Sport Pilot Talk

frfly172 · Joined: 08 Jan 2009 Posts: 67 Location: Quincy Mass

Any one flown a light sport IFR? IF so what model and how was it?

glyn · Joined: 12 Jul 2006 Posts: 120 Location: Texas

Yup. A Tecnam sierra. Wasn't bad at all. Granted it wasn't through thunderstorms just low clouds.
As far as performance, not an issue. Granted it felt kinda weird flying a 2 seater IFR.

rsteele · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Posts: 261

I've been told, but someone that should know, that there will be a rule change in the not-to-distant future that will prohibit IFR in an S-LSA.

I took this with a large grain of salt, as planes like the AMD 601XL are specifically sold as being IFR capable, complete with TSO's instruments. I'd be really TO'ed if I spent the extra bucks for a TSO'ed panel just to be sure I could fly IFR and the have the rug pulled out from under me.

Just thought I'd pass it along

Ron

glyn · Joined: 12 Jul 2006 Posts: 120 Location: Texas

OH MAN !!! didn't see that coming.. well, kind of..

is there a story on it?

Helen · Joined: 23 Apr 2007 Posts: 118 Location: Maryland

rsteele wrote: I've been told, but someone that should know, that there will be a rule change in the not-to-distant future that will prohibit IFR in an S-LSA.

Fortunately, that's just an urban legend. To the contrary, consensus standards are being developed to more officially recognize IFR LSAs.

Helen

AZPilot · Joined: 25 Jun 2009 Posts: 156

Helen wrote: rsteele wrote: I've been told, but someone that should know, that there will be a rule change in the not-to-distant future that will prohibit IFR in an S-LSA.

Fortunately, that's just an urban legend. To the contrary, consensus standards are being developed to more officially recognize IFR LSAs.

Helen

More important is that the insurance industry ultimately buys off on it.

The driving force is that the industry wants to convince the flightschools that having a 100hp "all purpose" aircraft is a good thing, and that $150K+ is a better deal than a new Skyhawk at $300K,or a 4-5 yr old one for $110-125K.

I hope it works out, but the math is tough.

frfly172 · Joined: 08 Jan 2009 Posts: 67 Location: Quincy Mass

Talk at sebring this year is astm is going to prohibit flying light sport imc but offer all light sport for ifr training.

tadel001 · Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Posts: 251

ASTM has had difficulty agreeing on an IFR standard. Therefore, in the time being, a few participants have proposed prohibiting flights into IMC. However, the ultimate decision on whether a LSA can be flown in IFR is up to the FAA via the limitations on the aircraft at the time of certification. IFR LSAs now (planes whose airworthiness certificate says Day/Night IFR or those that don't say "VFR") will continue to be IFR capable. It all depends on what the person asks for when seeking certification. ASTM standards could influence the FAA's future decisions regarding limitations.

I have flown N656DF, the IFR Sierra at our school that is currently for sale. THis plane is more than capable of flying IFR. Check out our website home page for a video of an IFR flight in that plane. www.chesapeakesportpilot.com

frfly172 · Joined: 08 Jan 2009 Posts: 67 Location: Quincy Mass

the video was good looked like you had light ifr which is perfect for lsa ifr.break out and go .what is the asking price of your aircraft ifr .

tadel001 · Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Posts: 251

The plane is basically new (50 hours). Not used in the flight school. We are simply selling for the owner. Owner is asking $170,000 but I know will take less. He has over $180,000 in it. Extremely well equipped.

KSCessnaDriver · Joined: 25 Jan 2009 Posts: 158 Location: KOJC

Even if they do make a new standard for IFR flight, wouldn't it only apply to newly certificated airplane. Thus, anything that already has a certification would only have the old rules applied to it. So really, its kind of late to do things for planes already conforming to the standards, is it not?

3Dreaming · Joined: 10 Jan 2010 Posts: 300 Location: noble, IL USA

The way I understand it the IFR prohibitted is a stop gap to keep the FAA from doing it for us. They are still working on the standards. An old LSA if brought up to the current standards should be OK I would think.

KSCessnaDriver · Joined: 25 Jan 2009 Posts: 158 Location: KOJC

3Dreaming wrote: The way I understand it the IFR prohibitted is a stop gap to keep the FAA from doing it for us. They are still working on the standards. An old LSA if brought up to the current standards should be OK I would think.

What IFR prohibited? There is nothing that specifically prohibits IFR flight currently, unless I missed something. The problem is getting the manufacture to write the manual's to allow for IFR flight.

3Dreaming · Joined: 10 Jan 2010 Posts: 300 Location: noble, IL USA

The word coming from the ASTM meetings is that they are going to require a placard for all light sport aircraft to say "Flight in IMC Prohibitted". At present there are no ASTM standards for IFR certification of a light sport aircraft, so the manufactures have no standards to build the aircraft for IFR use. If the ASTM had not done this the FAA most likely would have written a regulation to control this, taking away the ability to file IFR in VMC conditions. By taking this measure it still leaves the chance for ASTM to come up with standards, which I hear will happen. It is just a matter of when. Tom

KSCessnaDriver wrote: 3Dreaming wrote: The way I understand it the IFR prohibitted is a stop gap to keep the FAA from doing it for us. They are still working on the standards. An old LSA if brought up to the current standards should be OK I would think.

What IFR prohibited? There is nothing that specifically prohibits IFR flight currently, unless I missed something. The problem is getting the manufacture to write the manual's to allow for IFR flight.

FastEddieB · Joined: 07 Jan 2009 Posts: 207 Location: Mineral Bluff, GA

I hope the wording is such so as to still allow Special VFR.

IOW, when the visibility in Class D airspace is below 3 miles and or the ceiling is less than 1,000', that might be construed as "IMC", at least for that airspace.

Here's hoping the new regs make things simpler, not more complicated!