Mike - That's great news about the rule change in the U.K. Can you fly IFR without a medical?
I probably won't live long enough to see it here in the U.S., but I hope that someday the class 3 medical is totally eliminated for pilots who are not flying for hire. In the U.S. glider pilots have never had to have a medical, and the accident rate for medical incapacitation accidents is the same for glider and powered aircraft pilots. And many power pilots who have lost their medicals revert to glider flying to stay aloft in at least something. So you can make a valid argument that theirs is a less fit sample of pilots. Still, no increase in medical related accidents. Jerry E. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Mike Willis Sent: Saturday, April 19, 2008 5:14 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [ercoupe-tech] Re: Proposed rule changes ie is it a C or a D Very fortunately for me and many others, we have a 'non-medical' license in the UK. The NPPL (National Private Pilots Licence) was brought in a few years ago and does not require a medical, just a valid drivers licence. In fact due to my medical history I can only get a 3 year drivers licence before I have to reapply and have my application supported by my doctor. But I can still fly! Compared to a 'normal' JAA PPL I am restricted to daytime VFR, and can only fly outside the UK with written permission from that country (reciprocal arrangements are not in place yet). Very sensibly the CAA (our equivalent of the FAA) did not impose any weight restriction so I can legally fly any type I would otherwise have been able to fly. As well as allowing many people like myself to start flying, the scheme has also allowed many veteran pilots to stay in the air. I may be wrong, but I believe there have been no increase in accident rates etc. since the NPPL scheme was introduced. Mike ----- Original Message ----- From: Jerry Eichenberger To: John Cooper ; [email protected] Sent: Thursday, April 17, 2008 4:09 PM Subject: RE: [ercoupe-tech] Re: Proposed rule changes ie is it a C or a D I agree with John Cooper. The sport pilot rule is the best thing since sliced bread. Let's not screw with it, and open up cans of worms, when the comments affect only a tiny minority of those exercising sport pilot privileges. I'm just thankful we have an enlightened FAA (and I mean that) who allowed guys like me to continue flying. Sure, we all could have written it differently, but remember that virtually everywhere else in the world, even glider pilots have to have medicals, and medicals with far stricter standards than our 3rd class. I know of no other country that allows real, powered airplanes to be flown without a medical - not even Canada. Be thankful for what we've got - it's good. Jerry E. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of John Cooper Sent: Thursday, April 17, 2008 10:47 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [ercoupe-tech] Re: Proposed rule changes ie is it a C or a D >>Would this even effect any other certificated aircraft but the Ercoupe? If so maybe it would be a small enough change that they would go for it.<< I know for a fact that there are Luscombes that would be affected. Also probably some Taylorcrafts. Maybe others, but I don't know. I think you want to stress meeting the type certificate as the criteria, and avoid discussions around planes that have been converted incorrectly. The latter would open a huge can of worms that is best avoided, IMHO. John Cooper Skyport Services 4996 Delaware Tnpk Rensselaerville, NY 12147 518 797-3064 www.skyportservices.net
