Sport Pilot Talk

...

Are you studying for sport pilot? The pilot handbook is for all pilots. It covers material for beginners all the way to ATP's. Not all of the book is intended for sport pilots. It has been a while since I went through the sport pilot knowledge test prep, but I don't remember any VOR questions. Now for private pilot there will be VOR questions.

...

I am not aware of a sport pilot handbook. There is a pilot handbook and sport pilot knowledge test book. There is no requirement for the use of electronic navigation for sport pilot. It is not tested on the practical test. That being said if the aircraft you are using for the practical test has a VOR the examiner might ask you about it. You should be familiar with all equipment aboard the aircraft.

...

...

bornstephen wrote:The plane inwill be flying is the 2007 Evektor Sportstar Plus. According to the manual, VOR capabilities are not listed. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

You have to look at the equipment list for the specific aircraft. It may have a radio that is a combination unit that also receives VOR signals. Perhaps not, but it isn't unheard of for an SLSA aircraft to have a Nav/Com.

I don't think it does.
Given this cockpit photo: http://sportpilotchicago.weebly.com/photos.html it looks like it has Garmin SL 40 which is only com.

...

I've taken and passed the Sport Pilot (Airplane) Knowledge test twice in the last 3 years, studied Kings Schools and Sporty's Online courses, and never have seen any questions regarding VOR. 5 years ago I took a formal sit-down PPL ground school course, and VOR nav was covered extensively. But, generally speaking, the few LSAs I've seen were not VOR equipped.

...

bornstephen wrote:Thanks Dan.

Basically, there are no VOR question on the written for Sport Pilot, but PPL need to know it for the written. Also, if the LSA you are flying for your practical has VOR capabilities, then you might be tested on it. If it doesn't have it, don't worry about it.

That is a pretty fair assessment.

The way GPS is replacing all other modes of navigation, give it a few more years and VOR will disappear even from PP courses...

A few points:

FWIW, both of my Evektor SportStars have VOR capability. I replaced the original SL40 in my first one with an SL30 plus OBS. The second one came equipped that way from the factory. That makes the panel suitabe for my students upgrading to Private Pilot, and even instrument training (in VMC, of course). I even use both the VOR and ILS capabilities when I travel, and to maintain my own IFR currency (in VMC, of course).

That said, yes, VOR is obsolete technology. I just heard on this week's AOPA Live that FAA is phasing out 30 VOR stations a year. So, call me a dinosaur if you wish.

Boy, I sure do miss that good old 4-course AN radio range.

drseti wrote:
Boy, I sure do miss that good old 4-course AN radio range.

Even that is cheating in my book.

How we used to do it, back when men were men: