Wx @ KAWO

Sport Pilot Certificate

On July 20, 2004, the FAA ignited an aviation revolution. With the finalization of the sport pilot/light-sport aircraft (SP/LSA) rule, the process for becoming a pilot and certificating an aircraft were significantly altered, making learning to fly and owning an aircraft easier and less expensive.

The training is in the Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) which is an airplane that is less complicated than the small training airplanes that we currently equate with flight training. The airplane must weigh less than 1320 pounds at takeoff, fly no faster than 132 miles per hour in level cruise, and have a maximum of two seats.
That is the plane. The pilot has limitations too, but not many. As a sport pilot you may fly during the day, below 10,000 feet, and since the plane has only two seats, take one best friend at a time on your trip.

The Federal Aviation Administration minimum training standards are twenty hours of flight in an LSA, including maneuvers like turning, climbing, descending, flight at various airspeeds, take off and landing practice, and some short cross country flights. Basically, the same as Private Pilot, but no night time, no flight using only the flight instruments, and limited cross country flight.
There is a knowledge exam also that tests your understanding of aerodynamics, aircraft performance, weather, regulations, airspace and airport operations, and more.

At Northwest School of Aviation, we train the Sport Pilot candidate to a higher standard because we feel that in only 20 hours you may not have the skill set needed to be a safe pilot. Our typical Sport Pilot will graduate and be Certified in 25 hours. We use our own Sport Pilot Syllabus and you may get a copy here for comparison to other flight schools you may be considering for your training.
In addition, at NWAC we train all pilot candidates to commercial pilot standards, also ensuring that you will be a skilled, and therefore a safe pilot.

COST:

Here are a couple of sources of additional information:
http://www.sportpilot.org/
http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/regulatory/sport_faq.html

Courses

• Sport Pilot
• Private Pilot
• Commercial Pilot
• Airline Transport Pilot
   
• Flight Instructor
• Instrument Instructor
• Multi-Engine Instructor
   
• Pinch Hitter

Ratings