Hello from Fl Panhandle

[Trc1969]

Hello from Panama City Fl.  I’m only a student will be an owner soon enough.  My plan was to buy a Cirrus SR22 after PPL but MedExpress. Wow!  I can get my medical but I’ll have to get someone on retainer to get everything together to present to the FAA.  When I started looking at flying a few years ago I was originally going the LSA route and the Sport Cruiser was my choice.  Such a beautiful aircraft on the ground and I really like the modern look and the avionics.  My plans are to now pike on all the hours I can while waiting for my AME to get everything ready for the FAA. If they say in ain’t gonna fly then I’m LSA forever.  And depending on the upcoming changes I may just stick with LSA anyway.  I’m really looking for a little more speed. 

[Deltafox]

Hi. I'm in the Tampa area and love flying in Florida. If the FAA says no, then you are not eligible for LSA either.  See 14 CFR 61.23(c)(2), 

• Have been found eligible for the issuance of at least a third class airman medical certificate at the time of his or her most recent application (if the person has applied for a medical certificate);
• Not have had his or her most recently issued medical certificate (if the person has held a medical certificate) suspended or revoked or most recent Authorization for a Special Issuance of a Medical Certificate withdrawn; and
• 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.

see: Frequently Asked Questions About Sport Pilot - AOPA

[Trc1969]

Yea I’m aware.  I should have explained a little better.  I will NOT apply just have someone retained to get everything together, look it over, send me for whatever testing is necessary, and then let me know if I will be cleared.  Basically hiring a consultant that at some point becomes my AME and gives me the exam hopefully with all pitfalls already addressed before we send it to the FAA.  But you are correct even with all that they could still deny and then LSA is gone as well. Like I said  in my hello post, if LSA rules change with just a little more weight and then a little more speed then I’m happy.  I really wanted the SR22 to fly weekly from Eastern KY to Panama City and Brooksville/Tampa, It’s fast and appears to be easy fly.  But re-examining the situation that is all doable with a sport cruiser just a little slower and of course no IFR.  Nonetheless I am super excited to get trained and then go shopping for a SC.  I plan on flying all the time.  Money nor time are an issue.  I really want to spend a lot of time in the air.  

[ronin5573]

3 hours ago, Trc1969 said:

 I can get my medical but I’ll have to get someone on retainer to get everything together to present to the FAA.

 

1 hour ago, Trc1969 said:

 I should have explained a little better.  I will NOT apply just have someone retained to get everything together, look it over, send me for whatever testing is necessary, and then let me know if I will be cleared.  Basically hiring a consultant that at some point becomes my AME and gives me the exam hopefully with all pitfalls already addressed before we send it to the FAA.

You must have some kind of condition that your not saying.  A class 3 medical isn't that complex of a physical.  I know of no one that could get a medical without any underlining problems that ever retain anyone to present anything to the FAA.

 

1 hour ago, Trc1969 said:

 I really wanted the SR22 to fly weekly from Eastern KY to Panama City and Brooksville/Tampa, It’s fast and appears to be easy fly.

You seem really excited about aviation and flying which is great but your making some huge assumptions on things without any  knowledge.  Do you have a 

CFI to help you through all this ?? One of the first things most CFI will do is make sure you get a student medical cert which is a class 3 medical. With out that it makes flight training kind of a waste of time really. And just as an FYI the Cirrus is a great plane but its anything but easy to fly being a high performance and very complex aircraft. 

[Trc1969]

Yes you are correct I am making lots of assumptions.  I do have a CFI walking me through the process but I had a serious head injury in 2012 that really muddies the waters with medical.  The AME the school uses is not HIMS certified.  My CFI and I have discussed at great length and we have decided to go LSA while my hired gun kinda looks things over to let me know if I am certifiable.  As far as Cirrus being easy to fly.  That was probably not the way to say it.  I should have said once trained and with experience it is a great airplane that would do exactly what I need one to do.   I do think my medical will work out and if it does I’m probably Cirrus bound.  I will save this message and if all works out I will let you know how it goes.  I may have to eat my own words.  Thanks for the thoughts.

[Trc1969]

What I mean by presenting to the FAA is getting my medical together and determine if I should even apply.  If the HIMS AME says it’s probably going to be declined then I simply won’t apply for class 3 medical.  It’s expensive but there are folks out there that handle complex cases like mine (brain injury). I’m fine now but the medical history with meds and therapy is the hurdle.  The Dr is currently working in a consulting type roll.  After they review everything they will let me know(in their opinion) of I should apply for my medical or leave well enough alone.  No guarantee, even after they review that I would be cleared.  There will be numerous Neurologists visits and I will be taking the FAA Neurological Cognitive Evaluation.

[ronin5573]

that makes more sense.  I hope all goes well. 

[rtk]

Welcome TRC!  Glad you made it over to SC Flier forum!

Sorry to read of the medical issue in the past.  Hopefully the aeromedical doctors can work to clear, or get your a special issuance for a PPL.  And very good that you're checking ahead of time.

