Hacker News Reader

Comment by rtkwe | Hacker News Reader

For a Gyrocopter you only need a Thrid Class Medical certificate or to comply with BasicMed neither of which list eyesight as a disqualifying condition.

https://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/medical_certificat...

https://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/airmen_certificati...

View on HN

The standards for a FAA third-class medical go beyond just what's on the official "disqualifying" list. It's not a walk in the park.

From personal experience, they care a great deal about your eyesight.

To start, you'd want to look through the AME Guide [1] and the rules in 14 CFR 67 Part D [2].

[1] https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/av...

[2] https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/part-67/subpart-D

This reminds me, when I had my 3rd class medical exam at age 16, the examiner didn't have equipment to test hearing. So, he went into the adjacent room and whispered, "Can you hear this?" Then loudly, "OK, cover your left ear." Whispering, "Can you hear this?".... I passed.

It might be an ultralight. Don’t even need a pilot certificate, let alone a medical.

I thought you didn't need a license for a gyrocopter but when I looked just now it seemed like you did. Guess it's based on weight class so yeah he might be in the ultralight class, didn't mention it because I thought I was wrong about it being a no license class.

I don't know if ultralight gyrocopters are even a thing. I just figured if he's designing trash-can helicopters, he might be into an ultralight gyrocopter kit, if such a thing even exists. :)

(I also wasn't even sure about ultralights not requiring licenses. Had to look it up.)

It looks like you can build them small and light enough to qualify for the ultralight category it's just tricky and somewhat limiting since the combination of light weight and low fuel capacity is rough on a high drag gyrocopter.

http://www.buildagyrocopter.com/gyroplanes-for-ultralight-an...

Ultralight gyros are pretty popular. They are like motorcycles in the sky. Stupid dangerous and crazy fun. Also if you have an engine out you are already auto rotating so no big deal. From what I hear, the thing that kills pilots in those things is that people like to fly low and they are prone to pilot induced oscillation. Pilots panic, try to overcontrol, and then die.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com