LSA PILOT Could You be a Sport Pilot e e » without a sport pilot certificate? What Isa Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA)? An LSA is not a certain make and ‘model of aireraft and it is not a spe- cific type of certification. It isa defini- tion found in FAR Part 1, Any aircraft ‘meeting the FAR Part 1 definition of an LSA isan aircraft that a sport pilot ‘may fly. Briefly, here are the param- eters that define an 154: 64 « AUGUST 2001 © Maximum gross takeoff weight: 1,320 pounds, or 1,430 pounds for seaplanes. * Lighter-than-air maximum gross ‘weight: 1,320 pounds (S99 kilo- grams). © Max stall speed: §1 mph (45 knots) + Maximum speed in level flight with maximum continuous power (Vg): 138 mph 120 knots) ingle or two-seat alxcraft only. * Single, reciprocating engine (if powered), including rotary or diesel « Fixed or ground adjustable propeller. = Unpressurized cabin, + Fixed landing gear, except for an aircraft Intended for operation on water or a glider, Who May Fly an LSA? Any certificated pilot may fly an LSA if ‘the pilot has the appropriate category and class rating on her pilot certificate, However, a sport pilot, or any pilot e ecising sport plot privileges, may only fly a sport pilot eligible aircraft The Ranking of Pilot Certificates Pilot certificates are issued at six levels: student pilot, sport pilot, recreational pilot, private pilot, commercial pilot, and airline transport pilot (ATP). Each ff these pilot certificates carries a de- scription of the privilegesatforded them in the regulations. These certificates are similar in some respects to military rank, Using the military analogy, a stu dent pilot is the lowest rank and ATP in the highest rank of pilot certification In the military, as rank is gained, the soldier maintains the duties and privi- leges of the lower rank and adds duties and privileges of the higher rank. The same is true of pilot certificates.11 use myself as an example of how the pilot certificates work. The stux dent pilot certificate is somewhat like the rank [ held while in Air Force ba- sic training. [was an airman-basic and carried no rank insignia on my sleeve. | ‘was a trainee, and that’s exactly what a student pilot certificate Is, Itsa learner's permit. When | completed boot camp, Thecame an airmansthird class and got fone stripe. My first pilot “Stripe” was 2 private pilot certificate; sport and recreational pilot certificates. didn’t exist then. Under today’s rules, a new student has the option of choosing a sport, recreational, or private pilot cer- tificate as the first pilot rank. ‘Upon gaining experience and more training, | earned a commercial pilot rating and later became an ATP, but never lost the privileges of a private pllot. I simply elected to exercise the higher privileges | had earned. When. recreational and sport pilot rules were created, | automatically gained those privileges because | already held a high: erranking certificate Pilots have always been able to choose the level of privileges they wish to exercise based on the highest level of certificate they hold, In my case, 10 exercise my ATP privileges, I must hold a first-class medical certificate. If drop from a first-class medical to a second- class medical, I drop rank (privileges) to ‘a commercial pilot. But [do not need to exercise ATP or commercial privileges, 50 I now carry a third-class medical (it’s cheaper and lasts longer) and exercise private pilot privileges, even though, the words “private pilot” are not on my pilot certificate. If I choose to drop the ‘medical completely, | become a sport pilot, but the words “sport pilot” won't be on my pilot certificate Any change of pilot privileges oceurs without a change to my pilot certiic cate, I can also go back up the privilege ladder by simply renewing my second: or first-class medical certificate How Does a Non-Current, Certificated Pilot Become a Sport Pilot? A pilot certificate never expires. With a pilot certificate in hand, all that’s required to fly as a sport pilot Is to obtain the tralning needed to be sale and proficient, and complete a flight review as requited by FAR 61.56. You are not required to take a knowledge (written) or flight test, However, when an existing. pilot elects to operate as a sport pllot—for ‘example, use a driver’ license in lieu of a medical certificate (as long as his latest medical has not been denied or revoked)—he must follow sport pilot limitations