Quote:
Originally Posted by rickair7777
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.
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