Most of us know that FAA requires pilots to get a 3rd class medical, or better to fly most airplanes above LSA.
Is there any real factual medical basis for this or only just that it has been done that way in the past?
In 1958 a law was passed setting this up for the FAA. Why?
Using accident reports for 1994 when this article was written we find that only 34 out of the 1989 total general aviation accidents involved any medical or physical incapacitation.
This 34 is 1.7 %. However, 27 out of the 34 were pilots who were impaired by alcohol or drugs, not something that a medical exam is going to change.
Thus only 7 accidents or .33 which is 1/3 of one percent were due to a genuine medical cause.
AOPA years ago(1997?) attempted the get the FAA to move to pilots "self certification" just as one does when flying a glider or LSA or in effect driving a car. There was strong support for this, even from the FAA, but then Sec. of Transportation Fredrico Pena killed it.
I am sad to say that Pena is a U T grad as I am. He was also instrumental in closing Stapelton airport in Denver.
My thanks to Gary Crump for his column in the July "97 AOPA PILOT.