Non Current Pilots wanting to fly Powered Parachutes
Flight Review per § 61.56:
If you stopped flying years ago, your sport, private pilot or higher certificate is good for life. You just need to get a “flight review”, to get legal to fly a LSA you are currently qualified for as a sport pilot. Flight Reviews are performed by a flight instrutor and required every 24 months to be a “current” pilot. The specific regulation that allows existing pilots to fly LSA and specifies the details of who can do what is FAR 61.303.
If you are an airplane pilot and not current and want to fly a trike, there are two ways to proceed.
1. If can get current with a flight review in an airplane as discussed above per 61.56, than get a trike proficiency check per 61.321 and be able to fly a trike as a sport pilot, or
2. Take a trike proficiency check per 61.321 first, and than take a flight review per 61.56 after. Either way is acceptable.
Note that a trike proficiency check per 61321 is being traing by one trike CFI and taking a proficiency check with seperate trike CFI.
Three takeoffs and landings per § 61.57:
To carry a passanger you must have 3 takeoffs and landings 90 days prior in the make/model of aircraft.
Medical fitness § 61.303 sport, § 61.23 private:
The main benefit for you as an non-current pilot is that sport pilot privlages requires you to only have current and valid state driver’s license to establish medical fitness. You do not need a FAA third-class medical!
Unfortunately, if you have had your most recent FAA medical certificate application suspended, denied, or revoked by the FAA you are not allowed to operate using your driver’s license. You must go back and clear the medical problem with the FAA which usually is not easy. But, once you get this cleared, you can let your medical expire and than operate as a sport pilot using your drivers license as medical eligibility. Make sure you do not fail a medical, use your drivers license and fly LSA as a sport pilot if there is any question as to passing the medical. Part § 67 was more details on specific requiremets.
