I can't for the life of me see why you need a medical to fly an aircraft. I can ride a motorbike with nothing more than a eye test every so often.
Same with instructor's ratings... anyone that can fly should have the knowledge to be able to coach a learner. Same as we do when teaching the kids to drive.
I realise the regs have been around for years and have provided a protocol for safe operation of aircraft.,- they do come with some expense however.
My logic is telling me that if owners and operators are quite happy to ignore the regs when it comes to things like modifications then surely they must be doing backyard maintenance and not wasting time and money on doctors and renewals.
Generally the aircraft, or operation, would have trouble with insurance in that case so that would be another savings. No need for those annual premiums.'
Aviation can be cheap... you may just need to operate outside of the regs.
It seems any number of contributors here are already doing just that.
