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Student Sport Pilot in New Mexico

Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2018 6:52 pm
by jpleonard2000
Hi Everyone,

My name is John. I'm a student sport pilot living in Albuquerque, NM. I've been doing my flight training in a Remos GX at Santa Fe Municipal airport and plan to take my practical exam in the next week or two. I got interested in aviation while working on my PhD in Wildlife Sciences. I was conducting a wildlife telemetry study and we often had to fly in a Cessna 172, with yagi antennas attached to the wing struts, to locate missing collars. I used the opportunity to learn some basic flight maneuvers and quickly got hooked.

I would really like to meet any other pilots in New Mexico. Like I said, I should have my sport pilot certificate in a few weeks.

Cheers,

John Leonard

Re: Student Sport Pilot in New Mexico

Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2018 8:37 pm
by Scooper
Welcome to Sport Pilot Talk, John. My sister and her family live in Albuquerque and I usually fly into Double Eagle II (AEG) once a year to visit since they live on the west side. It's kinda cool that you got interested in flying by tracking wildlife telemetry transmitters in a 172.

Keep everybody posted on your SP training progress at SAF.

Re: Student Sport Pilot in New Mexico

Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2018 8:31 am
by ShawnM
Hi John and welcome to the forum. As Stan stated that is very cool how you caught the aviation bug. Good luck on your exam and enjoy the journey. :mrgreen:

Re: Student Sport Pilot in New Mexico

Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2018 5:56 pm
by rideandfly
John

Welcome, I'm new here too! Have good memories of my first practical exam 40 years ago and confident it will be a pleasant experience for you, too. Please let us know when you get your Sport Pilot certificate!

Regards,

Re: Student Sport Pilot in New Mexico

Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2018 7:29 pm
by drseti
John, as you get close to your practical test, you'll likely have questions on what to expect and how to prepare. I invite you to browse my SP DPE website, at:

http://SportPilotExaminer.US

to get an overview of the process. I'd say prepare, but don't over-prepare. Go into the practical rested and relaxed, and you'll do fine. Oh - and don't forget to have fun!

Re: Student Sport Pilot in New Mexico

Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2018 8:51 pm
by RTK
Welcome John! I trained in a Remos GX as well! I thought it was a good plane for training with benign characteristics. Looking forward to reading about your progress! Good luck with the exam!

Re: Student Sport Pilot in New Mexico

Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2018 12:58 pm
by APS
Hey John!

Tony Stout here... I'm a new sport pilot as of September of this year.

I learned to fly at Double Eagle Airport in a Weight Shift Trike.
Now, I am also at Santa Fe doing some transition training into an airplane. I am flying the Tecnam Sierra P2002.

I didn't even know the Remos is available! I would love to fly a high wing airplane.

Who is your CFI? Mine is Jean Luc Pous -- a good guy, he makes me laugh.

Anyhow, it would be great to meet you at some point in the future. I know many trike pilots in ABQ but have not yet met a single light sport airplane pilot. I've actually been hoping to find someone (or a few someones), that would like to consider partial ownership on an airplane to bring the costs down and also be able to afford something of a higher quality than I would be able to purchase on my own. If you know anyone, let me know!

Best Wishes, Tony

Re: Student Sport Pilot in New Mexico

Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2018 8:07 pm
by jpleonard2000
Thanks for all the responses and encouragement, everyone. I'm in a holding pattern (or very extended downwind) at the moment as I'm waiting for the DPE to find a time to do the oral and practical exams with me. I had the practical scheduled a couple of weeks ago but we had to cancel because of the weather. I'll keep everyone posted. I'll likely be switching to a Tecnam Sierra as the Remos GX that I trained with will no longer be available.

Cheers,

John

Re: Student Sport Pilot in New Mexico

Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2018 8:42 pm
by TimTaylor
Just remember you need two hours prep with your CFI within 2 calendar months of your flight test. If that gets out of date, you'll need to fly with your CFI to get back into compliance.

Re: Student Sport Pilot in New Mexico

Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 7:25 pm
by akroguy
I hope it all went well for you. I'm a PPSEL, on my third airplane now, 2006 Sportstar SE, based at E98 (airpark...plane at my house) south of ABQ. There are a few LSA's here. I wanted to "down size" from certified aircraft while still keeping PPSEL privileges and burning mogas available across the street at Allsups is awesome. We do have competitively priced avgas if you want to fly south and need 100ll.

Re: Student Sport Pilot in New Mexico

Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 7:34 pm
by TimTaylor
As long as you have an FAA medical or Basic Med, you will always have your Private Pilot privileges. You must also comply with the limitations of the aircraft you are flying such as two place or no IFR, etc.

Re: Student Sport Pilot in New Mexico

Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 2:28 am
by MegL
Hi, I'm also new to this forum, and interested in training in an LSA in Albuquerque or Santa Fe. Anyone have any leads?
Unfortunately it looks like NM Sport Aviation is no longer operational, and their Tecnam Sierra is now with Sierra Aviation in SF. Has anyone worked with the SF instructors?
Tony, is Jean Luc Pous still teaching? Using the Tecnam? Interested in a new student?
Thanks!
Meg

Re: Student Sport Pilot in New Mexico

Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2019 5:05 pm
by Jim Hardin
MegL: Best to start a new topic rather that trying graft into an existing one.

Throughout this Topic the merits of a Private Pilot Certificate With one form of medical are discussed. Those questions would apply to you, in that you specify Sport Pilot. Is there some compelling reason to go the SP route?

Re: Student Sport Pilot in New Mexico

Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2019 7:20 pm
by MegL
Hi , thanks for your response. I am "officially" going for my PPL, but it's taken much longer than anticipated and haven't soloed yet. I do have a medical certificate, but might just go for sport pilot for now and add on the PPL later Hoping to eventually buy an LSA so thought it might be nice to train on one.
- Meg

Re: Student Sport Pilot in New Mexico

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2019 3:48 pm
by Jim Hardin
MegL wrote:Hi , thanks for your response. I am "officially" going for my PPL, but it's taken much longer than anticipated and haven't soloed yet. I do have a medical certificate, but might just go for sport pilot for now and add on the PPL later Hoping to eventually buy an LSA so thought it might be nice to train on one.
- Meg
Not so sure about that plan. You still have to solo even for a SP Certificate. It is based on the instructors confidence of you skills and not some hourly figure.

If you settle in with a SP Certificate, you will find it much harder to shell out the extra to go for a PP Certificate when you can fly now! Human nature but I know far more PP's that don't have an Instrument Rating than those with one. Time and money followed by no need are the reasons I hear. :)