| Copyright (c) 2008 Dan Pimentel | | | | those denied pilots cannot use a driver's license in lieu |
| A good friend returned from EAA's 2007 Airventure | | | | of the medical card. |
| Oshkosh Airshow holding delivery position #426 on a | | | | As an experienced aviator, Pugliese picked the |
| new Cessna Model 162 Skycatcher. I'd been trying to | | | | Skycatcher for a number of reasons. "The main thing |
| track down a C162 buyer for a while, so this is great | | | | was the hydraulic brakes" he said. "I'm an old |
| timing as I want to find out what is drawing current, | | | | taildragger driver from way back, and sometimes you |
| licensed private pilots to the Skycatcher. What I found | | | | have to almost lock up one wheel to keep things |
| did not really surprise me. | | | | straight. And nothing against Rotax, but I like that |
| At 78.5 years young, Fresno pilot John Pugliese has | | | | Cessna is putting Continentals in the Skycatcher, since |
| amassed 7,000 hours in a pilot career that has included | | | | it will be easy to find service coast-to-coast on that |
| ownership of a Fairchild PT-23, a Cessna 120 and his | | | | engine. I also like that I will be able to get parts through |
| current bird, a 1952 Cessna 170. After a heart attack in | | | | an established Cessna dealer network. And at just |
| the early '90s, Pugliese must now undergo additional | | | | over five feet tall, I'm happy the Skycatcher's rudder |
| scrutiny each time he is re-issued a third-class medical | | | | pedals are adjustable. The plane fits me fine, and is |
| card. And while he has good health today to flies with | | | | really a great looking airplane!" |
| an FAA medical card, he knows that may not be the | | | | As a successful businessman, Pugliese knows that the |
| case forever. "I'm hoping that Cessna can deliver my | | | | $109,000 base price will climb before delivery day. A |
| Skycatcher before the day comes when the medical | | | | clause in the Cessna contract allows for cost of living |
| card cannot be re-issued." | | | | increases and with California sales tax that he says is |
| I'm certain Pugliese is not the only "senior" private pilot | | | | a staggering nine percent, John expects the |
| who is looking at Light Sport aircraft as a sort of | | | | Skycatcher to come in at around $140,000 without |
| "workaround" to current FAA medical rules. And as a | | | | wheel pants or a ballistic chute. He expects that by the |
| refresher, let me pass along what the FAA says | | | | time Cessna delivers the 162, the Garmin G300 panel |
| about the subject of Sport Pilot medicals. | | | | will change for the better, as avionics always do. |
| Sport Pilot licensing rules require either a third-class | | | | Bottom line: John Pugliese is one of those older pilots |
| FAA medical certificate or a current and valid U.S. | | | | we all love...nice as can be, true to his fellow pilots, and |
| driver's license as evidence of medical eligibility | | | | always willing to take a young kid flying to spark their |
| (provided the individual's most recent application for an | | | | internal fires. When he gets the Skycatcher, it'll make a |
| FAA medical certificate was not denied, revoked, | | | | perfect platform to serve his mission profile, which is to |
| suspended or withdrawn). So as long as a pilot can | | | | poke holes in the sky while converting fossilized |
| move into an LSA before he/she is denied, all is well | | | | dinosaurs into altitude to chase down the elusive |
| and good. However, once FAA takes that card away, | | | | airport hamburger. |