Light Sport News

So you are above 18 years of age and can speak, read, write and understand English and want to fly…here are a few tips on how to pass those exams that allow you to become a Sport Pilot.

Let’s run through the stages you have to clear before you get the Sport’s Pilot License.

Stage A: Pre Solo

You will receive 5 hours of ground instruction and about 15 – 20 hours flight instruction. You will learn the basic maneuvers like take off, airspeed changes, straight and level flight, descents, landing, turns and Air Traffic Control procedures. As this is the basic learning stage, pay heed to the instructions, revise the maneuvers regularly and be thorough with the Air Traffic Control Procedures. It would be best to receive instructions from a trained flying instructor.

Stage B – Solo and Post Solo

At this stage, you will have to pass exams on Federal Air Regulations and Air Operational Characteristics. These exams are administered by an instructor. You will have to fly solo for a minimum of 5 hours. This includes 3 solo flights under supervision. At this stage, things get a little tougher. As you will be flying solo, take care to follow flight regulations and read up the manuals. You learn additional maneuvers like flight test maneuvers, advanced take off and landing techniques, airport pattern entry and exit procedures and performance maneuvers.

Stage C- Cross Country Preparation, Cross Country Flight

Here you will be receiving 3 hours of instruction on cross country flight instruction and will also have to fly solo for 3 hours of cross country flight. The manoeuvres you will learn navigation techniques using pilotage and dead reckoning, optional radio navigation. Navigation is an important part of flying. So be thorough with these techniques.

Stage D – Flight Test Preparation

Here you would be learning flight test maneuvers as laid down by FAA Practical Test Standards. This is the stage where you will have to take up the FAA sport Pilot examination which is a written one. To pass the exam you will need to score above 70. You will also have to give a Flight test that consist of about 90 minutes ground time and 90 minutes of air time with the examiner.

Make sure to buy the recommended study material, plotter, study kits, log books and maps to make your study easy.

When you study, you build up knowledge that stays with you through your life time. So apply yourself diligently from the very beginning and it will pay dividends.

Before you take up the exam, make sure that you have made a study of the background subjects. Take help of a checklist. Don’t waste time studying those topics that are not relevant. Topics like supersonic aerodynamics, studying gas turbine engines, cockpit voice recorders, high altitude IFR charts, instrument landing systems etc are irrelevant for obtaining a Sports Pilot License.

Don’t waste time studying huge reference manuals. If you want to read for the sake of building your knowledge base, do it after you have written you exam.

Make sure you learn from current materials only. Practice writing the exam. Don’t cheat yourself by looking at the answers before finishing the test.

It is better to avoid last minute study just before taking up the exam. Have a good rest, the night before the exam so you don’t wake up sleepy eyed and dull. Arrive at the venue before time.

Before the exam starts, note the start time. Take up the questions you know you can answer and don’t waste time on those questions that confuse you. You can always come back to it later. Try to finish your exam in the allotted time and revise the answers.

During your flight test, make sure that you don’t get nervous. Be relaxed and keep your cool.

These tips should help you get your Sports Pilot License. Happy flying!

Do you yearn to be Jonathan Livingston Seagull and fly just for the love of flying? Well for those who yearn to get away from the drone of their big planes and for those who just want to have fun flying small and light aircraft, Skyraider Aviation, is there to help you realize your dream.

The company is situated in Colorado at Erie Municipal Airport, north of Denver. The main focus of this company is to train people as Sport Pilots (SP) to man Light Sport Aircrafts (LSA). With the opening up of aviation for low-cost recreational flying, there are number of potential pilots out there who can realize their dreams of taking to the skies.

The company offers a range of services from training to selling planes, news on aviation to selling aviation merchandise.

Lets talk about LSA and SP training. A sports pilot can fly albeit with some restrictions. The restrictions pertain to the kind of aircraft they can fly, the time they can fly and where they can fly. With so many restrictions, it is easy to get a SP license as compared to a private pilot license. A sports pilot can fly the small, two-seater easy-to-fly LSA. Skyraider Aviation caters to this niche segment of aviators. By focusing on this segment alone, the company provides a fun-filled experience at a cost much lower than traditional aviation companies.

The sports pilot license requires 20 hours of flight training and the costs about $3310 to finally get your license. While there are regulations on where, what and how to fly, the offer from Skyraider Aviation is a steal. Just imagine training in the latest Light Sport Aircraft!

If you already know how to fly an LSA and own a Sports Pilot License, Skyraider Aviation has aircraft for you to fly on rental basis. You do have to be a member to take advantage of aircraft rental. You have a choice between flying the Gobosh G700 and Evektor SportStar. Both these models come fully equipped with GPS, radios and transponders and all that is necessary for a safe and thrilling flying experience.

