Original Posted By: "Christian Bobka"
Notwithstanding the arguments in the previous paragraph regarding medicalself-certification, I find that the requirement that one have a driverslicense or a third class medical certificate is discriminatory against acertain age group, our youth. The FAA has already agreed in the NPRM thatit is possible that someone who would not otherwise be able to obtain athird class medical certificate could still safely fly as a sport pilot bymeeting the medical requirements of the various state drivers license laws.But not all people have the need, desire, or money to have a drivers licenseand this applies to a large group of prospective sport pilots, our youth,who are more interested in education than driving. Follow me through onthis story: I believe that every state requires auto liabilty insurance fordrivers. I have three vehicles, one which is used for business. I drivetwo and my wife drives the other. I get an insurance discount because wehave more vehicles than drivers. I also have two sons. I have decided thatit is not a good idea to have my sons obtain their drivers licenses any timesooner than they are 18 years old although I do think it is a very worthyeducational goal that they earn their sport pilot certificates in addtion toearning their Eagle Scout rank. The state law allows insurance companies toassume that a new third driver in my household would be the full time driverof my third vehicle, which is erroneous but nevertheless allowable under thelaw. This additional insurance costs thousands of dollars. I would preferthe money be used to have my sons become sport pilots than to pay theaddtional insurance costs. I cannot afford to pay both the insurance andthe costs to fly. What is needed is some common ground to meet the needs ofthe FAA in regard to the "have you ever fainted" type of battery ofquestions as well as the vision test. One suggestion is to require that onehave APPLIED for a STUDENT DRIVERS PERMIT within the past five years withno requirement to keep the permitit current. The permit applicationrequires the medical questions be answered satisfactorily and includes avision test, and the permit has a minimal cost, does not incur anyadditional insurance costs to the sport pilot, and otherwise meets the FAA'srequirments as stated on page 5384 column 1 of the NPRM. Anotheralternative is to have a sport pilot's school nurse or personal physicianadminister a test in no more depth than the state drivers licenserequirements. The added benefit here is that these medical professionalswould be more involved in the long term health of the pilot and would be ina very qualified positon to jusge ones health than merely taking a driverstest. This test would be done every five years, similar to the renewalperiod for a state drivers license. I realize that one has the option ofgetting a third class medical but that is overkill both in what needs to beproven to the medical examiner and in cost ($100 dollars of more now).Besides, one may not qualify for the third class yet still be physicallyable to drive and thus would be discriminated against if he or she should sochoose not to have a drivers license.I hope you find these comments constructive and I look forward to the newrule!Sincerely,Christian BobkaAirline Transport PilotCertified Flight InstructorAdvanced Ground InstructorAirframe and Powerplant MechanicFlight Engineer________________________________________________________________________________