Who holds only a SP Certificate?

Sport aviation is growing rapidly. But the new sport pilot / light-sport aircraft rules are still a mystery to many flight schools and instructors. To locate a flight school offering sport pilot training and/or light-sport aircraft rentals, click on the "Flight School And Rental Finder" tab above. This is a great place to share ideas on learning to fly, flight schools, costs and anything else related to training.

Moderator: drseti

User avatar
David
Posts: 470
Joined: Thu Mar 23, 2006 10:49 pm
Location: PA @ KPTW
Contact:

Re: Who holds only a SP Certificate?

Post by David »

Torque wrote:
David wrote:I have a Sport pilot with the needed endorsements. I chose got get the sp based on what type of plane and the type of missions I wanted to fly. No regrets or thoughts to get more, but it also hasn't stopped additional lessons to learn new skills. :D
Did you start in a single seater? This is the kind of info I am looking for. How did you find a CFI and was that CFI just a SP CFI or a PP CFI with a SP CFI Indorsement?

AS you can see from how many have looked at this thread and how many have posted. There are not many of us.

Tony
First Paul, thank you for answering the instructor questions and beat me to it.

Tony there is more SP pilots than you think. Now to answer your questions Tony, I did training in a Cessna 172 for about 8 hours and then the remaining in my Sporthornet. A tandem LSA high wing powered by a Rotax 912. I had 2 instructors one in AR and in PA when I moved to the east. Both instructors were traditional CFI’s licensed under FAR Part 91 Subpart H. Each had transition training for in my LSA for insurance and also as we know a LSA has different handling capabilities

I also went this route should I ever want to count my hours towards a PPL. I do not plan on getting a PPL. I am very happy and proud to be a pilot first, with a SP license.
CBKERR
Posts: 81
Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2011 5:55 pm
Location: Bel Air, MD

Re: Who holds only a SP Certificate?

Post by CBKERR »

I have my sport pilot certificate with all airspace endorsements. Am interested in getting my taildragger in the future. SP is exactly what I wanted. No desire to fly at night or with more than 1 passanger. I fly out of W29 and love flying around the bay or out to ocean city, MD. I am definitely interested in checking in to WSC Trike. I received some DVDs from Paul Hamilton and they keep me going until I can start that journey. :D
langj
Posts: 140
Joined: Thu Apr 19, 2012 12:23 pm

Re: Who holds only a SP Certificate?

Post by langj »

I hold only an sp only maybe way down the road I will go for pp but not sure that's what I really want. I fly for the enjoyment, freedom, and incredible views. When you change all that for just a means of transportation well it tends to take the fun out of things. I may go for my tail wheel endorsement if I can get over my fear of them. I am so afraid of ground looping.
Torque
Posts: 152
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2012 7:54 am

Re: Who holds only a SP Certificate?

Post by Torque »

I may go for my tail wheel endorsement if I can get over my fear of them. I am so afraid of ground looping.[/quote]


Been there done that.....

With a taildragger you are flying that bird as soon as you start moving. It does not matter if you are taxiing or on the runway throttled up. You fly that bird all the time.
Go out and taxi,taxi,taxi,taxi,taxi,taxi,taxi,taxi.....did I mention go taxi,taxi,taxi,taxi,taxi, and when you think you are done go taxi,taxi,taxi,taxi. You are not going but a little over a walking speed here.
Now when you can take that bird and pretty much anytime put the tail up and keep it there you are ready to fly. When you can go the complete length of the runway with the tail up you are ready. Again you are going at a walking pace or a little faster, just fast enough for the tail to come up, then throttle back and enjoy the flight on the ground....I love it....
On your first landings these are going to be wheel landings and you are going to fly this bird to a stop. After you master wheel landings now its time to do some 3 point landings.
Its a step deal, keep practicing until you can have that stick in your gut on landing, the first 50 times or so, you will feel you landed to fast and the tail was just off the ground. thats ok, keep stepping her down and you will get it.
As I think I have to low of speed just a few feet off the ground I let a little pressure up on the stick, let the nose go down a little, before you know it you will have that stick back all the way.
Flying a taildragger I get more stick time then those flying a trycycle style bird, and its all about stick time to me.


Tony
Flocker
Posts: 635
Joined: Mon Nov 05, 2012 10:16 am
Location: Atlanta GA; Home Airport: PDK

Re: Who holds only a SP Certificate?

Post by Flocker »

SP only here
Aviation Real Estate Broker
newamiga
Posts: 138
Joined: Fri Jun 22, 2012 6:21 pm

Re: Who holds only a SP Certificate?

