tell me about a career in aviation without a medical

I'm pursuing a career in aviation, but there are something in my life
that have sort of been a sort of slow train coming during in the past
10 years or so. I think it is finally time I take care of these things,
and as a result, I will most likley be put on medication that will void
my medical certificate.

Right now I am doing my CFI training which I should finish up before
Thanksgiving, and my commercial checkride is scheduled for a week from
today. I know that once I lose my medical I can't do any part 119 or 91
operations, but I heard you can do flight instruction, is that correct?
If I decide to be a flight instructor, I can do that as long as the
student has at least a private (to act as PIC), correct?

If word got out that I'm under medication, will that effect the amount
of students come to me?

If I felt that my condition was not safe to fly, I would definatly not
even try it, but you know how it is, other people always think they
know more about your body than you do...

"buttman" wrote in message
oups.com...
I'm pursuing a career in aviation, but there are something in my life
that have sort of been a sort of slow train coming during in the past
10 years or so. I think it is finally time I take care of these things,
and as a result, I will most likley be put on medication that will void
my medical certificate.

Right now I am doing my CFI training which I should finish up before
Thanksgiving, and my commercial checkride is scheduled for a week from
today. I know that once I lose my medical I can't do any part 119 or 91
operations, but I heard you can do flight instruction, is that correct?
If I decide to be a flight instructor, I can do that as long as the
student has at least a private (to act as PIC), correct?

See FAR 61.23. You can do flight instruction without a current medical if
the student is PIC. That would limit the training to post-private, sport
pilot, and current BFR's. But you wouldn't be able to do any other flying
without a medical except for sport pilot, glider or balloon. If you go for
the sport pilot rules, you can't fail your last medical.

As far as making a career out of it without a medical wouldn't be easy. It
depends on the demand in your area. Around here you'd go hungry!

buttman wrote:

Right now I am doing my CFI training which I should finish up before
Thanksgiving, and my commercial checkride is scheduled for a week from
today. I know that once I lose my medical I can't do any part 119 or 91
operations, but I heard you can do flight instruction, is that correct?

You need to learn about Light Sport Aircraft before you go any further
with this. It might be a way out for you.

If you haven't ever been denied a medical (i.e. you know you won't get
one but you haven't applied) then you can instruct for pay in Light
Sport Aircraft. A so-called Driver's License medical is all you need
unless your most recent application for an FAA cert was rejected. If
you have a valid medical now, but start taking a drug which is not
approved, just *don't* apply for a new medical. I know it's kinda
byzantine, but welcome to the FAA. Sportpilot.org can tell you more.

-cwk.

PS- Better bone up on those FARs... Instructing is Part 91, with or
without a medical. FWIW yes, you can instruct without a medical, but
only when students are legal as PIC, so no primary instruction, no IFR
in actual unless the student is licensed and current, etc. etc. An old
dog with a lot of experience might be able to make a market doing
specialty instruction, but a new CFI who can't do primary instruction
is like tits on a bull.

N93332 wrote:

See FAR 61.23. You can do flight instruction without a current medical if
the student is PIC. That would limit the training to post-private, sport
pilot, and current BFR's.

Can't do anything that would require you to also be the safety pilot in
Simulated Instrument Flight. That's a real sticky point for a CFI
friend who lost his medical.

Pretty limitted what you can do as a pilot or even an ATC without a
medical. Mechanics school is an option.

Ron Natalie wrote:
N93332 wrote:

See FAR 61.23. You can do flight instruction without a current medical if
the student is PIC. That would limit the training to post-private, sport
pilot, and current BFR's.

Can't do anything that would require you to also be the safety pilot in
Simulated Instrument Flight. That's a real sticky point for a CFI
friend who lost his medical.

Then just wait for a cloudy day--that's perfectly legal if the pilot is
rated.

Pretty limitted what you can do as a pilot or even an ATC without a
medical. Mechanics school is an option.

Light-sport is a new option, depending on how/why the medical is lost.
Assuming he is able to just opt out and stick with the D/L medical,
then the question of fitness to fly is ethical rather than legal.

-cwk.

"Ron Natalie" wrote in message
...
See FAR 61.23. You can do flight instruction without a current medical if
the student is PIC. That would limit the training to post-private, sport
pilot, and current BFR's.

Can't do anything that would require you to also be the safety pilot in
Simulated Instrument Flight. That's a real sticky point for a CFI friend
who lost his medical.

I'm not convinced that's true (the first sentence, not the second...I won't
comment on what's sticky for your friend and what's not ).

Specifically, all that 91.109 requires is that the pilot hold the relevant
category and class ratings. The pilot need not be current, and I see
nothing to suggest the pilot need to have a current medical.

Pete

wrote in message
oups.com...
Then just wait for a cloudy day--that's perfectly legal if the pilot is
rated.

And current. But then why would they bother with a safety pilot at all?

See my reply to Ron though...I don't see why an instructor without a current
medical could not provide instrument training, even when the instructor
needs to be acting as the safety pilot as well. The usual caveats would
apply, of course -- the pilot receiving training would need to be able to
act as PIC -- but otherwise, I don't see the problem.

Pete

Peter Duniho wrote:


I'm not convinced that's true (the first sentence, not the second...I won't
comment on what's sticky for your friend and what's not ).

Specifically, all that 91.109 requires is that the pilot hold the relevant
category and class ratings. The pilot need not be current, and I see
nothing to suggest the pilot need to have a current medical.

Try 61.23. A safety pilot is a required flight crew member. Believe
me, we discussed this with FAA headquarters on this.

Peter Duniho wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...

Then just wait for a cloudy day--that's perfectly legal if the pilot is
rated.


And current. But then why would they bother with a safety pilot at all?

I think that was thte point. There's no "safety pilot" requirement in
actual.

See my reply to Ron though...I don't see why an instructor without a current
medical could not provide instrument training, even when the instructor
needs to be acting as the safety pilot as well. The usual caveats would
apply, of course -- the pilot receiving training would need to be able to
act as PIC -- but otherwise, I don't see the problem.

The problem is 61.27 requires required crew members to have a medical
(even instructors).

"Ron Natalie" wrote in message
. ..
The problem is 61.27 requires required crew members to have a medical
(even instructors).

Okay, I'll buy that.

Too bad the FARs don't include cross-references, so when you're looking at
what you think is the right paragraph, you can tell that you're not.

Pete