Flying Gliders as a Schizo

[Unregistered]

So just to be upfront I am officially diagnosed as a schizo. I know this means I am ineligible for any type of medical certificate but is it true you do not need a medical to fly gliders? I still want to fly and it sounds to me like regular gliders or motor gliders do not require a medical. Can someone verify this for me? I would love to get myself a motor glider and just roam the skies because it is what I enjoy doing. Are there any hoops I have to jump through?

 

[Jim Logajan]

...which might be difficult.
I find it very easy to believe the FAA would argue that the operation of an ultralight vehicle by a diagnosed schizophrenic would inherently constitute "a hazard to other persons or property" unless those operations were confined to remote areas with no persons and nothing of value below.

The above is absolutely incorrect. The FAA explicitly states:

"When an ultralight is involved in an accident, the first step by the FAA is to determine if it is a “true” ultralight, in accordance with the regulations, or if it is an unregistered aircraft that does not qualify for true ultralight status. If it is a true ultralight (see bullets, page one), the FAA will defer any further investigation of the accident to local law enforcement. The accident then becomes a law enforcement investigation, and the FAA has no further involvement."
Source:
http://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?print=go&newsId=6633


I know of no cases where the FAA has ever taken action against an operator of a true ultralight because the operator had any medical condition of any sort. If they defer action to local law enforcement even in the face of an actual accident, they definitely will not take any preemptive action based on the condition of the pilot or the aircraft. Airworthiness of pilot or aircraft simply doesn't apply and Ron appears to be dragging in factors from other regulatory Parts where they do not apply.

 

[Jim Logajan]

That only covers accident investigation, not violation of Subpart B of Part 103 (i.e., the operating rules for ultralight vehicles). The FAA has civil penalties of thousands of dollars waiting for those who violate those regulations.

Well absent an accident or a violation of some other regulation other than 103.9(a), I know of no case where the FAA acted against an ultralight pilot who might present a danger due to any medical condition they have. If you know of such a case you should present it because otherwise you have nothing to show your opinion is more right than mine.

I've not found any case where the FAA has cited only 103.9(a). In all the cases I've found it appears in conjunction with a violation of another section - with 103.15, operations over congested areas, being the most common.

Lastly, I'm not sure under what circumstances a diagnosis of schizophrenia or any other mental health would come to be known prior to, or anytime reasonably after, the usual initial contact with an FAA IIC after an ultralight crash. Nor could I see the FAA taking any preemptive action in response to a report that someone diagnosed with a mental health problem was planning to operate an ultralight. The poor FAA person would have probably to engage aeromedical expertise to judge whether mental health problem X would likely be a violation of 103.9(a).

There doesn't appear to be any historical evidence to back up your opinion. Just your own firm conviction of your opinion's rightness.