I think you're in a good part of the country for LSA and flying in general.  And certainly surrounded by plenty of airports to fly to.  I'm envious as there's more aviation activities on the East Coast than there are out on the West Coast.  (And things are generally cheaper too!)

[Trc1969]

Thanks for the invite.  Just seems funny the  FAA will let you fly LSA without a medical 120 kts and 10000 ft but doing the same thing in a C172 takes a different level of medical.  I think it would be more beneficial to limit pilots more by flight rule limitations than aircraft.  I’m pretty sure if one can safely operate a SC safely they can do the same with a Cessna 172 or the like.  I think as long as your flying VFR in a single engine plane you should be fine.  Normal type aircraft not speed demon type machines.   Just my opinion.  I might take that thought out on another topic in the forum to get some thoughts on it.   

[ShawnM]

Welcome Trc1969. I do hope you get to fly and if it's LSA then so be it. My SportCruiser fits my mission perfectly flying around Florida. Your mission sounds a little different than than mine so you'll have to determine if a LSA fits the mission. Flying from eastern Kentucky to Florida is certainly doable in a LSA....it'll just take a bit longer than if you were in a SR22. 

 

[Trc1969]

Yes but hey the trip is what it’s all about anyway not the destination.  I will be happy either way.  I will say out of all the LSA aircraft out there the SC along with the Bristell are by far the nicest looking.  I’m excited to just be part of the flying community.  

[ShawnM]

2 hours ago, Trc1969 said:

Yes but hey the trip is what it’s all about anyway not the destination.  I will be happy either way.  I will say out of all the LSA aircraft out there the SC along with the Bristell are by far the nicest looking.  I’m excited to just be part of the flying community.  

Exactly, who cares how long it takes, you're flying the journey, right? 

I sort of agree with you on the last comment, I don't like the look of the nose of the Bristell, the SportCruiser is way sexier. Milan was on the right path and they say imitation is the best form of flattery.  (he got close enough)

[Trc1969]

This may sound funny but some low wing LSA have a canopy that kinda looks like a bubble.  For some reason that just isn’t to my liking.  I’m sure the aircraft are engineered well but the canopy just gives them a very experimental look.   Where as the Sport Cruiser looks like a small jet (with a single prop) of course.

[ShawnM]

49 minutes ago, Trc1969 said:

This may sound funny but some low wing LSA have a canopy that kinda looks like a bubble.  For some reason that just isn’t to my liking.  I’m sure the aircraft are engineered well but the canopy just gives them a very experimental look.   Where as the Sport Cruiser looks like a small jet (with a single prop) of course.

Are you talking about the RV-12 or maybe the Evektor Sportstar? There are a few and I know exactly what you are thinking.  

[Warmi]

My Sting is like that - the bubble canopy may not look as sporty as in SportCruiser but it offers superior visibility - it feels like you are sitting on a wing spar with almost 360 degree visibility.

I guess, to each his own 🙂

 

[Trc1969]

I guess the RV-12 comes to mind.  Still those are all beautiful aircraft like Warmi said to each his own.  I wonder why the canopy is higher on those aircraft? At first glance they look pretty much the same, but thats my lack of knowledge showing itself.  I know there must be numerous design differences.  But really any of the low wing LSA just look so good to me.

[FlyAgain]

On 4/7/2021 at 7:18 AM, Trc1969 said:

Thanks for the invite.  Just seems funny the  FAA will let you fly LSA without a medical 120 kts and 10000 ft but doing the same thing in a C172 takes a different level of medical.  I think it would be more beneficial to limit pilots more by flight rule limitations than aircraft.  I’m pretty sure if one can safely operate a SC safely they can do the same with a Cessna 172 or the like.  I think as long as your flying VFR in a single engine plane you should be fine.  Normal type aircraft not speed demon type machines.   Just my opinion.  I might take that thought out on another topic in the forum to get some thoughts on it.   

Yes the FAA medical for daytime VFR private pilots simply needs do go away.  It’s a holdover from the 1950s that is largely designed to keep seats warm in Oklahoma City with folks adjudicating medical exams.  BasicMed was supposed to be the “easing of restrictions” but didn’t go far enough.  Just lengthens the exam frequency and who can sign it but the application is the same.  The guy who sold me my first SportCruiser was a Cirrus pilot who was concerned about Med issues down the road.  He was perfectly happy transitioning to the LSA.  They are however completely different missions.  I’m flying in a pretty inhospitable environment for LSAs but still managed over 120 hours last year.  It works but it can be challenging.  

[Mel]

1 hour ago, FlyAgain said:

  Just lengthens the exam frequency and who can sign it but the application is the same.  

One major difference is that once you fail the 3rd class medical, you must jump through all kinds of hoops to get it back.  

With BasicMed, you don't fail.  You simply don't pass.  Then you and your Dr. work out a solution and you are good to go.  

[PilotPete]

TRC1969: Any update?