jsfBoat

I had a student come in last week (6 hours of time under his belt from a previous school) for a flight. Before we went flying I took some time to get to know him and asked what his intentions were and what he wants from me. He said that he wants to get his Sport Pilot and that he wants me to develop his skills as a pilot. The problem is that where I'm instructing doesn't have a sport airplane, only a Cherokee 140. I tried to persuade this guy to go for his private pilot, and gave him many reasons, but he doesn't "...want to spend $5,000+ on a PPL". Should I refer him to another school now or do it later after some flight training? I was thinking that I could also train and then send him for his check ride because I didn't see anything in the FARs that Sport Pilot training has to be done in a sport airplane, just in the same category and class. The issue then becomes that of a medical. He should have his medical to train in the Cherokee, but it's not required for the sport pilot certificate. How should I handle the whole situation? Just looking to see what other peoples' thoughts are on this issue.

Gajre539

You are correct, the regs don't state that you need training in a light-sport aircraft. It only states that the applicant should receive 20 hours of flight time, including 15 hours dual from an authorized instructor in a single engine airplane and at least 5 hours of solo flight.

... BUT the holder of a sport pilot certificate may only act as PIC of a light-sport aircraft. A sport pilot may operate any make and model of LSA in the same category and class and within the same set of aircraft as the make/model in which he/she is endorsed.

As a sport pilot student, the student also may not act as PIC on any aircraft other than a light-sport aircraft, or at night, at an altitude more than 10,000 ft MSL or 2000 ft AGL (whichever is higher) or in Class B, C, or D airspace or at an airport with a control tower with receiving the required ground/flight training and endorsement from an authorized instructor.

We've had a couple people come to our flight school inquiring about a sport pilot certificate, basically we tell them that we don't have an LSA aircraft but will be happy to work with them towards a recreational pilot certificate. A recreational pilot certificate is cheaper than a private and the recreational pilot with a category and class rating can operate any light-sport in that category and class. If, however, the person wants to get sport pilot certificate that bad, refer them to a flight school that has an LSA aircraft and provides sport pilot training.

NoyGonnaDoIt

If he does his training in a non-LSA aircraft he will need to get a student pilot certificate with a medical certificate in order to solo.

The practical test does need to be taken in an LSA. That's hard to derive from the regs themselves because of the difference between "category" when applied to airmen and when applied to aircraft, but in this case the sport pilot PTS makes clear that "The aircraft utilized for sport pilot and sport pilot flight instructor practical tests and proficiency checks must be a light-sport aircraft... "

No real problem if he trains in the Cherokee but he'd have to do a transition down the line. New pilots take to their first post-training types with varying degrees of difficulty. Depending on the ultimate airplane, he may end up having to retrain to deal with an airplane that is more susceptible to winds, is lighter on the controls, has a very different landing profile and has far more sophisticated avionics than that Cherokee. Not a big deal for experience pilots (although one flight school I know is doing 2-hour checkouts for transitioning pilots due to the differences)

Bottom line for me: given the shorter training regimen for the sport pilot and that the non-LSA training is likely to lengthen it at least somewhat somewhat, if there is instruction in LSAs in your area refer him. Or at least explain how far you can go, what the limitations are, and that he'll need LSA-specific training at some point.

btw, a lot of questions about LSA are answered on the EAA website:
http://www.sportpilot.org/questions/afmtopics.asp