Jeff Vaughan
Well Known Member
Do you have to train in a Light Sport Aircraft to get a Sport Pilots License?
I could be wrong, but I would think that one the main reasons a person would need to train in a light sport aircraft if they're going for a light sport pilots license rather than a PPL is that when it came time to solo or to take their check-ride that they wouldn't be able to do it in a standard category aircraft. So, point being, I don't think a person can do their L.S. training in a standard category aircraft, but I do think you can do all of your training to get a PPL in a L.S. aircraft.... if that training is done with a regular CFI.
This topic is of interest to me because my girlfriend is interested in getting her pilots license and I think getting her PPL via a L.S. license and using that as a stepping stone would be a great way to go. From what I understand, if you do your L.S. training with a regular CFI...and not with an instructor that can only train in L.S....that all of your L.S. training hours can be applied toward your PPL. Is this correct?
Regardless if you're goal is to get a L.S. license and stop there, or to get a PPL, I just think it makes sense to do your training in a L.S. aircraft. Due to ease of operation, modern glass cockpit equipment, and economic operations of the aircraft itself, I think that doing your training in a L.S. aircraft is the way to go.
Mark
... All of my instructors were full cfi ?s so all the time with them went toward my private when the time came.
All great new!! Once again, I think it?s a great idea to do all of your training in a new/modern LSA regardless if you?re only wanting to get your SPL or your PPL. So with all of this in mind, and the fact that all of the hours earned during sport pilot training can be applied towards a PPL, is there any downside to obtaining the SPL first even if the PPL is the ultimate goal? The way I see it, it allows you to get flying sooner/cheaper while gaining great experience and lets you work on you PPL more at your own pace.
Mark
Don't forget that a sport pilot can fly any kind of airplane that complies with LSA speed and weight limitations -- standard category or experimental, amateur built.
Mark, my plan was almost exactly as you describe. I trained for and received Sport Pilot, Private Pilot, and IFR all in Light Sport Aircraft. If I were to do it all again, I would definitely train in a Light Sport Plane, but I'd go straight for PPL and skip the Sport Pilot Certificate. The tests were almost entirely the same and the only difference in training is the night cross country required for PPL and some more hours. Here in busy Los Angeles airspace, not too many people get their certificates in the minimum amount of time anyway.