I have NOT lost my medical and would NEVER cheat.
I am simply trying to have a discussion about the rationale behind the Sport Pilot certificate. At the moment I feel like the guy who asked the fish, "How's the water", to which the fish replied, "What water?"
You seemed to be immersed in the ocean of "All Sport Pilots are cheaters".
I asked about your background in order to better understand your frame of reference. We appear to be looking at the Sport Pilot medical situation from completely different viewpoints.
I no longer fly, primarily due to financial considerations. If I were to fly using the Sport Pilot designation I would meet the letter and the spirit of the law. I am legal & safe to drive automobiles, including pulling a trailer up to 10,000lbs or a Combined Gross Weight of 26,000lbs. Ergo, I am Safe & Legal to fly as a Sport Pilot. Rod Machado, as always, gives a succinct summation:
"First, a sport pilot license doesn't require that you have an FAA issued third-class medical certificate. It only requires that you have a valid U.S.drivers license without having an official denial or revocation of an FAA medical certificate on file with the FAA. This means if you have a drivers license then the FAA considers you medically qualified to fly as a sport pilot in a sport airplane." Why Sport vs. Private Pilot?
I would never drive or fly when I am unsafe. Does my having had a heart bypass make me an unsafe driver? Not according to the several cardiologists by whom I have been treated.
You claim to be a pilot yet you equate driving with flying?
The entire idea of a Sport class is to get around the medical. Third class medicals are a cinch to get. Machado is a giving bad legal advice. He fails to mention that if you know of a reason that you might fail a third class medical you also have reason to know that you cannot fly otherwise.
The idea is that when a pilot knows they will no longer meet requirements they simply move to Sport and lie about their condition. Why is it lying? Because of this little regulation:
§ 61.53 Prohibition on operations during medical deficiency.
(a) Operations that require a medical certificate. Except as provided for in paragraph (b) of this section, a person who holds a current medical certificate issued under part 67 of this chapter shall not act as pilot in command, or in any other capacity as a required pilot flight crewmember, while that person:
(1) Knows or has reason to know of any medical condition that would make the person unable to meet the requirements for the medical certificate necessary for the pilot operation; or
(2) Is taking medication or receiving other treatment for a medical condition that results in the person being unable to meet the requirements for the medical certificate necessary for the pilot operation.
(b) Operations that do not require a medical certificate. For operations provided for in §61.23(b) of this part, a person shall not act as pilot in command, or in any other capacity as a required pilot flight crewmember, while that person knows or has reason to know of any medical condition that would make the person unable to operate the aircraft in a safe manner.
(c) Operations requiring a medical certificate or a U.S. driver’s license. For operations provided for in §61.23(c), a person must meet the provisions of—
(1) Paragraph (a) of this section if that person holds a valid medical certificate issued under part 67 of this chapter and does not hold a current and valid U.S. driver’s license.
(2) Paragraph (b) of this section if that person holds a current and valid U.S. driver’s license.