How to Get Back in the Game...PPL to LSA?
Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2018 1:04 pm
Hi everyone, first post here. I got my PPL in college and haven’t logged flight time since1989. Considering getting back into it but not sure I want to go through the bureaucracy of the FAA’s medical certificate given past complex health history, I’m safe to fly but as I understand it if you apply for a medical and get denied you are barred forever for asking, Sport or otherwise. Can’t do Basic Med since my last FAA physical was before 2006. Although I haven’t flown in a long time I’ve been around aviation considerably (USAF).
Some questions
1. As I understand it I don’t need to get a Sport Pilot Certificate as my PPL trumps that and without a medical all I need is a drivers license and operate only LSA within the LSA restrictions. Is this correct? In effect I’m downgrading.
2. I guess the term “biennial flight review” doesn’t technically apply as that is for the type rating and aircraft for which you are certified, i.e., Airplane -Single Engine Land in my case which as an LSA guy I wouldn’t be doing. So, if I have it right the correct term is really an “endorsement” for LSA? I wouldn’t be subject to an FAA written, oral exam or check ride for Sport Pilot. Am I on track here?
3. From a practicality standpoint I would obviously study to get back up to speed using an equivalent online ground school or the old fashioned way…a formal class. Back in the day most “ground schools” existed to “teach the test” vs what you really need to know. Would need to get a lot flight training again and enough hours of dual instruction in LSA to cover all bases and then get the endorsement from an instructor. In essence I would be getting the Sport training as though I was starting from scratch without the formal FAA exams. Probably a considerable endeavor. I see there are flight training centers for Sling in Carson City, NV and Sport Cruiser in Bountiful UT or Addison TX. Those appear to be more geared for certificates vs what I’m trying to do.
I’ve got some other non-training questions on LSA but will post those in the right forum. I stopped flying as I didn’t have the funds back then to to fly often enough and didn’t want to be a once-a-month sightseer only when there is no crosswind and no clouds. Military career and family obligations took over. I’m retired now and have options. Goal would be to buy and own an LSA.
Excuse the length.
Some questions
1. As I understand it I don’t need to get a Sport Pilot Certificate as my PPL trumps that and without a medical all I need is a drivers license and operate only LSA within the LSA restrictions. Is this correct? In effect I’m downgrading.
2. I guess the term “biennial flight review” doesn’t technically apply as that is for the type rating and aircraft for which you are certified, i.e., Airplane -Single Engine Land in my case which as an LSA guy I wouldn’t be doing. So, if I have it right the correct term is really an “endorsement” for LSA? I wouldn’t be subject to an FAA written, oral exam or check ride for Sport Pilot. Am I on track here?
3. From a practicality standpoint I would obviously study to get back up to speed using an equivalent online ground school or the old fashioned way…a formal class. Back in the day most “ground schools” existed to “teach the test” vs what you really need to know. Would need to get a lot flight training again and enough hours of dual instruction in LSA to cover all bases and then get the endorsement from an instructor. In essence I would be getting the Sport training as though I was starting from scratch without the formal FAA exams. Probably a considerable endeavor. I see there are flight training centers for Sling in Carson City, NV and Sport Cruiser in Bountiful UT or Addison TX. Those appear to be more geared for certificates vs what I’m trying to do.
I’ve got some other non-training questions on LSA but will post those in the right forum. I stopped flying as I didn’t have the funds back then to to fly often enough and didn’t want to be a once-a-month sightseer only when there is no crosswind and no clouds. Military career and family obligations took over. I’m retired now and have options. Goal would be to buy and own an LSA.
Excuse the length.