and rules, These rules are found in FAR 61, Subpatt J If Het my medical expire, | can onty exercise spor pilot privileges and I may only fly an aircraft that meets the defi nition of an LSA. I'm also restricted to an altitude of 10,000 feet above sea level. My pilot certificate stil reads ATR, but my privileges are quite different. (On the other hand, my higher-rank- ing certificate does help in a couple of areas. Sport pilots are required to have a flight instructor endorsement to fly fan aircraft that cruises faster than 87 knots or to fly in towered airspace But the FAA recognizes 1 am already qualified for these operations because fof my previous training, and these endorsements are waived. This Is true if you hold any pilot certificate rank- ing higher than sport pilot, (There are some nuances for recreational pilots; check with an instructor) Itisimportant forany higher-ranked pilot who intends to exercise sport pi- lot privileges to become familiar with sport pilot rules and limitations, and ‘to observe them, "The sport pilot rules make it easy for existing pilots to operate under sport pilot rules if they want to." What About Flight Instructors? Annewly minted flight instructor asked me what he had to do to become a sport pilot instructor. He had just com: pleted training ina collegiate program, and | knew he was certificated under FAR 61, Subpart H, which allows him to provide instruction at all levels. 1 asked him why he thought he needed aan additional rating. His response was to show me the regulation book. FAR 61, Subpart H is labeled “Flight In- structors Other Than Flight Instructors ‘with a Sport Pilot Rating.” By reading the title he thought, because he was, certificated under Subpart H, he was _ LSAPILOT not a sport pilot instructor. To be hon- cst, I can’t fault his interpretation of the title because i is misleading. There are two flight instructor cer tification rules in FAR 61: Subpart H, and Subpart K. Subpart K is titled “Flight Instructor with a Sport Pilot Rating,” The part of the Subpart H title that reads “Other Than Flight Instruc: tors with a Sport Pilot Rating” was intended to communicate to Subpart K instructors that Subpart H does not apply to them; it doesnt limit the Sub- att H instructor. To quote a famous Tine from Coo! Hand Luke, “I believe what we have here isa failure to com: municate.” Persons who are certificated as flight instructors under Subpart K may only twain sport pilots. Subpart H instruc tors have mote privileges than Subpart K instructors. This does not mean a Subpart H instructor is better qualified to teach than a Subpart K instructor, but it does mean the Subpart Hin- structor ean teach all pilots, including sport pilots, Summary © A light-sport aircrafts any aircraft that meets the definition in FAR Part 1 * Any FAA-certificated plot may fly a light-sport aircraft If she holds a pilot certificate with ratings and limitations appropriate to the aircra. * Any pilot, regardless of the pilot cer- tificate he holds, is limited to a light- sport aircraft if operating under sport pilot Limitations. ® Sport pilot rules allow for existing pilots to easily operate under sport pi- lot privileges. All pilots must continue to meet flight review and recent flight experience requirements as spelled out in PARs 61.56 and 61.57. An existing pilot does not need to take any tests fr have her pilot certificate revised to exercise sport pilot privileges. + Regardless of what pilot certificate a pilot holds, he raust have either athird- ‘lass medical certificate or a valid driv- er license to operate asa sport pilot * Any certificated flight instructor may provide sport pilot training, The sport pilot rules make It easy for existing pilots to operate under sport pilot rules if they want to. Your pilot certificate never expires, and it's a simple process to breathe new life into it by choosing to operate asa sport pi- Jot. Becoming a sport pilot without a sport pilot certificate may be a way for retired pilot to take light again. 225 EARSPORT PILOT » 68,i Ly Si asa A Vintage Cub Across America Flight Schools & Sport Pilot Training Get Ready for E-LSA Certification > fed beclectevllffeceelfececellecclledtelellceell{prooat fouaoyosdyuoyeay tueaBoug Aajes Wer Fa caeou bia uesboig piemy Kousfayord ¥ TST W149 TafSO™ voweutxy ray Woavees Thftqza ™ OPapereeyy 2 [ow] eft le an ies an FEL 1 ___ aseng 99199 moqnous 1461s 95 195 smomnoul WD ‘SLNSWSSHOONS