Sport Pilot Talk

rsteele · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Posts: 99

Let's say a student started flight training with the intention of advancing as quickly as possible to a commercial pilot. My reading of the regulations indicate he (or she) would be be better off to get an SP ticket first, so he could immediately start logging time as PIC for an instrument rating. I also don't see any prohibition on taking instrument training as a SP, you just can't take the test until you have advanced through the PPL. Is this actually a possibility? Has anyone done it? It seems like it could save the student a few thousand dollars over starting with a PPL.

Ron (who has no intentions to do this, just curious.)

Paul Hamilton · Joined: 21 May 2007 Posts: 62 Location: Reno/Tahoe Nevada

Pilot in command time can start as solo time in any airplane. It is all equal see 61.51 (e)

I do see where the fuel and operational costs of a LSA would save money. But it would cost more to take the SP knowledge test and SP checkride. Maybe you can solo sooner in a LSA but for the career/fast track it is hard to see a big savings in hours?

PIC time is PIC time in an airplane.

Altouugh I think it is good to be a SP pilot first I do not seee any reduction in PIC time. Perhaps I am missing something.