Sport Pilot Talk

So I was reading my usual AOPA ePilot bulletin and I saw this story "Training implications of warbird case could degrade safety". Apparently the FAA is saying that someone giving lessons in a limited category aircraft and charging for same is breaking the rules. Apparently this has something to do with Warbird Adventures in Kissimmee, Florida. Oddly enough many years ago I had taken a ride on an AT-6 there. The article goes on to say that the FAA is now suggesting that an owner of an experimental aircraft cannot take lessons in their own plane without a "Letter of Deviation Authority" from the FAA. Geez. Glad no one thought about this when I was taking lessons in my own E-AB plane. Of course every aviation group and their mother are complaining.

It would be nice if someone with a little aviation background would be making these decisions, instead of a lawyer who at best has maybe seen a picture of an airplane once.

It was suggested if they went through and changed this stiff it would render the CFI-S certificate null and void since it would require them to have a medical when teaching. Which I thought I may get it one day so guess that would be a dud.

I have my medical and PPL. I got my CFI-S in April and have been instructing a student since then. I don't have a commercial or instrument rating, but, I haven't been charging her anything either.
So, my question is, can she log these hours as instructed hours?

malexander wrote: ↑Mon Jun 14, 2021 3:21 pm I have my medical and PPL. I got my CFI-S in April and have been instructing a student since then. I don't have a commercial or instrument rating, but, I haven't been charging her anything either.
So, my question is, can she log these hours as instructed hours?

If you are flying a SLSA you should be fine. The regulations are very specific in allowing a sport pilot instructor to provide instruction in a SLSA and charge for the services. The operations in question by the FAA ruling do not specifically allow for paid instruction in the aircraft in question without specific permission from the FAA. That is where the problem lies.

3Dreaming wrote: ↑Mon Jun 14, 2021 10:16 pm

malexander wrote: ↑Mon Jun 14, 2021 3:21 pm I have my medical and PPL. I got my CFI-S in April and have been instructing a student since then. I don't have a commercial or instrument rating, but, I haven't been charging her anything either.
So, my question is, can she log these hours as instructed hours?

If you are flying a SLSA you should be fine. The regulations are very specific in allowing a sport pilot instructor to provide instruction in a SLSA and charge for the services. The operations in question by the FAA ruling do not specifically allow for paid instruction in the aircraft in question without specific permission from the FAA. That is where the problem lies.

That's pretty much what I was thinking. We're flying a Rans S6S Coyote. It was built at the Rans factory as SLSA, not EAB in any way shape or form, but registered as experimental. I'm not charging her anything AT ALL for the airplane, or anything for instruction. She's pretty much like a daughter to me......so, it's all on my dime.