This Just In -- LSA Is For ALL Ages

by ANN Managing Editor Rob Finfrock

I'll admit, I had misgivings when I passed through the gates of Sebring last week for the start of US Sport Aviation Expo 2007. Right there, front and center, was the (loyal EAA sponsor) Ford Motor Company display... and prominently featured was a new Mercury Grand Marquis, a popular full-sized sedan with retirees, and top contender for Official Car of Central Florida.

"Well," I thought to myself, "they know their market."

And for the first part of last Thursday, little I saw changed my mind about that. The dominant age group among the throngs checking out the new and impressive offerings in the light sport market seemed to be the 50+ crowd. According to the EAA, that demographic comprises the largest segment so far of the sport pilot market: retirees (and those approaching retirement) who are either looking for options to stay flying without a medical certificate, or pilots who may have begun flying lessons in their younger days, and are now looking for the easiest, least-expensive manner to start up again.

Don't get me wrong -- that's absolutely wonderful. What strikes me as the most promising aspect of the almost-three-years-old sport pilot movement is the inclusiveness of it: it is open to pilots of all ages, and all backgrounds. There is absolutely no reason a person should not be able to take flight on their terms, so long as they feel fit to do so. Fact is, with the proper training, anyone who can operate a car can fly a light sportplane, and that's how it should be.

For the most part, however, the crowd that first morning at Sebring seemed to be made up of older faces, having their questions answered by younger salespeople. The interested crowd that morning was more CBS, less Fox or NBC, and that was somewhat dismaying to see, at least to me.

But that was the early crowd... the people who didn't necessarily have to be at their jobs on a Thursday morning. By the afternoon, there were more and more younger people present -- including several who appeared to be of high school age, or maybe in their first year of college. And these weren't just 'kids' looking to pass the time, or cop a demo ride on an airplane.

There were even more relative youngsters at Sebring on Friday; and while I was unable to attend over the weekend, others tell me the Gen X and Y segments were out in force as part of the weekend's VERY healthy overall attendance. It looks like Sebring -- and sport pilot -- is literally starting to take off with the younger crowd.

And as I eavesdropped on several conversations Thursday and Friday -- like any good journalist does -- I noticed almost all of these younger candidates were asking the right questions, and listening intently at the answers -- just like their more... experienced... counterparts:

"Is this plane available for flight training yet? Where?"

"What's the base price? And what about the model you have on display?" (With all the gadgets most pilots want.)

"Any problems with insurance? And what financing options are available?"

And, my personal favorite, asked by an unidentified (and quite articulate) 20-something to one of the foreign-sourced LSA distributors:

"How terrified are you about Cessna?"

This is an educated crowd, and one not easily scared off. Which is exactly what Sport Pilot needs to be successful. It's a cliche, but like many such statements, one steeping in reality: new blood freshens the market. Chances are, these "kids" (hey, I'm over 30, I can use that term) aren't concerned about their medical status, nor would I expect most of them to say they plan on stopping at 'just' their sport pilot ticket. For now, they just want to fly... and they want to do it as inexpensively as possible.

At this moment, three ANN staffers are actively pursuing their sport-pilot tickets, including yours truly. I'd say the three of us represent a fairly accurate cross-section of the sport pilot movement, as it stands right now.

• We have a Mom, whose kids are in college and has just recently caught the flying bug;
• Another is an experienced pilot and once-CFI, who just wants to get in the air again;
• And then there's the 30-something Managing Editor, who's interested in Sport Pilot for a couple of reasons.

Although I have a lot of time as a student pilot in C172s, including a fair amount solo, circumstances have kept me from going forward with my training. Until last year, those problems were entirely financial... but then a medical issue sidelined me for several months. Fortunately, all is OK now, but it has presented an interesting dilemma.

While I shouldn't have any problem getting a Third Class Medical again -- mine lapsed during the health ordeal, and Oklahoma City would have to review my application for a new medical -- why should I go through that hassle, if I can do the kind of flying I've always liked, for a lot less money than renting that Cessna?

I don't need to roar through the clouds, like Jim in his Glasair; in fact, I don't much care for crosswinds stronger than 15 knots or so. Give me spotless skies, a few hours of spare time on a Saturday morning, and a few hundred dollars in the checking account, and I'll putter around the skies within 30 miles or so of my home field to my heart's content, happy as a clam. Flying isn't about the destination for me; it's all about the journey, even if I can't legally go faster than 120 knots and it would take me two days to go 700 miles, weather permitting. All the better to enjoy the trip, anyway.

Sport pilot represents my flying future, if only for the next few years. Yeah, I'll eventually go after my private pilot rating... and probably my IFR ticket, as well. For now, though, the sport pilot route represents the most logical avenue to pursue my path into the skies -- as it does, from the evidence at Sebring this weekend, for many others.

Two-and-a-half years in... it would appear Sport Pilot has arrived. Now all we need are more training centers (fortunately, more seem to be popping up every day) and more planes available for rental afterwards. But if the segment keeps growing... those things WILL follow.

It's encouraging to see.

FMI: www.sportpilot.org, www.sport-aviation-expo.com/