'Sport pilots' taking off, leaving critics
worried 
GP: Airport now open to those with less training, no medical
certificate
09:21 PM CDT on Saturday, June 17, 2006
By KATHY A. GOOLSBY / The Dallas Morning News
GRAND PRAIRIE – Imagine being legally able to fly a plane with
little more than a valid driver's license, only half as much in-the-air experience
as a private pilot – and none of the strict medical requirements.
It's true. Grand Prairie officials tweaked the city's airport
regulations this month to allow a new category of pilots to operate at the
facility. Previously, pilots operating at Grand Prairie Municipal Airport were
required to have a medical certificate that had been issued by the Federal
Aviation Administration; now the certificate only needs to be recognized by the
FAA.
The seemingly minor change opens the field to sport pilots, whose
only required medical certification is a valid U.S. driver's license. The FAA
approved this new classification of aviators in July 2004, creating an easier
and less expensive way to get into flying – and raising safety concerns among
some more experienced pilots in North Texas and elsewhere.
DallasNews.com/Extra
"Those of us who have gone through extensive training to get
a pilot's license are asking, 'Why?' " said Cynthia Godfrey, operations
director of the Mesquite City Airport. "If they don't have to get a
medical, or if there are ones who do this because they can't pass the medical,
then they probably shouldn't be flying."
Sport pilot certification was created to fill a gap between those
who fly ultralight vehicles, which are not FAA certified, and heavier aircraft
used by recreational and private pilots, said Larry Clymer, the FAA's light
sport aviation branch manager.
"Most incapacitations are not caused by medical
problems," said Mr. Clymer. "The thinking was we could do this and do
it safely. With sport pilots, it's between you and your doctor, not you and the
FAA."
Sport pilots are authorized to fly light sport aircraft, which
have a maximum of two seats and a maximum speed of 120 knots, about 138 mph.
But some people are concerned about sport pilots who are off the
FAA's radar – for instance, private pilots who may have developed medical
problems, let their medical certification lapse and are flying under sport
pilot conditions.
FAA spokesman Roland Herwig said it's impossible to know how many
private pilots are flying as sport pilots, because recertification is not
required. Their private pilot's license and a valid driver's license allow them
to fly under sport pilot regulations.
"Sport pilot is easy because it doesn't require a medical,
and that's my concern," said Thomas Nielsen, chief instructor for Mesquite
Aviation. "It depends on the medical condition, but you're going to have a
lot of guys who want to fly but have a disease, like epileptic attacks, who
shouldn't be flying."
FAA rules state that a sport pilot must not have been denied his
or her most recent application for a medical certificate. But because only
those pilots who apply for a medical certificate risk being denied, many simply
choose not to reapply. That way, they can continue to fly as a sport pilot
using their driver's license, including any restrictions noted on the license,
as their medical certificate.
North Dallas physician Gabriel Fried, who has been doing FAA
medical exams for more than 30 years, said many pilots probably could pass the
physical even with medical problems.
"When I started doing these, anyone with coronary [disease]
or diabetes was automatically grounded," said Dr. Fried, who said he does
3,500 to 4,000 aviation exams annually. "But the FAA is aware of medical
improvements, and they'll work with pilots, depending on the problem."
Fit for
flying?
Despite the FAA's accommodations, many older private pilots remain
hesitant to take FAA medical tests, said Glen Hyde, manager of Northwest
Regional Airport, a private airfield in Roanoke.
"What I like about 'sport pilot,' " he said, "is it
does make some allowance for older pilots with years and years of experience
and allows them to keep flying if they have a health issue. But now that's a
broad stroke because you've got to declare yourself fit for flying."
That's not just an ideal, it's the law. FAA regulations prohibit
pilots from operating any aircraft if a medical deficiency would interfere with
their ability to do so safely.
The Mesquite airport's Ms. Godfrey says the majority of pilots
will police themselves when it comes to health issues.
"Most people who have medical problems know their
limitations, and I don't know too many pilots who wouldn't say, 'If I can't do
this, I shouldn't be flying,' " Ms. Godfrey said. "I've been in this
business 25 years, and I think 99.9 percent of pilots would be very
conscientious about it."
Ken Wiegand, head of Collin County Regional Airport in McKinney,
said he feels safer among pilots than among drivers – even pilots with medical
problems.
"There's a conception that a pilot will have a heart attack
and come down on my house, and yet we let 16-year-olds drive, and there are
millions of people on the highways every day trying not to bump into each
other," Mr. Wiegand said.
"I know there are folks out there with weak hearts and minds
going down the highway doing 80."
In the 10 years that the FAA has been certifying recreational
pilots – who must meet the same medical requirements as private pilots – only
271 pilots have opted for that certification, Mr. Clymer said. By comparison,
it has issued 246 sport pilot certifications in the last two years.
'Quite a
buzz'
At Aviator Air Centers Inc. at Grand Prairie Municipal Airport, about
a dozen students are working to become sport pilots, said Morgan Thompson, the
flight school's general manager.
"It's a fairly new certification, but it's created quite a
buzz," Mr. Thompson said. "We have a few older students, but most are
in their 30s to 50s."
Doug Reeves of Plano began working two months ago on sport pilot
certification at Aviator Air Centers, one of the few area flight schools that
have a light sport aircraft.
"For me, I think it's a good idea to start here and learn the
basics of the airplane, and if I'm good at this I could easily progress further
to private pilot," said Mr. Reeves, 35.
"It allows you to focus on flying in good conditions and
forces you to develop basic skills before taking on extra ones," he said.
Randy Byers, Grand Prairie's airport manager, said he doesn't
think FAA officials would approve sport pilot certification if they thought it
would endanger lives. He sees it as a boon to the aviation industry because it
will attract more people.
"I think sport pilot is a good entry-level way into flying,
and it's going to be very popular," Mr. Byers said. "We're here to
lease hangars and sell fuel, so we look at it as more planes, more
business."
E-mail kgoolsby@dallasnews.com
FAA PILOT CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS
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*National average based on aircraft rental and flight instructor
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SOURCE: www.aopaprojectpilot.org |