Two Years In, Many Successes... And Challenges

It isn't hard to see at this year's Northwest EAA Fly-In that the two-year-old sport pilot category has become a big deal. From the airplanes gathered on the field, to the many forums devoted solely to category-specific issues, the emerging sport pilot category -- and the airplanes that go along with it -- are destined to be a big part of the general aviation picture in the future... if the EAA has anything to say about it.

Ron Wagner, Manager of Field Relations for the EAA and the self-designated "face" of sport pilot, told ANN that over the two years since sport pilot was introduced, the category has seen extensive growth -- particularly in the number of light-sport aircraft on the market. He also spoke of some of the challenges the program still faces -- and how those issues can be resolved.

The Aircraft

"It's exciting to think about 36 new designs in the last 14-15 months, as opposed to four or five new designs over the past 50 years," said Wagner, talking about the surge in availability of a wide selection of LSAs to choose from.

While light-sport planes are significantly cheaper than their Part 23 brethren, the price tags on most of them -- topping $100,000 for many well-equipped examples -- have received criticism from customers... but Wagner says customers may soon see a price break.

"We're right on the verge of a lot of American companies finally getting involved," said Wagner. "It's important to realize that $10,000 to $20,000 of the price tags on current [European] light sport aircraft are eaten up by exchange rates... so once the American designs come online, those prices will come down."

"We have to get the flight schools around the country educated as to the opportunity that this presents to them," said Wagner. "Right now, they don't have the aircraft in their inventory... so the natural response is to say "we don't have a [light sport] aircraft available... so why don't you become a private pilot instead?"

"It's important that we get the flight schools educated to the light sport aircraft... and how these can be used in many more roles than just training people to become a sport pilot. It's going to add to their rental fleet... and these same aircraft can be used as basic trainers no matter what rating [students] are working on."

The Pilots

The intended reach of the sport pilot category is, of course, twofold. It is aimed at drawing new pilots into the fold, and do so for less cost than in the past... and, sport pilot is also meant to give older pilots a way to stay in the skies, even if they feel that, while they're still healthy enough to fly, renewing or obtaining their medical.

Wagner says reactions from both sides have been encouraging... but older pilots have dominated the category to date.

"Obviously when the rule was first enacted, the only ones who could be sport pilots were those who simply let their medical expire, and exercise sport pilot privileges," said Wagner. "We knew they'd be the first wave."

"Right now, though, we're seeing a lot of the ultralighters transitioning, and in areas where there is a training aircraft available, we're seeing a lot of new people become involved," said Wagner. "There's the beginnings of a shift... how fast it happens depends on how fast the industry responds, and the flight schools respond."

The Obstacles

When asked if there was one restriction to sport pilot that he would like to see wiped away, Wagner was quick to reply.  

"The more I've gotten into this, it's a very, very well written rule," he said. "There are some glitches, such as repositionable gear [which primarily applies to amphibious planes; the current rule -- as written "by a clerk," Ron says -- stipulates that landing gear cannot be repositioned in flight -- so if you took off from the water, you must land on the water, too -- Ed.]. I'll certainly be glad when that works out."

"I'll be glad when the ultralight transition period is completed, frankly," Wagner added. "That will allow the industry to focus on getting new people involved. The ultralight transition program is coming along quite well, but there's a lot of confusion in the community as they get into this."

In the end, Wagner says, pilots must be careful to respect the category -- and not use it as a means to fly when, truthfully, they probably shouldn't be. In a forum given at Arlington, Ron related the story of an 87-year old man who had difficulty walking, who had thanked Ron and the EAA for giving him a way to take his grandson flying.

"I told him that it would probably be better if he used his money to pay for his grandson's flying lessons instead," Wagner told the packed forum. "That way, he could still go flying with his grandson, but not as pilot-in-command. You don't ALWAYS have to be PIC."

"We are all responsible for the future of sport pilot," Wagner said to the pilots gathered. "It is, ultimately, ours to lose."

FMI: www.sportpilot.org, www.eaa.org