The thumb tack is a good one. I suppose a regular ballpoint pen would have a similar effect, and probably do no lasting damage. We all carry pens or pencils on our kneeboards.

 

1) You'd be amazed at what you can do when the adrenaline is flowing.

2) A former chief instructor I know carried a 2 C-cell mag light because she was very small and had a student lock up on her once. That light would provide more than adequate persuasion.

3) While sport pilots may fly without a medical, they can not do so if they have a condition that would disqualify them from a medical. You may be opening yourself up to some nasty liability when one kills somebody and they see your signature in the logbook. The primary reason the flight school I used to work at hasn't done sport pilot is the intrest has primarily come from this type of person.

 

Sport Pilots who have never gone in for a medical exam obviously can't fail the exam. So if that person complies with each restriction and limitation imposed by that person's driver's license and any judicial or administrative order, that pilot is good to go.

There is the catch all "not know or have reason to know of any medical condition that would make that person unable to operate a light sport aircraft in a safe manner." But of course that applies to all pilots anyhow.

Say an 80 or 90 year old allows their whatever class medical to expire. They can then exercise the privileges of a Sport Pilot as long as they comply with their drivers license and not know of anything medical conditions preventing safe flight.

Unless I get access to their medical records, which I don't believe I have the legal authority to do, how can I deny someone flight training just by looking at them and thinking, "they look too old, too fat, too prone to this.., etc." So I'm left to finding objective, observable actions or inactions on the behalf of the student to determine if they are neglecting to self-certify their medical airworthiness.

For example, I've flown with older gentlemen who have not been good to their bodies. I see consistently slow reactions and repetitive mistakes. So this is what prevents me from soloing these folks. I'm not gunning for people based on first impressions. But I am looking for safe behavior patterns.

And please don't take this as an attack on your post just food for conversation.

 

Personally I would not solo someone without a third class medical either.

That removes the subjectivity of ME trying to decide if someone is healthy enough, and removes some liaibility...if you solo someone who is obviously not up to medical standards, you would get nailed to the wall in court.

 

Is it even possible to solo a sport pilot candidate with out a student pilot certificate?

 

No, you need a certificate, but it does not have to be the one that includes a third class medical. You can get a non-medical student certificate from an AME or the FSDO.

 

Why not be absolutely covered and have your students get a first class medical? What I'm getting at is if I'm in compliance with what the what the FARs state, how can I be responsible for an overweight person having a heart attack or some other sudden ailment? Or an older person? Or even a young person who has an untimely health problem.

Am I to turn away someone based on looks? "Sir, I'm sorry but you're too old." "Sir you are breathing a little too heavily from the short walk, I think you need to quit smoking and lose some weight first." I believe it's the ethical thing to do to at least give these people a fair shake and let their performance dictate a sign off or not.

Many FBOs are buying LSA to woo those with the time and money to fly. From what I've seen, mostly the baby boomers-those retired or partially retired and the kids out of the nest. The Regionals are slowing hiring, and many on this forum are encouraged to instruct. Some reading this page have or will instruct Sport pilots. When the FAA dropped the medical requirement and cut the total required training time in half, the bar was lowered. Usually when the requirements drop, the quality of applicants drop.

I say this so that those instructing Sport pilots are ready to deal with those who might need extra attention. In my experience, there is an increased likelihood of having 'that talk' with Sport students that they might be better off cutting their losses and stopping training. Most will do very well. But my "bad" Sport students, in general, have been worse than my "bad" private students. This is because, in my opinion, a lower quality student and lower "drive" to be a pilot.

Again, not an attack on any posts. I feel these ethical issues come up when it comes to sport pilots (and also what to do to over come a locked up student.) So I might evoke some emotions in what I write because I have great feelings for the students and instruction.

With regards to all