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  #11  
Old June 14th 04, 10:10 PM
Chris OCallaghan
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Some thoughts, and not necessarily PC for this group...

I've never been a big fan of litigation, but here is a case where it
serves an important purpose. The FAA has made medical
self-certification avialable to glider pilots. This leaves a great
deal of grey in determining one's own physical/mental competency.
However, if anyone were harmed by a glider pilot taking drugs for a
condition that precluded him/her from obtaining a third-class medical,
I would heartily endorse suing the pilot or his estate.

We will all someday be faced with the choice of giving up flying, or
continuing with risk to ourselves, and therefore, others. Love of
flight, individual rights, denial are poor excuses if you do damage to
others as a result of physical or mental incompetence brought on by
drugs and/or disease and/or diminishing capacity. While I believe it
is your right to make up your own mind, I also believe strongly that
you should be fully responsible for any damage your willful negligence
may cause.

Continue to fly if you want. But consider the effects upon your estate
and your heirs. While the regs leave you some room to quibble, a jury
of your peers will not.