Newbie from So Cal - San Fernando Valley

[Merlinspop]

Isn't that where the snag is, though? There are solo flight requirements for the SP, but can you solo a 4 seat trainer without a medical (currently). True?

[N918KT]

Hey, but I thought you cannot train for the sport pilot certificate in a 4-seater even if you had a medical? I thought you have to do the solo flight training and checkride in an LSA even if you had a medical.

[CTLSi]

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[3Dreaming]

There is no sport pilot or private pilot student certificate. It is simply a student pilot certificate. The aircraft you are flying and what you are doing (trying to do) determines if you need a medical certificate or not.
If you have a medical you can do the solo flight time for the sport pilot in a 4 place aircraft, however you must do the check ride in a light sport aircraft.

[CTLSi]

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[drseti]

Not exactly correct. The Student pilot certificate which most SP candidates use (which is issued either by a FSDO or by any Designated Pilot Examiner) merely says "student pilot certificate" on it. It doesn't say "Sport" anywhere on it. The exact same form is used by Glider and Lighter than Air students (which require no medical certificate, or even a driver's license). So, it certainly isn't a "Sport Student Certificate".

The certificate issued by an Aviation Medical Examiner will say either "Medical Certificate" or Medical Certificate and Student Pilot Certificate" on it, whichever you require and request. An AME cannot issue the certificate that says simply "Student Pilot" with no accompanying medical. That can only be issued by a FSDO or a DPE. That is, in fact, the student pilot certificate used by most SP and Glider students, but it is neither a SP Student Certificate nor a Glider Student Certificate, it's just a Student Certificate.

Incidentally, a SP or Glider student can also pass a third class medical, and have the AME issue the Medical and Student Pilot Certificate, if he or she desires. There's nothing in the FARS that says a SP candidate or Glider student can't have a medical, only one that says they are not required to have one.

[MovingOn]

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[drseti]

Yes, that's the way I see it, MO -- except for one complication. A Student Pilot with a medical can be endorsed by a CFI to solo a non-LSA. How about a Sport Pilot, wanting to upgrade to Private? He or she is a licensed pilot, thus has no Student Pilot certificate for the CFI to endorse on the back for solo flights. So, how can the CFI authorize that SP to solo, except in an LSA?

[MovingOn]

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[Merlinspop]

Yes, that's the way I see it, MO -- except for one complication. A Student Pilot with a medical can be endorsed by a CFI to solo a non-LSA. How about a Sport Pilot, wanting to upgrade to Private? He or she is a licensed pilot, thus has no Student Pilot certificate for the CFI to endorse on the back for solo flights. So, how can the CFI authorize that SP to solo, except in an LSA?

My assumption would be that a logbook endorsement specifying aircraft, dates and other parameters would provide sufficient authorization. Surely this has been addressed in writing by some FSDO or the head shed by now, no?
Having said that, if the SP can show by logbook entry that he or she had already made solo flights that meet the PP requirement, would that suffice? Or do the solo flights have to be under the supervision of an instructor and conducted in pursuit of the license?

[GreenSky]

Thank you all for this almost interesting discussion.

Since nobody else bothered, "Hey Green Sky. Congratulations on passing your checkride and buying the 172."


Rick

[MovingOn]

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[drseti]

Slight modification, MO:

a Sport Pilot pursuing a Private should be exactly the same as a student pilot pursuing a Private with no more or less privileges or limitations.

But remember, we're talking FAA here. There may be a big disconnect between would and should.

The issue is: once a licensed pilot, you can't get a Student Pilot Certificate. And CFIs are required to endorse a student pilot certificate for solo privileges. So, the CFI's question becomes, how?

Oh, and BTW: way to go, Richard!

[MovingOn]

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[Merlinspop]

Thank you all for this almost interesting discussion.

Since nobody else bothered, "Hey Green Sky. Congratulations on passing your checkride and buying the 172."


Rick

Indeed! Our bad. There's been slight disharmony lately. Congrats on both fronts! Most of my time is in Pipers but I was in a club with a couple of older Continental powered 172s. They weren't the prettiest or fastest airplanes, but, oh, how those little engines purred.