Sport Pilot Talk

I was talking with Bill Canino at SportAir, this morning.

He recently sold a new Sting S4, that he says will be certified for IFR in IMC. He seems convinced.

BrianL99 wrote:I was talking with Bill Canino at SportAir, this morning.

He recently sold a new Sting S4, that he says will be certified for IFR in IMC. He seems convinced.

How does a Special Light Sport Aircraft get 'certified' for IMC? And what does the Sting S4 have that gives it lightning protection?

I guess it's theoretically possible for a Sting (or any LSA) with an Experimental airworthiness certificate to be approved for IFR in IMC. Not so with an SLSA, since ASTM Committee F37 has yet to come up with IFR standards for SLSAs.

BrianL99 wrote:I was talking with Bill Canino at SportAir, this morning.

And, of course, all aircraft salesmen (like all car salesmen) are always completely honest, well informed, and correct.

drseti wrote:

BrianL99 wrote:I was talking with Bill Canino at SportAir, this morning.

And, of course, all aircraft salesmen (like all car salesmen) are always completely honest, well informed, and correct.

There aren't many people more in tune with the LSA Market and applicable FAA Regulations, than Canino. He wouldn't be chasing this, unless he was fairly certain he had a defensible position. We'll see how it goes.

drseti wrote:

BrianL99 wrote:I was talking with Bill Canino at SportAir, this morning.

And, of course, all aircraft salesmen (like all car salesmen) are always completely honest, well informed, and correct.

Chuckle. Wonder what's really going on? Think the guy is confusing a navcom radio (VFR VOR/ILS) with actual IMC flight?

BrianL99 wrote:

drseti wrote:

BrianL99 wrote: There aren't many people more in tune with the LSA Market and applicable FAA Regulations, than Canino.

Canino can't rewrite the rules...and most likely can't redesign the plane either, at least not without factory involved.

CTLSi wrote:
Canino can't rewrite the rules...and most likely can't redesign the plane either, at least not without factory involved.

I wish the forum allowed members to "block" or "ignore" certain posters, as other forums do.

That would certainly make this site more enjoyable.

Brian,

You can.

Go to your control panel and it should be obvious how.

It's under "Friends and Foes" and just add that certain someone as a "Foe".

FastEddieB wrote:Brian,

You can.

Go to your control panel and it should be obvious how.

It's under "Friends and Foes" and just add that certain someone as a "Foe".

Thanks Eddie, I'm on it.

The idea of flying a 1320# aircraft in actual IMC is patently terrifying.

Well, Scott, there's benign IMC and then there's hard IMC. Benign IFR operations include popping up through a stratus layer to VMC on top, and shooting an approach back down through it for a VFR landing. I wouldn't hesitate to do this in a properly equipped and certified 1320 pound aircraft. Hard IMC is another matter altogether.

Excellent point. I'm used to thinking in West Coast terms, where low visibility = clouds = frontal movement from the ocean = turbulence and general nastiness.

Haze, mist, stratus, etc. are a whole different (and tamer) animal.

When I think IMC I usually think "can't see where I'm going" more than "I'm getting tossed around like a cork on a heavy sea". The former seems LSA-compatible, the latter not at all. In fact, I really would not want to be flying in really serious weather (mod-sev turbulence, heavy convection) in any light single.

Whenever guys start talking about flying an LSA in IMC/IFR I have to wonder what their 'mission' is. Light Sport is day VFR, 3 statute miles viz with ground contact, no night. Max weight 1320lbs and max sped 120kts. Inevitably there is a push for faster, higher, night, and often IFR.

Seems to me those that want to need to just move up to the level of flying the provides that.

I have a friend contemplating flying in retirement and is interested in light sport but wants to be able to fly at night and in IMC if he 'needs' to to get back from a trip. When I pointed out that he should fly a non-LSA he said why can't he just add the equipment so he can fly at night and IFR?

I just can't see why some don't seem to get it.