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05-31-2015, 01:48 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Laguna Niguel, California
Posts: 62
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Why flight schools hate sport pilot certificate?
Today during my first hour of ground school, I expressed my concern over being 47 years old and not being sure if I can pass medical. Since, I will not make a carrier out off flying, I asked if I should just go for sport pilot certificate. I just want to fly for fun, when sun is up and clouds are not in my way. In southern California weather is great and rain is something we see on TV. Anyway, my instructor was strongly against it and even suggested that I still need 3rd class medical to get sport licence. He went on and on how I should go for PPL and that is the only way. I tried to get him to understand that in the not so distant future my health will get worst, since there is no cure for aging yet, however he just could not see that.
What is the point off getting PPL knowing that every two years you have to prove that you are healthy to keep it ? I think that having limited flying rights until you can get your aging body inside the plane is better then having unlimited flying rights until doctor tells you otherwise.
Bottom line, my instructor got almost angry with me for considering sport pilot certificate ? I am not sure why he was so emotional about it. Don't we all get old and have to consider our options? 
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05-31-2015, 02:34 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Irvine, CA
Posts: 873
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Many flight schools discourage earning a sport pilot license because they don't have any planes for rent that you can fly with a sport pilot license. I have found very few LSAs for rent in So. Cal. There are a few out there, but not many.
The instructor is completely wrong if he said you need a 3rd class medical to earn a sport pilot license.
__________________
Mark
RV-12iS Fuselage
RV-9A Project: Sold
VAF donation made for 2020
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05-31-2015, 04:30 AM
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Join Date: May 2012
Location: Harrisburg, Pa
Posts: 759
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I share this not to get details of your personal medical history, only to give perspective. 47 is relatively young. I receive a fairly thorough flight physical annually from Uncle Sam. I have had 3rd, 2nd, and, most recently, a 1st class civilian physical. The 3rd and 2nds were little more than vitals, "do you feel ok?", and writing a check. Even the first was similarly mundane - only adding an eye chart, peeing in a cup, and EKG.
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05-31-2015, 05:06 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Martinsville, IN
Posts: 2,326
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Perhaps the point of the instructor, although it sounds like he didn't articulate it very well, is that you can always earn your PPL but then exercise it like a Sport Pilot if need be later. Just be sure never to "fail" a 3rd class examination. That's a loophole right now but I suspect they will close this in the future. Also, the lack of available LSA aircraft for training is also a reason. My son is starting lessons and while he was originally shooting for a Sport Pilot, he decided to go ahead and get a PPL instead.
BTW, your health can turn on a dime. Just ask a number of us on the forum for which this is true. If it weren't for Sport Pilot, I'd be fishing right now instead of flying. 
__________________
Randy Pflanzer
Greenwood, IN
www.pflanzer-aviation.com
Paid through 2043!
Lund fishing Boat, 2017, GONE FISHING
RV-12 - Completed 2014, Sold
427 Shelby Cobra - Completed 2012, Sold
F1 EVO - partially completed, Sold
F1 Rocket - Completed 2005, Sold
RV-7A - Partially completed, Sold
RV-6 - Completed 2000, Sold
Long-EZ - Completed 1987, Sold
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05-31-2015, 05:36 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: West Fargo, ND
Posts: 1,073
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For me, I would have needed the number hours for the PPL to be comfortable flying in SoCal anyway. Some pretty complex airspace out there. You need to feel comfortable in your plane and as a pilot to handle the ATC, traffic and airspace out there. Good luck at 20 hours. Might be some moments you are wishing you were back on the ground.
__________________
Derek Hoeschen
EAA Tech Counselor
RV-9A #92103 - N803DK
G3X, Superior XO-320, Dual Pmags, Catto 3B
www.mykitlog.com/dbro172/
1974 Bellanca Super Viking - N16AW - Flying
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1956 C-182 - N744W - Sold
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05-31-2015, 05:40 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Garden City Texas
Posts: 878
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I'm hoping the 3rd class medical required to fly with a PPL will soon be changed to the same standards as the Sport Pilot Drivers License medical. If it goes thru, you may wish you had gone ahead and got the PPL. With a PPL, you have so many more options as far as renting, owning, and flying planes.
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05-31-2015, 07:30 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Iowa
Posts: 164
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You don't need to declare until you're ready to solo. If you're flying a plane not eligible for Sport Pilots you need your 3rd class then. As far as training is concerned, if you are flying with a Part 61 Subpart H instructor all the time can count for either sport or private certificate. If you are flying with a Subpart K instructor it only counts for sport. Your instructor sounds like an H.
So, you have a few hours to sort it out, as you're not likely to solo in less than 15 hours in this day and age, at least in the private certificate path.
Granted, the training is rather different; I'm only talking about what counts for what certificate.
I agree with the suggestions to get the private certificate and class 3. You never know if you may move or suddenly decide you want to fly at night or over 10,000 MSL/2,000 AGL or even get an instrument ticket, none of which you can do as a sport pilot.
If you are worried about medicals, just go right for the glider rating with self-launch endorsement and you can fly something that looks awfully like an LSA and for which not even the drivers license is required. Plus you can go over 10k.
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05-31-2015, 07:50 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Kansas
Posts: 384
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I personally would be careful self disclosing on a public forum that I have medical issues and looking at flying sport pilot. Even though sport pilot doesn't require a medical you still must be fit for piloting / flying.
Just my 2cents
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05-31-2015, 08:10 AM
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Pocahontas MS
Posts: 3,884
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Fit to fly and passing a medical aren't even close to the same thing; they're barely related. Even the FAA recognizes that by allowing Sport Pilot operation. Not that different from 'factory' vs homebuilt experimentals.
The instructor in the original post was just an idiot, in lots of ways. 1st, he was either a liar or wasn't qualified to be an instructor (either didn't know FARs or lied about them). 2nd, he was a terrible marketer. Why not give the customer what he wants, and then 'upsell' to the full cert later? All the SP training would have applied to a Private cert, and the customer would have soon seen the advantages when he wanted to expand his flying options.
By being an idiot, he lost a customer.
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05-31-2015, 08:13 AM
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Join Date: May 2011
Location: Perryville, MD
Posts: 93
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Don't let anyone talk you out of going for Sport Pilot, a lot of private pilots don't understand what Sport Pilot is all about, just flying for fun when the weather is nice. It's not about getting certified in 20 hours, most take closer to the 40 required for Private and are just as competent as a new Private Pilot under day VFR conditions.
__________________
Joe Mikus
MSgt USAF Ret Avionics Tech
Perryville, MD
Student Sport Pilot
Future RV-12 Builder?
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