Sports pilot

[subpilot]

1. Has anyone here instructed a sports pilot student yet?
2. What are your thoughts on the sports pilot license?
3. Does your flight school receive a lot of inquiries about getting a sport pilot license?

I think this has the potential to attract a lot of new business to GA but I also get nervous on giving people a license with anything less that private pilot knowledge.

Thanks

[DE727UPS]

I think it's great. The Sport Pilot catagory greatly limits the size, speed, weight, and pax capacity of the aircraft to be flown (never seen one with more than two seats). Also, it's restrictive on where and when you can fly.

[jrh]

Originally Posted by subpilot

1. Has anyone here instructed a sports pilot student yet?

Not yet, but I'd like to!

Originally Posted by subpilot

2. What are your thoughts on the sports pilot license?

I like it. I think it makes flying much more accessible to people who want to get in to aviation strictly for fun. The private license is more than a lot of pilots need and the recreational license is too much work for the privileges associated with it (might as well just get a PPL). The sport pilot certificate takes a more practical approach.

Originally Posted by subpilot

3. Does your flight school receive a lot of inquiries about getting a sport pilot license?

No, but I teach in a collegiate program aimed at developing professional pilots. We aren't interested in teaching sport pilots and haven't marketed in that direction at all.

Originally Posted by subpilot

I think this has the potential to attract a lot of new business to GA but I also get nervous on giving people a license with anything less that private pilot knowledge.

I get nervous with a lot of licensed private pilots even! Too many private pilots either scrape by with the minimum knowledge needed to complete training, or they get the license, then don't stay proficient as time passes. They don't see what kind of a hazard they are to themselves.

Much of any rating is the attitude that people approach it with. I'd far rather share the sky with a focused, safety-conscious sport pilot who knows their limitations than a lazy, out of currency, mediocre private pilot who is oblivious to how dangerous they are.

A pilot's safety is based much more on their own judgement than what certificates and ratings they hold.

[Foxcow]

I am currently teaching a few sport pilots. I think the sport pilot is a good way for someone to get into aviation wtihout a lot of the regulation that comes with a private. The place that I work for gets inquries from all over the country about training. The one thing that I don't really like is the fact that only 20 hours are required to take the practical. Someone with no experience will probably require at least 30-35 hours. The PTS standards are just about the same for sport pilot as for private too.

[subpilot]

What aircraft does your school use?

[DE727UPS]

"The one thing that I don't really like is the fact that only 20 hours are required to take the practical"

I think there are places, situations, and equipment types where 20 hour is appropriate. Just like the PPL, I'm sure the national average will be well above the minimum's as Sport pilot catches on.

[Foxcow]

1947 Luscombe 8A. The school is in the process of aquiring another aicraft though.

[DE727UPS]

No kidding. You are using a Luscombe for beginning Sport pilots? How's that working out? Do you fly it off grass mostly?

[Foxcow]

Yep. The Luscombe is less than 1320lbs. The aircraft is based at Sackman Field (H49) which is grass. Sometimes the Luscombe can he a handful but my students seem to be doing allright in it. What have you heard about Luscombes?