are under control and that they have discussed the matter of flying with their personal physicians.

In a nutshell, the FAA's position on this question seems to be that an individual who suffers from a chronic medical condition may exercise Sport Pilot privileges provided that all of the following conditions are met:

The pilot is in "good health;"
The pilot has discussed his or her health as it relates to flying with his or her personal physician;
The pilot's personal physician has not informed the pilot that he or she has a medical deficiency that would interfere with the safe performance of sport piloting duties (or alternatively, that any such condition is sufficiently controlled so as not to interfere with the safe performance of sport piloting duties);
The pilot is adhering to any and all medical treatment prescribed by his or her doctor; and,
The pilot is able to conscientiously self-certify in accordance with FAR 61.53.

What does "good health" mean? The FAA's stated position doesn't precisely define it. But a common-sense look at the Federal Air Surgeon's opinion and the text of FAR 61.53 suggest that "good health," for the purpose of exercising Sport Pilot privileges, consists of the absence of any current "medical condition that would make the person unable to operate the aircraft in a safe manner."

Summary

The Sport Pilot Rule allows individual airmen to exercise considerable discretion, after consultation with their physicians, in determining their fitness to fly. But this investment of trust is not a license to be reckless. Self-certification is a responsibility that must be taken seriously and exercised conscientiously.