Sport Pilots do not need to obtain a medical certificate, and certificated private/commercial/airline pilots whose most recent medical certificate sim;ply expired (without being denied, suspended, or revoked) may fly under the Sport Pilot rules in a legal Light-Sport Aircraft without a current medical certificate or further training.

Newly-certified Sport Pilots don't need an FAA medical certification (again, so long as they didn't have one, or their most recent one that was taken away or denied), and may operate an aircraft fitting the definition of an LSA within the parameters of their certification. Sport pilots may only fly LSA-legal aircraft, with a maximum of two seats, and may only fly during daytime, in good (VFR) weather. They must stay outside of busy airspace (major commercial airports), and must stay under 10,000 ft (or stay within 2,000 ft of the ground, whichever is higher). There are no restrictions on distance you can fly, and in fact the Bahamas now welcomes US Sport Pilots to fly over and visit! In short, the SP-LSA rules are designed to let the pilot take a buddy out for a fun, recreational flight when the weather is good, and to let people learn to fly easier than getting a Private Pilot certificate... while allowing experienced gained to be applied towards one later, if desired.

The new class of Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) covers a wide range of light aircraft, ranging from what are usually referred to as "fat ultralights" up to several production light aircraft such as Piper Cubs, Ercoupes, and the like. It also includes powered parachutes, gliders, weight-shift control ("trikes"), lighter-than-air, and gyrocopters. The common characteristics are that a legal Light Sport Aircraft has one or two seats, it has always fit the definition of an LSA since initial certification, which weight less than 1,320 lbs. gross takeoff weight (1,430 for seaplanes), stall at less than 44 knots, and have a maximum level flight speed of 120 knots, and which don't have in-flight adjustable props, retractable landing gear (unless a seaplane), and are powered by piston engines (an electric exemption is in the works!) driving a single propeller, or is unpowered. LSA can be factory built or amateur-built, and can be registered in the amateur-built experimental category. LSA certifications and manufacturers are governed by the ASTM, which developed the specifications with the input of the industry. This has significantly cut down on the bureaucratic nightmare and incredible expenses that traditional aircraft certification (through the FAA) represents, and has brought a flurry of new, modern aircraft designs to market.

The exciting world of LSAs and Sport Pilot is exciting and evolving quickly... the best place to start is probably EAA's Sport Pilot website at SportPilot.org