Sport Pilot Talk

MrMorden wrote:I am itching to take my CTSW into E-LSA status.

Question for you on that... do you have concerns about any increase in insurance premiums (hull, if nothing else), because it's an experimental? Do you have concerns about your resale value in the future, and the fact that it's no longer marketable to flight schools? Does the savings of "doing your own maintenance" outweigh the costs of insurance/resale value?

MrMorden wrote:I am itching to take my CTSW into E-LSA status. But I still owe money on it, and the lender "does not finance experimentals". Ah well, I'll get it paid off ASAP then make the switch.

Andy they wouldn't know you made the change, unless you tell them.

comperini wrote:

MrMorden wrote:I am itching to take my CTSW into E-LSA status.

Question for you on that... do you have concerns about any increase in insurance premiums (hull, if nothing else), because it's an experimental? Do you have concerns about your resale value in the future, and the fact that it's no longer marketable to flight schools? Does the savings of "doing your own maintenance" outweigh the costs of insurance/resale value?

No and No. I know other LSA owners who have done this, and their premiums have not changed, at least not substantially. Insurance companies don't seem to rate so much based on airworthiness type, but on make and model.

As for resale...while an airplane is a significantly expensive asset, for me it's purely recreational and a depreciating asset. It would be nice if it held its value, but I don't count on that happening any more than I would with a car. The right buyer will recognize the advantages of an E-LSA over an S-LSA, and that would be the buyer I would look for. Such a buyer will realize that allowing user maintenance allows much more timely repairs and adjustments, and does not encourage deferred maintenance as as S-LSA might where owners often choose to "let things slide" rather than deal with the time, hassle, and expense of finding a qualified mechanic to do every little piece of wrench-turning.

3Dreaming wrote:

MrMorden wrote:I am itching to take my CTSW into E-LSA status. But I still owe money on it, and the lender "does not finance experimentals". Ah well, I'll get it paid off ASAP then make the switch.

Andy they wouldn't know you made the change, unless you tell them.

I'm a mostly by the rules kind of guy...it's at least partially their airplane until I pay it off, I would not want somebody changing the status on an airplane I owned without my consent. I guess I could have just done it and not asked them, but since I asked them and they said no, I feel kind of bound by that.

Maybe a few years of S-LSA maintenance costs will change my mind.

comperini wrote: Question for you on that... do you have concerns about any increase in insurance premiums (hull, if nothing else), because it's an experimental? Do you have concerns about your resale value in the future, and the fact that it's no longer marketable to flight schools? Does the savings of "doing your own maintenance" outweigh the costs of insurance/resale value?

My rate went down slightly, albeit because they would only insure the hull for a slightly lower value ($50k). Paying about $950/yr.

Not concerned about resale. It will be what it will be.

Did not do it for the savings, though they are real. It's the freedom and involvement that is the major benefit for me.

(I'm gone. Everything deleted! Can't stand the ignorant data spread here).

bottleworks wrote:

MrMorden wrote:I am itching to take my CTSW into E-LSA status.

Or take the 120 hr course.

That would allow him to maintain and repair it, but not make any mods or parts substitutions without an LOA.

That can be important to some people.

FastEddieB wrote:

bottleworks wrote:

MrMorden wrote:I am itching to take my CTSW into E-LSA status.

Or take the 120 hr course.

That would allow him to maintain and repair it, but not make any mods or parts substitutions without an LOA.

That can be important to some people.

Yeah, I would take the 120hr course if I wanted to take on LSA maintenance & repair as a second career. I think going E-LSA and taking the 16hr course is a better way to go if you just want to play with your own airplane.