Ixtapa, Mexico January 2428, 2005

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Ixtapa, MexicoJanuary 24-28, 2005
Sport Pilot Initiative
Prepared by the Trinational Safety Steering
Committee December 1, 2004
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Overview

• Final rule July 27, 2004
• The new Sport Pilot and Light-Sport Aircraft
  rules address the certification of
• Light-sport Aircraft
• Sport pilots and flight instructors with a sport
  pilot rating
• Repairmen
• Designated Pilot Examiners
• Inspection and maintenance of new experimental
  and special light-sport aircraft.

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Benefits of the Light-Sport Aircraft Rule

• Prior to enactment of the rule there were 14,000
  pilots of unregistered ultralight-like aircraft.
• All must obtain a Sport Pilot certificate by
  passing a written test, an oral evaluation and a
  flight test given by a designated pilot examiner.
• All must have their aircraft registered,
  inspected and certified not later than August 31,
  2007.
• All must have their aircraft maintained by
  appropriately trained repairmen.
• All must possess a valid third class FAA medical
  certificate or comply with the medical
  restrictions and limitations on their drivers
  license.

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Benefits of the Light-Sport Aircraft Rule (Cont.)

• One passenger can now be legally carried with a
  higher degree of safety.
• Flight training is now required and must be
  conducted by certified light-sport aircraft
  flight instructors.
• All new Sport Pilots must take and pass a written
  test and a practical flight test.
• Provides for the manufacture and sale of safe and
  economical certificated aircraft that exceed the
  limits currently allowed by ultralight
  regulations.

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Sport Pilot Ratings

• Light-Sport Aircraft Category Ratings
• Airplane
• Glider
• Lighter-than-air
• Gyroplane
• Powered parachute
• Weight-shift-control aircraft
• Class Ratings
• Single-engine land and sea
• Powered parachute land and sea
• Weight-shift-control land and sea

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Definition of a Light-Sport Aircraft

• Light-Sport aircraft are small, simple,
  low-performance, low energy aircraft limited to
• Maximum weight 1320 lb (600kg) or 1,430 lb
  (650kg) for aircraft intended for water
  operations.
• 1 or 2 occupants
• Single engine (reciprocating)
• Maximum stall speeds 45 knots (no-lift
  enhancing devices)
• Maximum airspeed Vh 120 knots (max power level
  flight)
• Fixed landing gear (repositionable-land on
  water/retractable-gliders)
• Fixed pitch propeller

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What Is a Light-Sport Aircraft?

• Light Sport Aircraft are small,
  simple-to-operate, and low-performance.
• May include several aircraft types
• Fixed-wing
• Gliders
• Powered parachutes
• Lighter-than-air
• Weight-shift-control (trikes)
• Gyroplanes
• Balloons

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What is a Light-Sport Aircraft? (Continued)
Powered Parachute
Weight-Shift-Control Aircraft
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What is a Light-Sport Aircraft? (Continued)
Airplane Single-Engine Land
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What is a Light-Sport Aircraft? (Continued)
Airplane-Single-Engine Sea
Gyroplane
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What is a Light-Sport Aircraft? (Continued)
Balloons
Gliders
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What is Not a Light-Sport Aircraft?

• Part 103 Ultralights
• All Powered (true) Ultralight
  Aircraft
• lt 254 lbs.
• lt 5 U.S. gal. fuel
• All Paragliders
• All Hangliders

• Multiengine Aircraft
• Powered Lift
• Helicopters
• Complex Aircraft
• Retractable Gear
• Controllable Pitch Propeller

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Sport Pilot Privileges and Basic Level
Limitations

• Daytime operations only
• Visibility must be 3 miles or greater
• Visual reference to the surface must be
  maintained
• Operations only in Class G and E airspace
• No operations for compensation or hire
• Light Sport Aircraft Vh must be 87 knots or less

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Sport Pilot Privileges and Basic Level
Limitations (Cont.)

• Stay below 10,000 ft MSL
• May not tow any object
• U.S. operations only
• May not operate in furtherance of a business
• May not carry more than one passenger
• May not act as a crewmember of an aircraft
  requiring more than one pilot

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Sport Pilot Privileges and Limitations

• Additional Training can authorize the following
  types of operations
• Operations in Class B, C, or D airspace
• Receipt of another Light Sport Aircraft category
  and class authorization
• Operation of another make and model Light Sport
  Aircraft
• Operations of a Light Sport Aircraft with a Vh
  that exceeds 87 knots

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QUESTIONS?