The sport pilot rule:
Creates a new student sport pilot certificate for operating any aircraft that meet the definition of a light-sport aircraft.
Creates a new sport pilot certificate for operating any aircraft that meet the definition of a light-sport aircraft.
Creates a new sport pilot instructor certificate.
Requires FAA knowledge (written) and practical (flight) test.
Credits ultralight training and experience toward a sport pilot certificate.
Credits sport pilot flight time toward more advanced pilot ratings.
Requires either a 3rd class FAA medical certificate or a current and valid U.S. driver's license as evidence of medical eligibility
(provided the individual does not have an official denial or revocation of medical eligibility on file with FAA).
Does not allow carrying passengers for compensation or hire
Allows sharing ("pro-rata") operating expenses with another pilot.
Allows day VFR flight only.
Allow sport pilots to fly vintage and production aircraft (standard airworthiness certificate) that meet the definition of a light-sport aircraft.
Sport Pilot Intructors:
The new sport pilot/light-sport aircraft rule:
Creates new sport pilot flight and ground instructor certificates.
Allows instructors to use ultralight exemption experience.
Allows conversion to sport pilot instructor status for ultralight instructors.
Allows current CFI's to train sport pilots.
Repairmen Certificates
The sport pilot/light-sport aircraft rule creates a new Repairmen Light-Sport Aircraft certificate-with either a maintenance or inspection rating. To obtain such a repairman certificate, you must demonstrate a skill level sufficient to determine the aircraft is in a condition enabling safe flight, and
for a Inspection rating-complete a 16 hour course on the inspection requirements of the particular class of light-sport aircraft;
for a Maintenance rating-complete a course - 120 hours (airplane category); 104 hours (weight shift or powered parachute); 80 hours (glider or lighter-than-air)
-- on the maintenance requirements of the particular class of light-sport aircraft.
Other LSA Maintenance Options
Maintenance--including all inspections on special light-sport airworthiness certificated aircraft--can be completed by:
An appropriately rated mechanic-that is, A&P, IA
An appropriately rated repair station;
A repairman (light-sport aircraft) with a maintenance rating, or
A certificated pilot (Sport Pilot rating or higher) may perform preventative maintenance.
Maintenance--including all inspections on experimental light-sport airworthiness certificated aircraft--can be completed by:
An appropriately rated mechanic-that is, A&P, IA
An appropriately rated repair station; or
A repairman (light-sport aircraft) with a maintenance rating;
To perform inspections on your own aircraft, you must have a repairman's certificate (light-sport aircraft) with an inspection rating.
More extensive training can lead to a general repairman's certificate (similar to IA, inspection authorization) for operations such as dealers, manufacturers, etc.
Deadlines to remember:
1 September 1, 2004 Effective date of the Sport Pilot rule.
Deadline to be a BFI in order to get maximum credit toward SPI.
2 August 31, 2005
Deadline for recreational pilots and higher rated pilots to acquire the necessary flight time to
apply for a category and class rating limited to a specific make and model of experimental aircraft.
3 January 31, 2007
Deadline for an ultralight pilot to take his sport pilot practical test if he wants his ultralight
flight time to also count toward the three hours of prep for test.
4 August 31, 2007
Last day that an experimental certificate will be issued to a "fat" ultralight or two-seat trainer.
5 January 31, 2008
Ultralight two-seat training exemption expires. New BFIs allowed until then, but of ever decreasing value.
6 September 1, 2009
Last day to be able to use an ultralight converted to an experimental LSA as a sport pilot trainer for compensation.