Sport Pilot Talk

Hi;

In addition to instruction by sport CFIs counting towards higher ratings, a recent AOPA article said that "Sport pilot instructors will be allowed to provide training on control and maneuvering solely by reference to instruments with required endorsement". What must be done to get this endorsement? Will this training be some hood time? More extensive?

Thanks;
jjfjr

These long-awaited changes are being phased in over time, so a lot of the details are yet to be determined. That said, I can anticipate what the endorsement requirements are likely to entail.

The objective here was to allow Sport Pilot instructors (CFI-S) to provide the necessary training required of Sport Pilot candidates prior to solo cross-country flight in an aircraft with a Vh greater than 87 knots. The requirement appears in FAR 61.93(e)(12), and includes the following, solely by reference to flight instruments:

straight and level flight
turns
climbs
descents
use of radio aids
ATC directives

Obviously, in order to give this instruction, a CFI-S has to be comfortable with those tasks. So, the endorsement will require some hood time, and a demonstration of competence in these areas. I would expect that any FAR 61 Subpart H CFI can give the required instruction and endorsement (a CFII rating should not be required). When the language of the endorsement is finally standardized, I would look for the National Association of Flight Instructors to publish it at http://www.nafinet.net.

drseti wrote:The requirement appears in FAR 61.93(e)(12), and includes the following, solely by reference to flight instruments:

And this could get interesting in an experimental that has few instruments.

comperini wrote:And this could get interesting in an experimental that has few instruments.

The requirement for instrument training prior to solo XC applies only to aircraft with a Vh < 87 kts. Most of the under-instrumented experimental LSAs are slower than that.

drseti wrote: The requirement for instrument training prior to solo XC applies only to aircraft with a Vh < 87 kts. Most of the under-instrumented experimental LSAs are slower than that.

I think you meant greater than 87 has the requirement... not less than.

So if someone shows up with an experimental kitfox or something that is > 87 kts, and they don't have much for instrumentation, what would you do? Most people don't outfit experimentals with much more than very basic VFR gauges at best... no fancy VSI, turn coordinator, horizon, etc.

comperini wrote:
So if someone shows up with an experimental kitfox or something that is > 87 kts, and they don't have much for instrumentation, what would you do? Most people don't outfit experimentals with much more than very basic VFR gauges at best... no fancy VSI, turn coordinator, horizon, etc.

You have to satisfy the training requirements even if it means using an approved simulator or another aircraft.

The same thing would apply to PP candidate an airplane that doesn’t have any gyros. (wonder if they would buy using the mag compass as an attitude indicator )