Sport Pilot Talk

nzdude09 · Joined: 29 Jan 2010 Posts: 4 Location: Bay Area, California

Hey my name is Kamron Tangney, I am a full time college student, and now I have my heart set on becoming a sport pilot. I went to my local airport and they said that they would not offer the sport pilot license, and said it was for old farts. I was strongly taken back by this and realized this definitely wasn't the place for me.

So now to my point, I am looking for a flight instructor, I am really tight on cash and would love someone to help me who's just looking to get some hours or teach a young enthusiastic pilot. I am not some idiot kid who just wants to do this to impress girls, it has been my life goal for sometime now. It would be great if you had your own plane, I would obviously pay for fuel and be willing to clean, wax, polish and do other such things. You can contact me at nzdude09@hotmail.com or call or text me @ (510) 847-6019
Any help would be appreciated

Thank you,
Kamron Tangney

rfane · Joined: 26 Apr 2006 Posts: 179 Location: Sunnyvale, CA

nzdude09 wrote: It would be great if you had your own plane, I would obviously pay for fuel and be willing to clean, wax, polish and do other such things.

Kamron,

I wish you the best on that search. Not too many owners are going to let you train in their aircraft without getting enough to cover fuel, maintenance reserves, insurance, etc., on top of their instruction fee.

Aerodynamic Aviation at Reid Hillview in San Jose has 3 newer S-LSA's. as well as a few older type certificated aircraft that can be flown under the SP rules. Their website is : http://www.aerodynamicaviation.com/index.php . I recommend Jim Grant as a CFI.

nzdude09 · Joined: 29 Jan 2010 Posts: 4 Location: Bay Area, California

I would be willing to give money I have around $2,000.
Just looking for someone to show me the ropes,
but thank you for the reply!
Hopefully there is someone out there =/

Jim Stewart · Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 112

Here are some thoughts from an old fart. Firstly, do the ground school and pass the knowledge test with a 90+ score. This will show your motivation and commitment and will not cost more than $300. Next, seriously consider a private pilot certificate. The 3rd class medical is not difficult to pass and once you've got your private certificate, you can always let the medical lapse and fly under sport pilot privileges. There are lots and lots of pp instructors and airplanes and they are usually cheaper than the new sport planes. Finally, it might just not be the right time to start your training. Getting a degree and a job might be the best priorities for you right now.

nzdude09 · Joined: 29 Jan 2010 Posts: 4 Location: Bay Area, California

Thank you for your advice, just still trying to find someone out there! The ground school is not really a problem for me (not trying to sound cocky) but if I can still train on an older plane and just get my certification for a sport plane.
Are there any instructors on here that are in the bay area?

chrisw · Joined: 19 Jan 2010 Posts: 19 Location: San Jose, CA

nzdude09 wrote: Thank you for your advice, just still trying to find someone out there! The ground school is not really a problem for me (not trying to sound cocky) but if I can still train on an older plane and just get my certification for a sport plane.
Are there any instructors on here that are in the bay area?

Kamron,

I'm a CFI, although I don't teach light sport. I'll second the advice to put this off until you're in a financial position to do so. I'll also second what Roger said -- you can't operate any airplane for the price fuel alone; most of us who own aircraft are not instructors and, sadly, even the ones who are do not find themselves sitting around waiting for a student to cover 20-30% of the cost of operating their airplane. I have known a number of students over the years who have quit just shy of a certificate because they ran out of money, and I can count on one hand the number who ultimately came back and finished it off. $2,000 is not likely to get you a sport certificate (especially in the Bay area). My advice would be to go get some realistic figures from a few of the schools that offer this training, add a fudge factor (it WILL cost you more) and then decide if now is the right time. Better to put the whole thing off and then complete it in one swell foop than it is to stop-and-start, in my experience.

Chris

scottj · Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 8:30 pm Post subject: The value of ground school

I cannot tell you how many prospective, or even licensed, pilots have come to our school with the idea they don't need "ground school" and that they can do it themselves. This is pure B.S. and shows why you need it.

You don't know what you don't know. Yes you can pass an FAA multiple guess test, but you really don't know the finer points of becoming an Aviator without sitting in a room with 25 other student pilots and multiple instructors and speakers who teach you about aviation.

Becoming a good pilot is a lifestyle, not a quick test. Invest in yourself, do the ground school and then start flight training. Also, be sure you have enough time, and money, to complete this project. Take the estimates you are given, and then double it.

It is a common misconception that a Sport Pilot is not as hard, or requires as much thought and skill as a Private Pilot license. Baloney. The main difference you are not doing the night training and some extra instrument work. EVERYTHING else is the same.

Many of the LSA are much more technically advanced airplanes than the traditional training planes. Glass cockpits and speedy, slippery, airframes. I would argue that the Sport Pilot has to be a better pilot than those flying a heavy and forgiving Cessna 172.

Enjoy your flight training. You will remember this period for the rest of your life.
Scott Johnson
Chief Instructor, LSA North ~ Stick-n-Rudder Flight Training

dstclair · Joined: 06 Mar 2008 Posts: 65 Location: Allen, TX

I agree -- ground school is important to becoming a good pilot. Sure, you can buy a study guide and pass the written test but I'm assuming you want to be a pilot because you love flying. Ground school give you even more time with the flying experience.

Ground school is an opportunity to spend time learning more than the answers to test questions. Mine was in a group setting which provided for great discussion. Put two pilots (or would be pilots) in the same room and the BS starts to fly :)

Hey, I even like the ground instruction for my bienniel. Just an opportunity to learn something new from someone with a different perspective.

nzdude09 · Joined: 29 Jan 2010 Posts: 4 Location: Bay Area, California

No no no,
I wasn't saying that I was just going to go take the test and probably pass. But I have a grandfather who was a pilot for 30 years and he said he would help teach me. Sorry for the misunderstanding!

Hayward Flyer · Joined: 17 Oct 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Hayward,CA

I recieved my Sport pilot training at Amelia Reid at Reid hillview in San Jose.
They are now Aerodynamic Aviation. I too ran into a lot of resistance from old school instructors at other schools that told me a sport pilot licence was a waste of time. Don't be discouraged. I trained in the Evektor sportstar which is a very stable little plane although It is a little sensitive on the rudders on Takeoff and landings. I did my own ground school using the King DVD's. Call them for rates, but if memory serves me your looking at about $150.00 an hour for plane and instructor.
Great school w/Great people.
Tell em J.T. sent you! Good luck.