Sport Pilot Talk

Catching up on my reading after the trauma of moving, I was looking through the April issue of EAA Sport Aviation and came across an article on page 118 that made me think about the way we often view other pilots in terms of the kind of aircraft they fly. The article's author is a retired TWA B-747 captain who flies a Quicksilver MX ultralight by choice, and makes the point that no matter what we fly, we're all pilots and shouldn't harbor condescending attitudes toward individuals who choose ultralight or light sport aircraft.

It's an interesting and thought provoking read.

Scooper wrote:. . . . . no matter what we fly, we're all pilots and shouldn't harbor condescending attitudes toward individuals who choose ultralight or light sport aircraft.

Concur totally.
It’s all about the ego.

I remember, more than 3 decades back, Chuck Yeager (yes, that Chuck Yeager) arriving at the Watsonville fly-in in an ultralight. It had "Glamorous Glennis" inscribed on the tail boom!

I think I remember reading in an article long ago that Yeager said that his ultralight was the only airplane he actually owned. The rest were borrowed, he was hired to fly or were government owned.

A pilot I know sneers at my Sport Certificate and asks me why I don't get a "real pilot's license". Of course, this is the same Private Pilot who has not flown cross countries half the length I have, won't fly into Oshkosh (which I have) or other major events, and logs about half the hours I do. I remind him of these facts and then ask him who's *really* the real pilot...and he shuts the hell up pretty fast.

Jets, helicopters, LSA, ultralights, hang gliders...if your butt is in the seat and relying on your inputs to avoid demise, you are a "real" pilot.

Good for you, Put him back in his box.

It’s getting out there flying around and going places that counts.

The only reasons to get a Private would be to fly at night, fly larger aircraft, or pursue an instrument rating. If you don't want to do any of that, who cares? A Private would add no value.

Higher speeds and altitudes also come in there, Tim. But most of us don't need those benefits, because they also come with higher costs.

I did not try to list all the differences in Sport vs Private. Higher speeds frequently comes with larger aircraft. In 55 years of flying, I can count on one hand the number of times I have flown above 10,000 MSL (and 2000 AGL). I guess I should have posted all the privileges and limitations of Sport vs Private.


Get a Private if this does not meet your needs:

"Privileges & Limitations
When operating as a sport pilot, you as the pilot must operate within the following guidelines of the sport pilot certificate:

Privileges

The holder of a valid sport pilot certificate may:

Operate as pilot in command of a sport pilot eligible aircraft.
Carry a single passenger and share expenses (fuel, oil, airport expenses, and aircraft rental).
Fly during the daytime using visual flight rules (VFR). Three statute miles visibility and visual contact with the ground are required.
Fly Cross-country anywhere in the U.S.
Fly up to 10,000 feet above mean sea level (MSL) or 2,000 feet above ground level (AGL), whichever is higher.
Fly in Class E and G airspace (and B, C, and D airspace with appropriate training).
Limitations

Sport pilots may not:

Fly in Class A airspace.
Fly in Class B, C, or D airspace until they receive training and a logbook endorsement from an instructor.
Fly outside the U.S. without prior permission from the foreign aviation authority.
Tow any object.
Fly while carrying a passenger or property for compensation or hire.
Fly in furtherance of a business."

TimTaylor wrote:I guess I should have posted all the privileges and limitations of Sport vs Private.

No need for that; we all know them. I was just pointing out two two privileges that were once important to me. They no longer are.

One other thing worth considering is aircraft availability. Earning a pilot rating higher than sport pilot opens a person up to many more aircraft that they can fly. This can be especially important if they are not planning to be aircraft owners.