Welcome to Flightinfo.com

  • Register now and join the discussion
  • Friendliest aviation Ccmmunity on the web
  • Modern site for PC's, Phones, Tablets - no 3rd party apps required
  • Ask questions, help others, promote aviation
  • Share the passion for aviation
  • Invite everyone to Flightinfo.com and let's have fun

FAA Issues Sport Pilot Rule

  • Thread starter Thread starter JB74
  • Start date Start date
  • Watchers Watchers 6

Welcome to Flightinfo.com

  • Register now and join the discussion
  • Modern secure site, no 3rd party apps required
  • Invite your friends
  • Share the passion of aviation
  • Friendliest aviation community on the web
Register   Log in
J

JB74

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 10, 2003
Posts
266
Looks like the FAA finally OK'd the new sport pilot certificate today. It appears to be restricted to day only, but these new pilots aren't restricted when it comes to airspace (when properly equipped).

Also, you only need a valid DL (no medical). So, anyone from the age of 16 up into their 90's can tool around with fewer hours than a newly minted private.

Just wanted to get everyone's take on it. Good? Bad? Don't give a Hoot?


http://www.faa.gov/apa/pr/pr.cfm?id=1874

http://www.faa.gov/newsroom/factsheets/2004/factsheets_040720.htm
 
Fantastic news for guys like me...

Hey,

I miss flying for a living badly....but miss flying for fun even more....I have bee asked to take the Sport Pilot CFI test to become one of my area's first for this class of aircraft.....Thinking about even buying a trainer to teach in as well....

There are thousands of pilots like myself that have lost medicals, but are still healthy and able to function pretty darn normal....this is great...!
 
I'm hoping (and planning) to be in a position to buy a light, two-place airplane next Summer or Fall, and now, buying something that meets the new rule will allow me to keep flying (and possibly even instructing) under the SP rule, even if I lost my medical in the next few years. According to the EAA rep writing in P&P last month, they are also lobbying for the inclusion of aircraft that meet the stall, seating, and top speed requirements while exceeding the weight, to be included. This will open up the possibility of flying C150s, Skippers, and Traumahawks under SP rules, as well as the Cubs, Aeroncas, and Taylorcraft ships.

Very ... very COOL! :)

Minh

Anyone know of a Kitfox Classic 5 for sale?
 
This is GREAT news. As a new pilot in training for PPL, Ultralights is what got me wanting to fly. I saw these one time with floats over any ocean and was immediately hooked that one day I wanted to own one of my own on a lake: http://www.quadcitychallenger.com/

I am not flying for a career, I just do it for fun because I love it. This rule is great and I have been waiting for it to happen. Now these "FAT" 2-place ultralight's will be actual FAA registered and airworthiness approved planes. The cost may go up a bit for these now that they need to carry an airworthiness certificate, but all in all, I think between owning something like this or a Cessna, this will be WAY more affordable.

I wonder, if you wanted to be a Light-Sport aircraft instructor, do you need to get like a "commerical" certificate first like you do with PPL stuff. Or do you just get your Light-Sport rating, then you can go directly for your Light-Sport Instrument rating?

I also wonder where in the FAR's these will be listed..
 
rvsm410 said:
Hey,

I miss flying for a living badly....but miss flying for fun even more....I have bee asked to take the Sport Pilot CFI test to become one of my area's first for this class of aircraft.....Thinking about even buying a trainer to teach in as well....

There are thousands of pilots like myself that have lost medicals, but are still healthy and able to function pretty darn normal....this is great...!
Click to expand...
Actually, the way it is written, if you lost your medical, you are not going to be flying, unless you get a waiver.
http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?ContentBlockID=44544f72-06e5-42cc-9c7f-0d854855c433&
 
I can fly FOREVER!!! Honestly, in my state if you can see the signs and can tell the red/yellow/green dots on the side of the eye test, you pass. It's a very sad joke :(
 
Last edited:
Medical requirement...

sky37d said:
Actually, the way it is written, if you lost your medical, you are not going to be flying, unless you get a waiver.
http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?ContentBlockID=44544f72-06e5-42cc-9c7f-0d854855c433&
Click to expand...
Hey I spent alot of time reading the 475 pages today....I see where it says if you were deniged ot failed a medical that you would have to provide a waiver.....In my case I stopped flying before my medical actually ran out, I knew that my situation was going to be a disqual for a class 1 medical...so I just stopped flying and retired form the AF. So here I am...expired medical...never went to an AME since I knew I would not be able to fly the heavy metal again....but my view has changed and I would love to teach the new SP license.....My current licenses should be fine, maybe a C-17 rating is a bit much...hehe...

Anyway thanks for the feedback....I am able to do fine with the treatment plan I am in with my doctor,which by the way is insulin dependant as well, thus my reason for going to him....

Question: any suggestions in what type of aircraft I shold be looking at in order to train??? I am still looking at all the models...
 
rvsm410 said:
Question: any suggestions in what type of aircraft I shold be looking at in order to train??? I am still looking at all the models...
Click to expand...
Hey Bill, Congratulations!

I can't imagine how good this must feel to you. My suggestions are this: If you're looking for a fun, sunny day airplane, may I humbly recommend the Aeronca 7AC Champ. Compared to the other post war, rag and tube, 65 horse taildraggers, it's alot of jet for the money. The J-3 Cub is fun too, with it's open door, although I always thought the Champ flew better. You can get a showpiece for around 30K, operate from a grass strip, and burn 4.5 gallons of autogas an hour. (With the STC and added lead.) If you'd like a sise by side airplane, the Cessna 120/140 is hands-down the most airplane you can buy for the money. (Quite a bit faster than it's tandem brethren.)

Good luck with your hunting. Drop me a line if I can be of any help at all.
 