Post by newamiga »

I am a SP only. I trained at a school in Denver that specialized in SP training and had multiple LSA's to fly. I know of several SP only folks who have gotten their tickets there as well as several of those who have gone on to get their PP tickets. For me the decision was easy as I don't really want to fly at night, I fly most of my time with either my wife or another pilot friend of mine, and kind of like the fuel burn rate for the speed I can get up to. I have flown from Colorado down to Florida solo for the LSA expo last year and will again this year and have also flown to Oshkosh twice from Colorado, all in a LSA. I am building a RV-12 and bought an Aero AT-4 part way through building. The bottom line is that being a pilot requires certain skills. I really don't see many differences in PP and SP and certainly don't see skills differences in terms of basic airmanship.

Carl
Private Pilot and RV-12 Builder
User avatar
gmohr
Posts: 84
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2006 11:18 am
Location: Trenton, SC
Contact:

Re: Who holds only a SP Certificate?

Post by gmohr »

I am a SP Certificate holder. I trained in both a Sport Cruiser and a Remos G3.
I currently own an EA/B Arion Lightning that was built to meet the Light Sport Rule.
At 57yo Day VFR is fine with me. I am taking spin training and will be looking at
getting a Tail Wheel and possibly Sea Plane endorsements while on vacation.
Still all under the Sport Pilot rule.

If I had one wish it would be a greater weight allowance. Other than that I am one
happy Sport Pilot and proud of it and have almost 180hrs in 2yrs. We love our airplane
everyone comments how sleek and great our LSA is. In fact when my wife and I flew
to St. Simons Island, GA for lunch our airplane was the plane everyone wanted to look at.
Gene Mohr
Sport Pilot Upgrading to Private
180hrs and counting
User avatar
drseti
Posts: 7236
Joined: Sat Nov 28, 2009 6:42 pm
Location: 1C9, Hollister CA
Contact:

Re: Who holds only a SP Certificate?

Post by drseti »

gmohr wrote:If I had one wish it would be a greater weight allowance.
Gene, when you get that seaplane add-on, your wish will be granted (to the tune of an extra 110 pounds.) :wink:

Yes, the Lightning is a beautiful aircraft. Enjoy!
The opinions posted are those of one CFI, and do not necessarily represent the FAA or its lawyers.
Prof H Paul Shuch
PhD CFII DPE LSRM-A/GL/WS/PPC iRMT
AvSport LLC, 1C9
[email protected]
AvSport.org
facebook.com/SportFlying
SportPilotExaminer.US
User avatar
gmohr
Posts: 84
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2006 11:18 am
Location: Trenton, SC
Contact:

Re: Who holds only a SP Certificate?

Post by gmohr »

Paul, true.. and I can only imagine floats built for the Lightning!! NOT!
But a nice Cub and I could have the best of all worlds!!!
Gene Mohr
Sport Pilot Upgrading to Private
180hrs and counting
MikeM
Posts: 64
Joined: Sat Nov 17, 2007 7:34 pm
Location: Bucyrus, Ohio

Re: Who holds only a SP Certificate?

Post by MikeM »

Sport pilot only. Not interested in a private pilot license, but if they replace the 3rd class medical with a drivers license medical I am in. 8)
ka7eej
Posts: 175
Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 12:54 pm
Location: Taylor, Az
Contact:

Re: Who holds only a SP Certificate?

Post by ka7eej »

Sport Pilot only,

I fly into both towered airports and non towered airports regulary. I have flown to Page Az for several years to meet with 30-40 other pilots and enjoy their company, stories and friendship. I have flown Young Eagles at Our EEA Chapter fly ins. I have never been asked what rating I have by anyone ever, until now. Ha Ha... (I do provide a copy of proper docs for the Young Eagle flights) I get lots of positive comments and questions about my Allegro 2000. Like speed, fuel consumption etc... Never about my rating.. Why in the world should anyone care.. Hopefully we are all certificated by the FAA, and endorsed by a CFI to fly the planes we are flying and into the airports we are flying into..


You are a Pilot, so act like a Pilot and get out there and have some fun and be safe!!!!!!!

I have a 21 year old son who is also a Sport Pilot.. He will advance his ratings later in life as his finances grow I'm sure, but for now he can fly a Light Sport Plane for cheap if he is nice to his Dad!!

Brian
Owner of N3081X (Cover Girl) A Beautiful Allegro 2000 as seen on the cover and inside of several magazines!!
Post Reply