For those who want to own the machines they fly, Skyraider Aviation sells planes to. Just costs about $100,000. Financing is available. There is even a leaseback arrangement from the company, or you can choose to buy the plane with a few others under the fractional ownership option. That sounds good enough to start flying.

If you want to get in touch with the company, here are the contact details.

Phone: 303-926-0114 (Office), FAX: 303-926-0610 ,

E-mail: info@skyraideraviation.com

Address: 395 Airport Drive; Erie, CO 80516

Enjoy flying and stay safe!

Good news for seaplane pilots, light sport aviation applies to seaplanes as well. Recently, many new seaplanes that can qualify as being light sport. With a light sport license, pilots can go out and pick up a seaplane certification. Many seaplanes are affordable and offer a different aspect to flying. If a seaplane seems like it would constrict your flying freedom, remember many seaplanes are amphibious allowing for both runway and waterway landings. Many of the amphibious aircraft are relatively the same price and have the same horsepower. Some pilots are apprehensive of taking off and landing in water. It is definitely a unique experience, however both are relatively easy.

Getting a seaplane certification maybe easier than you think. There are several schools around the U.S. offering lessons to become certified. Many of the schools are located in Florida, which is the equivalent to seaplane paradise. These schools generally take about 2 weeks of rather extensive training. This training would include some ground school and a basic inspection of the aircraft. A student would spend around 15 hours in the air doing basic maneuvers and mastering the landing and taking off. After spending these 2 weeks learning the ins and outs of flying a seaplane, the former student could spend the rest of their lives enjoying it.

If you never have experienced the thrill of flying in a seaplane, then you should consider adding this to the “bucket list”. Fly up to Canada and land in an exclusive lake. Pull out the fishing rod and fish all afternoon, head home before night. Maybe island hopping from tropical paradise to the next is your idea of flying fun. Either way, seaplanes offer this freedom to light sport pilots. The possibilities of utilizing a light sport certificate with a seaplane are endless as long as the pilot is up for the task.

While not specifically related to Light Sport Aircraft, Jeremy Zawodny has a great list of items he used to help him pass the FAA Practical Test (checkride). He also has quite a few other articles related to his flight training that offer a good first-person view of the private pilot training process. Check out his site at: http://jeremy.zawodny.com/blog/archives/008491.html

Below is a video from my first demo flight with instructor Dan Wotring of OC Sport Planes / General Aviation in Fullerton, California (FUL). Was an incredible experience in a Sting Sport aircraft.

Music is by Charlie Crowe, courtesy of the Pod Safe Music Network.

Late last week I was lucky enough to receive a demo flight in a “Sting Sport” model Light Sport Aircraft. The good folks in Fullerton, California at OC Sport Planes allowed me to video tape the entire flight and I also interviewed the staff on the various products and services they have to offer to light sport pilots.. The good folks in Fullerton, California at allowed me to video tape the entire flight and I also interviewed the staff on the various products and services they have to offer to light sport pilots.If I was unsure before as to whether I would get my light sport certificate before flying in the Sting Sport, I can say with certainly that I will be pursuing the license now. Instructor Dan Wotring gave me a great demo flight and although I’m not a pilot (yet) I have to say that flying in the Sting Sport over northern Orange County was by far the best flying experience I’ve ever had. Even as a passenger in the Sting Sport I felt the thrill of these well-performing aircraft and can see how the light sport classification has the potential to take air travel in an entirely new direction.

Part 3 of Learning to Fly will continue my first experience in a Light Sport Aircraft with photos and video. Look for Part 3 later this week.

This is the first article in the “Learning To Fly” series in which I will document my pursuit of a Sport Pilot Certificate. I’ve been reading about the steps I need to take to acquire the certificate on sites like SportPilot.org.

According to the EAA, the basic requirements for the Sport Pilot Certificate are:

• At least 17 years of age
• Valid state driver’s license
• Proficient in the English language
• Be able to affirm general good health and not using substances or medications that impede judgment, cognition, or motor skills

Of course, I’ll also need to have 20 hours of flying under my belt. That flying includes “dual instruction (instructor and student), cross-country flying (departing one airport and landing at another), and solo flights” according to the EAA’s web site. Five hours of that training will be supervised solo flying. I can’t wait!

I’m compelled by the affordability and freedom that Light Sport Aircraft seem to allow. Since I’m new to this world, I’d love to hear your thoughts, advice, and suggestions. Click the “Join the Discussion” or “Comments” link below and leave a comment