In the past being a private airplane pilot was an expensive and painful venture. That is no longer the case, ot at least the pain and the costs are reduced a lot. The saver's name is light sport aircraft - the new aviation category introduced by FAA few years ago.
The pilots love fixed wing light sport aircraft because of their affordability, the comfort they offer and the high speed - up to 120knots/138mph allowed. The price of such airplane can beat the price of a new car and certification and education take much less than obtaining a typical private pilot license. Sounds good?
What does it take to obtain the license?
The education for becoming a light sport aircraft usually costs between $3,000 and $4,000. It will take you a couple of months or so to finish the course, depending on your availability. Here is what else is required:
1. Age. You can start the training after you are at least 16 and you can apply the test at 17.
2. English. You written and spoken English must be good. You can become a light sport aircraft pilot only in the USA.
3. Medical certification. You can use your USA driver's license to prove that you are in good physical and mental shape.
4. Exams. You need to pass a written and practical exam.
It's not that much, is it? The education includes 15 hours guided and 5 hours solo flight which should be enough for you to pass the exam. It is recommended however that you get few more hours guided flight before starting to fly your light sport aircraft "for real".
What do you need to know when buying a light sport aircraft
It's a good idea to get an aircraft that comply with the ASTM International standards for flight safety. Don't worry, most light sport airplanes produced in the USA do comply with these guidelines.
What about the price? Well, if you want to buy new, you'll need to prepare at least 40 thousands USD. That's not much for an airplane, but is still a lot of money for the ordinary person. The cheaper options include buying a second hand light sport aircraft - you can find ones for 20 thousands or less. Alternatively you can join a shares club and buy 1/3, 1/4, 1/5 or 1/6 of an airplane. This means that you can fly regularly giving less than $10,000 for the airplane itself.
There is one more monetary advantage of being a light sport aircraft pilot. If you qualify for the FAA's Light Sport Aircraft Repairman certificate you will be able to perform the annual inspection of your aircraft yourself. That can save you a lot of money and time.
Besides everything said above, you just can't go wrong by obtaining a light sport aircraft pilot license. Even if you decide you want to become a private pilot of a larger aircraft later, all your hours LSA training will be applied to it. So there is really no reason to avoid the easier category first.
Source: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?Bobby Handzhiev
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