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Sport Pilot Certificate
On July 20, 2004, the FAA
ignited an aviation revolution. With the finalization of the
sport pilot/light-sport aircraft (SP/LSA) rule, the process for
becoming a pilot and certificating an aircraft were
significantly altered, making learning to fly and owning an
aircraft easier and less expensive.
The training is in the Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) which is an
airplane that is less complicated than the small training
airplanes that we currently equate with flight training. The
airplane must weigh less than 1320 pounds at takeoff, fly no
faster than 132 miles per hour in level cruise, and have a
maximum of two seats.
That is the plane. The pilot has limitations too, but not many.
As a sport pilot you may fly during the day, below 10,000 feet,
and since the plane has only two seats, take one best friend at
a time on your trip.
The Federal Aviation Administration minimum training standards
are twenty hours of flight in an LSA, including maneuvers like
turning, climbing, descending, flight at various airspeeds, take
off and landing practice, and some short cross country flights.
Basically, the same as Private Pilot, but no night time, no
flight using only the flight instruments, and limited cross
country flight.
There is a knowledge exam also that tests your understanding of
aerodynamics, aircraft performance, weather, regulations,
airspace and airport operations, and more.
At Northwest School of Aviation, we train the Sport Pilot
candidate to a higher standard because we feel that in only 20
hours you may not have the skill set needed to be a safe pilot.
Our typical Sport Pilot will graduate and be Certified in 25
hours. We use our own Sport Pilot Syllabus and you may get a
copy here for comparison to other flight schools you may be
considering for your training.
In addition, at NWAC we train all pilot candidates to commercial
pilot standards, also ensuring that you will be a skilled, and
therefore a safe pilot.
COST:
|
FAA Minimum |
Hours |
Qty |
Cost |
Total |
|
Airplane incl tax |
20 |
|
$ 99.80 |
$ 1,996.08 |
|
Instructor |
15 |
|
$ 70.00 |
$ 1,050.00 |
|
Fuel |
20 |
$ 48.00 |
$ 960.00 |
$ 960.00 |
|
* Knowledge Exam |
|
|
|
$ 150.00 |
|
* Practical Exam |
|
|
|
$ 400.00 |
|
* Ground School |
|
|
|
$ 425.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
$ 4,981.08 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NWAC Average |
|
Airplane |
35 |
|
$ 99.80 |
$ 3,493.14 |
|
Instructor |
25 |
|
$ 70.00 |
$ 1,750.00 |
|
Fuel |
35 |
$ 48.00 |
|
$ 1,680.00 |
|
*Extras from above |
|
|
|
$ 975.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
$ 7,898.14 |
Here are a couple of sources of additional information:
http://www.sportpilot.org/
http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/regulatory/sport_faq.html
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