Sport Pilot Talk

For obtaining my SP license I would like to do this in my own plane that would be based at my future air park home/hangar. The location would be Western Sky Airpark (OAZ2) in Salome, AZ., less than 100 road miles from Phoenix. I would pay travel time and expense for a CFI from Phoenix or any area within 100 miles of Salome. Back around 1980 I solo'ed a 150 and have about 15 hours solo in same. My hope would be to get checked out to solo the new plane, then I could continue my lessons by flying from my home to the FBO that the CFI is based.

Does this sound plausible?

Any suggestions?

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SportPilot wrote:Yes, except...

To make repeated solo cross country flights to Phoenix, your instructor will have to give you cross country instruction, etc. By the time he is able to sign you off to make these flights, you will be very close to taking your Sport Pilot check ride. It might make sense to keep your airplane where ever your instructor is located for a while until you take your check ride and you drive back and forth instead of the CFI.

Thanks, that is the feedback I'm looking for. What would be ideal is to locate a flight school that is using the make of plane I'm interested in purchasing and if they have it and it is near retirement from their fleet, work out a package deal for instruction and purchase. I would like my 1st plane purchase to be a popular and efficient model like Flight Design CTLS(i) injected if available.

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There are some schools/CFI's that offer accelerated programs for Sport Pilot. Perhaps you could take a week or two "vacation", have your plane delivered to the flight school, and then fly home as a sport pilot.

The only downside is if it takes longer to finish, then you're far from home at the end of your accelerated training with no sport pilot certificate.

Both replies are good. I need to get the air park home first. This is the foggy season in Sacramento, so even though I trained in this area 30 years ago, I'll wait till I get moved to Arizona for my retirement. I have cared for my dad for over 6 years and feeling a bit guilty for placing him in a care facility, so as it is now my priority is daily visits. I'm just trying to see if I can get some things lined up for the future when my time is my time. This post was in hopes of maybe hooking up with a CFI in that area to help arrange finding a good plane and instruction for the future.

There is a school with a CTLS in Bisbee.

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SportPilot wrote:I wouldn't be surprised is someone living at the airpark is a CFI.

That would be perfect. Western Sky is new and looks like only 14 homes so far, and field stats report only 3 active planes at the field. There is another air park with about 80 homes only 2 miles away, better odds of finding a CFI. Then there is Agulia with an air park about 30 road miles away.

The Bisbee school with the CTLS sounds promising.

Eric in Bisbee, coppercityaviation.com, is a great instructor and has a bunch of hours training LSA, and even has a CT that he rents.

Sonny Weller, at KDVT, trained me in my CT. Great guy, flexible, laid back with experience in many aircraft. Sonnyweller.com

Tim

ct4me wrote:Eric in Bisbee, coppercityaviation.com, is a great instructor and has a bunch of hours training LSA, and even has a CT that he rents.

Sonny Weller, at KDVT, trained me in my CT. Great guy, flexible, laid back with experience in many aircraft. Sonnyweller.com

Tim

Thanks. KDVT is a 75 nm from OAZ2, much closer than Bisbee. When I get moved I'll contact Sonny. Laid back is the polar opposite of my old instructor from 30 years ago, sounds like it would be a nice change. And if he is less than the almost 300 lbs of my last instructor that would be good too.

if you are still looking for a CFI please checkout my page.. http://LightSportMan.com.. .I am CFI

Have checked to see if any of your prospective neighbors are CFI's? It's very possible that someone in the park may be able to give you instruction.