My Ultra Dream

I am unemployed and free to roam. I would love to fly one of these ultralights cross country to every small town U.S.A. and introduce new products to aviation enthusiasts. I have said this before with little response but if anyone is interested in building [manufactuing] an ultrlight design I would be happy to discuss possibilities.

Actually my real dream was to be an Astronaut, but, did not have the flight experience to make the grade [lacked military test pilot training]. Also most of the non-flight selections were from the Doctorial.edu pool.

Happy Flying. :D

 
rvsm410 said:
So here I am...expired medical...never went to an AME since I knew I would not be able to fly the heavy metal again....but my view has changed and I would love to teach the new SP license.....My current licenses should be fine, maybe a C-17 rating is a bit much...hehe...

Question: any suggestions in what type of aircraft I shold be looking at in order to train??? I am still looking at all the models...
Click to expand...
Congratulations Bill.
That's exactly how it is read, and how I interpret it. If your medical was never denied, you are golden. So, when I can't read so well, and night vision is gone, I'm just not going back to the AME.
As to which plane, EAA has a list of 'LSA Potential' aircraft. It would appear that the certified models which are eligible are all tail draggers, however, I don't see those as being popular. Also, the Cessna 120/140 don't make the cut. What I would suggest, if you want to become an instructor is see what people are flying around you, check which mfg's are most likely to come out with a LSA airplane. It would appear that Chris Heinz (Zenith ) has a leg up on his competition, but so does RANS.
I think it is probably to early to tell, but some of them will take off, and some will die lingering deaths.
 
Last edited:
Who do you think is the MOST POPULAR manufacturer of these light-sport airplanes? I have heard a lot about RANS.

Any models in particular that are very good and very popular.

I was looking at some of the specs on these things, wow, some of these things can outperform the Cessna 172 and they cost like 30K with everything.. not bad!
 
The head of one of the EAA sections had an article in P&P a couple months ago where he mentioned that they are lobbying for aircraft that meet the top speed and stall speed requirements to be included regardless of weight. So for now the Cub, some Aeronca, Luscombe, and Taylorcraft models meet the spec, however, in the future the C120/140/150 and the newer Luscombe models may be included.

I figured if I lost my medical I'd just build a Kitfox Classic IV with a Rotax 500-series motor which will qualify it as an ultralight trainer. Then, if I later qualified for a Sport Pilot license I'd trade up for a Rotax 912 or 914 in the plane. I think it'd be awesome to be able to pull my little taildragger out of my garage, unfold the wings, point it towards the end of my little grass field, and go fart around for a couple hours. :)

I think it will be a while before the Sport Pilot rules for airmen and aircraft are finalized and fully interpreted. Who knows what it will be in two years. It's a helluva good start though. :)

Minh
(Future Kitfox Jock)
 
the more I read this new ruling the more I think, unless you have a medical condition that you can't get a Third class medical, does this new Sport Pilot thing do anything for you? For instance, if you are already a PPL with a valid third class medical, you can go out, buy a light aircraft, register it under experimental and be flying. Now, I don't see what these new light-sport aircraft will enable you to do that you can't already do now and before this new rule. You could of always went out and brought a new RANS and then registered under experimental, etc. I just don't think that you can get a RANS factory built, or for that matter, I dont' think you can really get any of these light-sport planes factory built can you?

what are the rules concerning what airports you can use these light aircraft at? are you basically able to operate at ANY public airport with these things NOW and BEFORE the rule went into effect?
 
There are changes, significant ones. The first being that you can buy a LSA airplane, and go fly it, instead of building it. Look at Rans, http://www.rans.com/SportPlane/SportPlane6.htmand they say that this airplane, out the door is 65K-70K. Yes, they (Rans) do make a 'certified' airplane the S-7C. Chris Heinz says that it will take about 6 months of paperwork, creating the paper trail, and then they can offer a LSA. It means, basically, that you can get a VFR/DAY ONLY airplane, get it from the factory, fully assembled, and ready to fly home. The biggest difference between those and the kit planes (other than having to assemble it, and the cost) is that you can get yourself a Rans or a Zenith, and have it certified 'normal' for night operations, and you can get it certified for IFR. A LSP plane, by definition, can't fly at night, and can't fly IFR.

On the medical issue, they say if you 'could' qualify for a 3rd class, you can get a LSP ticket without the medical. They also say if you 'couldn't' qualify for 3rd class, you shouldn't get a LSP ticket.

The biggest thing from the FAA "Hi, I'm from the FAA, and I'm here to help", is new regulations.

In their press release, the purpose of SP/LSA is that it "...sets safety standards for the 15,000 people who will now earn FAA certificates to operate more than 15,000 existing uncertificated ultralight-like aircraft." FAA Administrator Marion Blakey hammered on that point in the SP/LSA press conference.
In other words, this is being sold externally, and is probably believed by FAA internally, to be a crackdown on those shady, edge-of-the-law operators, the ultralight pilots. Like most things coming out of the FAA in the last decade, and possibly longer, it's a concept for lawyers, not for aviators.
 
Last edited:
Still I wouldn't consider that affordable for myself anyhow. I am looking for somehting prebuilt and certified in the 30K range. I don't know if there will be ANYTHING that cheap..
 
I havent read the above posts cause im not in the mood to search for info so if this is a repeat, sorry....

are there restrictions on controlled airspace. We have enough problem with the private pilots flying in, this new rating isn't much more then a student pilot who doesn't get babysat by their instructors.
 

Share this page

Latest posts

Latest resources

Latest media

Carbon Cub FX-3 Shenandoah Valley
Carbon Cub at Kittyhawk
FX-3 in the backcountry
IFR Panel in a Carbon Cub FX-3
Cub-Provo-UT-c.jpg
Back
Top